ONLINE SHOPPING: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

            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. It is a form of electronic commerce. An online shop, e-shop, e-store, internet shop, webshop, web store, online store, or virtual store evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or in a shopping centre. The process is called Business-to-Consumer (B2C) online shopping. When a business buys from another business it is called Business-to-Business (B2B) online shopping. 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 as well as a credit card or debit card. More people than ever before in history are using the Web to shop for a wide variety of items, from houses to shoes to airplane tickets.

ADVANTAGE OF ONLINE SHOPPING

·        Incredible convenience: In comparison to a brick and mortar store with fixed hours, online shoppers can choose any time of the day or night to get on the Web and shop. This is especially useful for moms with small children, people that are home-bound, or simply in times of inclement weather.

·        Price comparisons: When you visit a store, you most likely have to settle for whatever price the vendor has placed on a particular item. Not so with online shopping – you have the ability to compare prices from hundreds of different vendors.

·        Infinite choice: Shelf space in a brick and mortar store is limited, which means that your variety of goods is limited. Not so with an online store. Plus, if you don’t see what you want in one store online, you can simply move on to the next one.

·        Easy access to consumer reviews: It’s easy to access consumer reviews for pretty much any product you can think of online, which makes for more informed purchases.

·        No pressure sales: We’ve all been awkwardly propositioned by eager salespeople. You don’t have to put up with that online.