The internet and the technologies you use to go online have revolutionized the shopping experience for many people. Nowadays, it’s standard for people to go online through laptops or mobile phones to buy clothes, shoes, food, home décor, and many other things they like buying. Why not? After all, it’s pretty easy and convenient – all you will need is a virtual debit card alongside your gadgets and internet connection to get the things you need.
But, of course, just like everything in life, online shopping has many advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of. Knowing these things would allow you to utilize the benefits and find alternatives to avoid the penalties.
Online Shopping’s Pros And Cons
A 2021 study showed that 75% of people shop online at least once every month. As more online shops on social and e-commerce websites like Amazon keep popping up and getting more attention, it’s no wonder online shopping has reached this big. But why do people love shopping online? Here are some reasons behind this trend:
Online shopping is convenient.
As mentioned, shopping online is easy and convenient. Imagine not having to leave your house and browse items for sale on your phone while lying in bed. You wouldn’t need to get ready and commute with the chance of getting caught in traffic and looking for a parking space when you shop online.
Convenience is the most significant benefit of shopping online, allowing you to check out some items any time of the day as online stores don’t have operating hours. Of course, if you’re expecting a response from a person, it might be delayed until the online store’s personnel goes online. Still, a chatbot would likely help if you have any queries or difficulties placing an order.
Online shopping is faster.
Besides the convenience, shopping online is also faster in many ways. With only a few clicks on your phone or laptop, you can place an order, pay, and get a confirmation for your purchase. Then, there is also the option to have a next-day delivery if you need to receive something you ordered soon.
You avoid crowds and vast lines of people buying from a store when you shop online. You don’t need to go through the hassle of falling in line or checking different stores to find what you need.
Online shopping offers better deals.
Better deals are more common when shopping online because the intermediaries are removed from the equation, which means you mostly buy directly from the product’s seller or manufacturer. Of course, there is also that option for you to check out other shops that sell the same item quickly, and you can compare and choose the one with the better price. Lastly, you can save some money you would spend on traveling, like the gas or the bus fare.
Online shopping offering better deals also means that you have more variety that you can choose from when you check out stuff online, as your location and nearby stores do not limit you. When you shop online, you can also browse products in different cities or countries, which widens your choice.
Of course, even if the benefits of online shopping are plenty, there are some disadvantages that you should know about. Here are some of them:
Online shopping hurts the environment.
While shopping online is fast and convenient, the downside is that it is not the best option if you add the environment to the equation. Online shopping creates unnecessary waste, which could be avoided in a store. Of course, the delivery emits carbon emissions, especially if your order is from a different country. Packaging and plastic waste are also used to keep your order properly wrapped and protected.
Online shopping wouldn’t give you exactly what you see in the photos.
It’s pretty standard for people to get something different from what they ordered online because the online shop’s photos are manipulated or because it only gives you a few angles of the product. Also, you wouldn’t get to fit your orders before adding them to your cart when shopping for clothes, which is why many people regret their online purchases. These online shopping fails have created several blog posts about how unreliable online shopping can sometimes be.
Online Shopping Still Delivers
So, even if online shopping has some downsides, it would still be beneficial in many ways. If you’re shopping online, look for eco-friendly stores and sellers to avoid more environmental impacts and waste, and check the products thoroughly before ordering.
