Online shopping is the process whereby consumers directly buy goods or services from a seller in real-time, without an intermediary service, over the internet. If an intermediary service is present the process is called electronic commerce. An online shop, eshop, e-store, internet shop, webshop, webstore, online store, or virtual store evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks and mortar retailer or in a shopping mall.
In recent years, online shopping has become popular; however, it still caters to the middle and upper class. In order to shop online, one must be able to have access to a computer, a bank account and a debit card. Shopping has evolved with the growth of technology. According to research found in the Journal of Electronic Commerce, if one focuses on the demographic characteristics of the in-home shopper, in general, the higher the level of education, income, and occupation of the head of the household, the more favourable the perception of non-store shopping.
Online shopping has not always existed. Before the Internet, you either had to go to an actual store to purchase something, or you had to order a catalogue that carried the item you wanted, wait for the catalogue, pick it out of the catalogue, then call your order in by phone.
The Internet has changed the way we shop. Nowadays, it is very common for people to save time and effort by shopping from home online. It’s like having every catalogue imaginable, for all of the products that exist practically. You order, and the item is shipped to you directly at minimal cost.
This is a huge breakthrough, shopping-wise. It has greatly improved our lives, because shopping has never been more convenient. There are many reasons to shop online, including these top ones:
More choice. You will never be limited to just what is “in stock” if you shop online. When you go to a brick-and-mortar store, you’re basically stuck with what they have on hand.
With online shopping, stock isn’t an issue. You can shop anywhere, and go to where the item you want is to purchase it instantaneously, instead of going to a specific location and hoping that your preferred item will be there.
Don’t see what you want? Check a different website, or try a new search. Search wording can make a difference. When you go to a physical store to shop, you have to look there and if you don’t find what you want you have to physically leave and travel somewhere else to try again.
Your item comes directly to you. You don’t have to chase your item all over town and go to store to store to find it or to compare prices. It’s far easier to do your shopping virtually from your home, and just have the item delivered directly to you when you find the best deal. Often you can get free or low-cost shipping, especially if you meet a minimum purchase amount requirement.
Returns are simple. Usually all you have to do is contact the original company you purchased from and ask for a return shipping slip.
You will have a little delay, waiting for this label. If you figure the time it would take to get in your car and drive to a store, then wait in the return line, then deal with clerks, it’s probably faster and easier to do this via mail even when you have to wait for the label to come.
