Online Shopping

Online Shopping

1. Advantages

   • Availability - Can shop at any hour of the day
     • Convenience
       • Elderly
       • People working different hours
       • Open 24/7
   • Safety
     • Encryption
     • https
   • Saves you time
   • People do not need to drive to a shop so less CO2 is released
   • Wider selection online as there are more shops
     • Shops that physically exist and shops that don't - not to mention other people on sites like eBay
     • Whole world
   • Buying online allows you to return items if they are sold and are damaged or faulty or not as described. You can also return it within 7 days for any reason.
   • Businesses
     • More people from all over the world can buy your product
     • Added items - customers may buy extra items online.
     • Competitors - shops can keep track of other shops and quickly change their prices to match
     • Easy access to market - many online markets for example Ebay and Amazon allow anyone to set up an account and this allows them easier access to selling items and buying items.
       • This benefits a company as it's easier to start your company.
     • Don't need expensive retail space
     • You don't need the product in stock so you can keep stocks low but increases delivery time for customer
       • Wider range of products

2. Disadvantages

   • Timing
     • You have to be at home when the item is delivered which might get in the way of your plans
       • You could collect from certain shops (click and collect)
   • Damages
     • Packages can get damaged in delivery leaving you to arrange a full refund or another arrangement. This could be inconvenient if you need it by a certain date.
   • Security
     • Businesses need to be sure that your card information is absolutely safe, as sometimes this information can be leaked.
       • Especially, for early businesses in the early days
       • It costs more to set up and keep a webpage that is totally secure. Also paying staff that control the website. Equipment such as servers are quite expensive and have special requirements such as being in a cool room.
   • Tactile experience
     • It's not physically in front of you. Sometimes it's easier to buy something when you can feel how sturdy or weak something is. You have to go by word from reviews.
   • Shipping
     • With online shopping you may have to pay for shipping costs. You may think you have got a bargain but the shipping may be expensive especially if your buying from around the world.
   • Shopping with unknown vendors
     • Vendors with no reputation can be dodgy or scam you out of your money. You can tell if they are scams if there are many spelling errors and if their policy is no return among with other suspicious activity.
   • Buying perishables or personalised items cannot be returned or refunded.
   • Businesses
     • Cost - companies have to pay to get their website professionally designed, developed and maintained
     • Staff with expertise are required to run the online business and manage the website and keep it maintained.
     • If the website crashes nobody can purchase anything
     • Personal touch - no personal contact with the customer means it may be harder to get repeat orders
     • Customer trust - with no personal communication and with no well known name it's hard to gain trust from customers. More money may be needed for setting up a good customer service.