Online Shopping Or Real Life Shopping?

The following is an article “Online Shopping Or Real Life Shopping?” by Marc Primo.

Let’s face it, shopping online doesn’t mean you’re lazy. There’s no denying that it can save you a lot of time and, sometimes, even money. So, why do physical stores still exist?

The following are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online versus shopping the good old-fashioned way.

The Pros

1. Convenient

What could be more ideal than shopping from the comfort of your home, plopped on your couch, dressed in your sleepwear? Before the dawn of the Internet, telephone directories seemed like a big help, promising to “let your fingers do the walking”. Thing is, you’d still have to get off the couch and walk after you’ve phoned the store. Thanks to eCommerce, your fingers now do the clicking and in a day or three, the goods you shopped for online are delivered straight to your door.

2. Practical

For many people, squeezing in time for shopping can be a tall order, especially those who work the nine to five. Rather than do a mad dash during your lunch break to buy that electric razor or hair dryer, online shopping makes for a much more practical alternative. What’s more, chances are you’ll find what you’re looking for online at a lower price than a brick and mortar store. Thanks to lower overheads, online stores don’t pay high rent like physical stores do.

3. Variety

Ever searched for an item in your favorite eCommerce site, only to get inundated by countless options that leave you spoilt for choice? Oftentimes, online retailers carry more brands than in-store retailers do. Since the inventory of eCommerce sites is typically kept in a warehouse where space is not an issue, online shoppers enjoy more options and sometimes find better deals and products than mall shoppers.

The Cons

1. Real versus virtual

At the end of the day, there’s nothing like the real deal. Whether it’s trying on a suit or a pair of kicks, these are just some examples where online shopping cannot compete. Try as online retailers might to address these issues, some things are just meant to be purchased in-store. This also applies to real time, wherein your purchase is already in your hands before you even make payment. With online, you need to allow 24 hours for delivery, at best, and for a fee.

2. Human interaction

It’s human nature to form connections with one another, even at a point of sale. Whether it’s to get validation from the store clerk that those jeans fit you well, or the satisfaction you feel when managing to haggle down at the local flea market, this type of human interaction can only take place in a brick and mortar store.

3. Retail therapy

For some people, shopping is a social activity best enjoyed with a BFF, punctuated with lunch or coffee at some point. Shopping is, after all, a lifestyle; and for as long as there are shopping buddies out there with cafés ready to serve them after a spree, physical stores won’t be disappearing anytime in the foreseeable future.

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