Online Shopping Advantages and Disadvantages That You Should Know
Are you looking for a new shirt, video game, or decor for your home? Why go out when you can order what you need online? Nowadays, you can shop in the comfort of your home, and all you need is a phone or tablet.
Online shopping is becoming the go-to choice for many. In 2020 alone, US consumers spent $900 billion more online when compared to previous years.
But why shop online instead of going to a physical store? What are the online shopping advantages pushing people to buy things on their phones?
Wonder no further, we’re going to dive into the pros and cons of online shopping below. Continue reading to discover whether online shopping is for you with our list right there:
Online Shopping Benefits
Let’s start with the benefits of shopping online because there are a lot of them. It all starts with the fact you can shop anywhere you like, even at home:
Shopping at Home
Convenience is one of the major reasons eCommerce retail is taking over traditional shopping.
Think about it: to shop at a brick-and-mortar store, you need to dress up, drive, and hope that the store you’re visiting has what you want or need. That’s a lot of effort, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get what you went out for.
Online shopping, however, is something you can do at home. All you need is a phone, tablet, PC, or laptop and an online connection. You can shop in your room, in the kitchen, or on your couch.
You could be halfway across the world and still shop! If you already paid for the item, the courier will drop it at your place or to someone who can hold it until you get back.
Shop at Any Time
Online shopping websites don’t shut down for the night. They stay online, 24/7, except for scheduled maintenance. This means you can shop at night, early in the morning, or during holidays.
Dozens of Choices
A major issue of physical shopping is the fact you can only buy what the store has available. If they don’t have what you need, there’s no other option. That’s not the case when you’re shopping online.
If one online shop doesn’t have what you want, simply check out another one. It’s as easy as going back to your browser and searching for a different online store. Big stores like Amazon feature items from multiple sellers, so you might find what you need right there.
A dozen stores and more are right within the palm of your hand.
Sales and Vouchers
Hoping to save money? You can by taking advantage of common online shopping trends such as discount vouchers and sales. It’s easy to find vouchers that give discounts on shipping fees or bulk sales.
Some websites have a rewards system. After purchasing for a while, you’ll accumulate enough points to get free discount coupons.
It’s not uncommon to find online stores granting discounts to new subscribers or to run a holiday sale. Black Friday sales are now a big thing for online shops, even for digital-only stores like Steam.
Some stores sell nothing but discount vouchers. Take advantage of these coupons to further save money.
No Parking Problems
Ever wanted to go shopping at the mall only to go home defeated because there was no parking space? That’s no longer a problem with online shopping. You don’t even need to go out!
On the flip side, you’ll need to figure out where couriers can drop your packages. This is a lot easier to handle compared to the effort of going out and finding a space for your car.
Different Payment Methods
Most physical stores only accept credit/debit cards, cash, or checks. It’s rare for one to accept mobile banking, PayPal, or foreign currency. When you shop online, there’s a higher chance they’ll accept these payment methods.
You might not even need to spend money at all.
Many online stores offer a rewards point system. The more you shop in the same store, the more points you’ll accumulate. You could then exchange those points for discounts or freebies.
Online Shopping Disadvantages
Why would someone not try online shopping? There are very few disadvantages, but you’ll want to go over them nevertheless. The first one you’ll need to consider is the fact you can’t try things on.
Can’t Physically Check Items
Ever tried online clothes shopping? You’ll need to know your exact measurements before you browse around. You can’t try the clothes or shoes on, so you’re now basing your shopping decision on listed measurements and photos or videos from customer reviews.
This becomes a bigger issue when you realize stores don’t follow a universal size chart. A small shirt in one shop might be a medium for another. You’ll need to know the measurements to know for sure.
Delivery Concerns
Yes, you will need to pay shipping fees. However, you can consider it the same amount you’d spend if you went out to drive.
That said, there is also the concern of porch pirates stealing your packages. Combat thieves by having a camera, alarm system, or always have someone available to pick up deliveries.
Issues With Returns and Refunds
What will you do if the package came damaged? Most of the time, you’ll have to send it back in its original packaging. Online platforms like Amazon might require you to print out a “return” label as well.
However, there is always a chance things won’t work in your favor. Some online vendors have strict rules when it comes to returns and refunds.
Enjoy Online Shopping Advantages Today
What are you waiting for? You could be in the comfort of your home, enjoying the different online shopping advantages. Instead of venturing out, you could still get what you need while at home!
But why stop with online shopping? If you liked this breakdown and you’re looking for more general tips and tricks, feel free to read more of our guides!
