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Online Shopping vs In-Store Shopping: Which Is Better?

Shopping has evolved dramatically over the past several decades, providing consumers with more choice and convenience whether they shop the brick-and-mortar stores or browse online for their purchases. Even holiday shopping has adapted to the changing landscape with Black Friday and Cyber Monday appealing to both in-store and online shoppers. It’s easy to assume there is a generational divide between those who choose more traditional or modern shopping methods, but in reality it involves factors ranging from accessibility and variety to local support and the shopping experience itself.

Advantages of online shopping

Although online shopping has been around for consumers since the mid-1990s, mainstream use has skyrocketed over the past several years as people grow increasingly comfortable with it and accustomed to the ease and speed of online retail. [1] It’s hard to dispute the advantages of online shopping. After all, the availability of extensive online research and reviews promotes buyer confidence. And few would dispute the convenience of around-the-clock shopping from the living room sofa. Unfortunately, all this online activity also creates ample opportunities for scammers, so it’s important to always follow safe online shopping practices.

1. Grocery delivery and pick-up

Everyone must buy food, but the transition to online grocery shopping has been recently accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] The benefits are clear, especially for those who may struggle to find an hour or more a week to spend browsing the store shelves for groceries. Not only can you fill your cart from the comfort of your home, but you can also clip coupons online and even speed up the process by saving regular items in your app. Grocery stores have made pick-up a breeze, allowing shoppers to schedule a pick-up time that ensures their vehicle is packed and ready to go within minutes of parking.

2. No sales pressure

Although sales representatives can provide helpful knowledge and expertise, they can make some in-person shopping experiences nerve-wracking for consumers. It’s no surprise that some shoppers prefer to remove the pressure altogether by relying on online shopping sites where they can take their time and not feel forced into a sale by somebody working on commission or just trying to help.

3. Research and product reviews

The internet is a great place to research and compare products before pulling the trigger on a purchase, especially a big one. Blogs and other online articles from trusted, unbiased sources can take a lot of the work off your plate by testing products, outlining the pros and cons of different brands, and comparing prices. Customer reviews are also a great resource for finding a reliable product that fits your needs.

4. More variety

While brick-and-mortar stores must deal with the limitations of shelf space and retail agreements, online shopping presents few restrictions. There are many options to choose from, such as whether your product comes from brands or sellers – both local and international. You can even reach small independent shops that may have been far off your radar before the development of online shopping.

5. Convenience

When it comes to online shopping versus in-store shopping, the convenience of online shopping clearly stands out. A shopping list that once might have required an entire day of shopping can now be completed in one sitting thanks to online shopping platforms – if you can wait for delivery. You can also squeeze in some shopping whenever you have the time, whether that’s during a 15-minute break at work or after the kids are in bed for the night. And with front-door delivery, that’s one less thing to fit into your schedule.

6. No crowds

Crowds have been a shopping headache for a long time, but the pandemic has made them even more of a deterrent. Even with the efforts to enforce social distancing in stores, it’s nearly impossible not to find yourself within six feet of other shoppers as you browse the shelves or round an aisle. Online shopping also saves you the time of waiting in long lines to check out.

Advantages of shopping in store

Despite the many advantages of the internet, shopping in-store still has many benefits and a prominent place in retail. Some things are unique to an in-person experience, such as physically examining a product or discussing your needs with a knowledgeable sales associate. Let’s not overlook the peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly what you’re getting when you leave the store with your merchandise in hand. No one likes to worry about the timeliness and accuracy of online order deliveries.

1. Try on or test products

Some items are easier to buy if you can check them out personally to ensure quality. When it comes to perfumes and cosmetics, stores offer the opportunity to test the products to make sure they’re right for you. It’s also nice to be able to try on clothing at the store so you can choose the best style and fit for your body. Bigger purchases, ranging from eyeglasses and mattresses all the way up to a new car, are also worth the extra time and effort to test before you buy. [2] Even in-person grocery shopping has its perks – as you can pick out your own produce or compare labels more easily.

2. In-store promotions

In-store promotions are designed to attract customers to brick-and-mortar stores and build brand or product awareness. If you’re not physically visiting these stores, you may be missing out on temporary discounts on popular services, free giveaways, and the special promotion offers available by completing the survey at the bottom of your receipt. [3]

3. Instant gratification

When you shop in-store, there’s no waiting around for an item to arrive. You immediately have what you need – and there are no shipping costs. For shoppers who like to quickly eliminate items from their shopping list, it may be appealing to visit the store and leave with your purchase.

4. Personalized experience

A friendly and knowledgeable sales associate, combined with an up-close look at the products, creates a more personal shopping experience. This is especially true for local and specialized stores where you’ll likely talk to somebody who’s keenly familiar with the products. From bookstores to car dealerships, personal recommendations and expert guidance can be quite helpful.

5. Support local businesses

One of the most compelling reasons to visit your Main Street brick-and-mortar stores is the support you give to local businesses. Many shoppers are willing to forego convenience and savings in exchange for supporting their local community. When you shop local, you’re getting more than just a product. You’re strengthening the local economy.

How to shop safely during COVID-19

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the playing field for shopping, pushing more and more consumers to shop online and limit the spread of the virus. But whether out of preference or necessity, some in-person shopping is bound to still take place.

Social distancing guidelines for safe in-person shopping include [4] :

Remember to stick to your budget

Payment options have evolved right along with shopping trends so that now even the smallest retailers can accept credit cards and other digital payments. But as shopping online and in-person becomes increasingly convenient, it’s also easier to overspend. It’s good to know you can stay on track with a monthly budget . Be realistic when planning your expenditures, both essential and non-essential, and then stick to your budget. The time and effort you put into budgeting will be worth it when you’re able to meet your expenses, pay off debt and build up your savings.

[1] “The curious origins of online shopping,” (July 26, 2020).

[2] “5 Things You Should Always Try Before You Buy,” (Aug. 7, 2016).

[3] “How to Use In-Store Promotions to Promote Your Business,” (Oct. 2, 2015).

[4] “Running Essential Errands,” (Sept. 11, 2020).

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Online Shopping Versus In-store Shopping

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Economy , Fashion , Online Shopping , Retail , Shopping

Nowadays, the development of technology including the internet brings people a lot of benefits. A lot of people use the internet to search the needed information, to learn something new, and to buy things. Therefore, this leads to the strong growing of online shopping. Madeline Farber stated on the Fortune News that “an annual survey by analytics firm comScore (SCOR, -1.73%) and UPS (UPS, +1.52%) found that consumers are now buying more things online than in stores.” Online shopping is better because it is more convenient, save more time, and save more money than in-store shopping.

Saving time is another advantage of online shopping. After a long day work, shopping at home seems to be less stressful. It gives people time to rest and spend time with family. They do not waste their time to drive, find parking, and go around to look for things. Besides, they can use the brake at work or at school to find items and products at a click of a button. People, who work extra hours, can shop online at night even when the stores are closed. In addition, they do not need to wait for a long line at the checkout. On the other hand, with in-store shopping, sometimes it is good to get out of the house, but it is sometimes also headache. Driving to the store and find parking is not always so great. During the holidays, going in the crowded store can be a bit stressful. Some items have been moved around, people are elbowing others out, and they also wait for a long time when checkout. Online shopping is not only saves more time, but it also saves more money for people.

Online shopping helps people save more money than shopping at store. It offers too many cheap sellers and gives people the price comparison, so they can choose the cheapest place to buy. There are always great deals and sales. It usually has discount for the first time shop online and a lot of discounts for online shopping only. Because they do not need to drive to store, they can also save money on gas. Otherwise, when people shopping at stores, the prices get marked up and not much sales going on as they should. Because some are not in-store, they have to drive to another stores, and this charges people too much on gas money. The little funny thing that people, especially women, waste their money on unnecessary things when they shop at stores. Consequently, saving money is one of the benefits of online shopping that people love to.

Shopping is a habit also a chore because everyone has to shop to buy the things that support for their daily lives. Consumers believe that online shopping is a new and better way to shop because it is more convenient, save more time, and save more money than in-store shopping. People need to know the differences between those to choose the suitable one and be a smart consumer.

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Online Shopping Vs In Store Shopping Essay

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Variety , Cons , Shopping Online , Pros And Cons , Enrique

Published: 12/09/2019

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Shopping is part of our life and just like we need to breath to stay alive we also need to shop as well. It doesn’t really matter the amount or the quantity of products you are buying but it’s all about the time you spend to do it. Over the years people have been shopping at their neighborhood mall for most of the household stuff including food. This also include doing some little window shopping. With the coming of the internet and online shopping, shopping has been revolutionized. Many people are going for online shopping as compared to going to the local mall. It is a fact that some people still prefer doing shopping at the mall with various personal issues and preferences. Some argue that they get to enjoy a day off by shopping at the mall. To some the mall is their number one place to buy merchandise. To others the mall is the place where they can go and get their appetite satisfied or unwind through various entertainment activities. All this is true about shopping at the mall it is even fun to most people but the fact is that the hassle of looking to what you want is undeniably tiring. In other words as the internet constantly gains popularity majority of people are going for shopping online. Shopping online has takes preference over the conventional shopping at the local mall since it has been made for the benefit of consumers offering many advantages. The first advantage of shopping online is that it is convenient. You don’t need to spend any of you hard earned money in buying fuel to go to the mall. All you need is just a few clicks of your mouse and you get what you want. The stress of waiting in jam for many hours is eliminated by online shopping. In addition you won’t hassle for parking space or where to leave your kids when shopping online (Bigne and Enrique 123). Online stores are always open 24 hours a day through the year so you have all the time you need to do your shopping without bothering anyone or rushing to beat the store’s closing time. In addition while shopping online you can browse through the different products you want or if you are not decided you can compare the products offered in different online stores and buy the one that satisfies you. You can be able to track your purchases easily online using the carts services provided by online stores .This isn’t possible with shopping at a local mall. Lastly for people who feel shy buying certain products like hair growth lotion , they can make their purchase online anonymously with no ever knowing anything. Online shopping offers the ultimate convenience to shoppers. Secondly shopping online allows saving. Online stores offer products and services at affordable prices as compared to the local mall. This is due to the fact that online stores don’t have overhead costs associated with local mall like rent, display, utilities and many more. Most of the time it is such cost that end up being transferred to the consumers at local malls making prices of commodities a bit higher. You buy cheaper and therefore save money. Also when shopping online as a consumer you are able to get products at lower prices. This is especially so if the product in question is being manufactured in that country. The idea here is that products from a country are sold at a lower price in that country than in foreign market. Therefore the possibility of buying from an online store owned by a manufacturer allows buying at a cheaper price. Another advantage is that online shopping offers variety and simple international purchases. In online shopping there is no geographical boundary. This means that consumers can buy products from all over the world. This is particularly if what you want is not easily available at your area. This allows buyers and sellers from across the globe to come together and interact. Through such interactions consumers air out their grievances and suggestions of improving products and sellers also market more of their products (Montaldo 34). In addition you have limitless options on products available in online shopping since online shopping offers a variety of products to choose from. Products that are difficult to find in local malls such as niche health products like all natural health supplements can be found with ease in online stores. This also includes products that are not available at your local mall. Last but not least buying online allows making of informed decisions before buying. This is because as a consumer looking for a certain product online you can access that products review before making up your mind. Product reviews are usually done by experienced users of that product or it can be done by the manufacturer of the product. Through such reviews you are able to comprehend the pros and cons o the product which will help you gauge how useful it will be to you (Montaldo 78). You are also informed on how to use a product in case you haven’t used it before. In addition there is a provision for consumers to leave there comments and views about a product and also ask questions regarding it. This prevents being misguided by the local malls assistants who most of the times know very little about the products they sell. You will not end up buying something that you regret about it later if you are keen in reading and understanding product reviews. It goes without saying that the internet in addition to being a source of information has transformed shopping for the better. It is crystal clear and evident from above that shopping online has accrued a lot of advantages to the consumers. Through online shopping you can purchase your needed products conveniently from the comfort of your home. Online shopping offers products at competitive prices enabling you to save. In addition since online shops don’t incur overhead costs you are able to buy at cheaper prices as compared to a local mall. Additionally, you are able to select from a variety of products online when shopping and in addition you can purchase products from anywhere in the world. You also get the chance to interact with sellers and manufacturers of products directly when shopping online. Lastly online shopping provides for making an informed decision before purchasing products through product reviews. This prevents mistakenly buying goods you have no proper knowledge on. All this explain why more and more people prefer to do their shopping online as compare to doing it at their local malls. According to Montaldo (52) it is true that online shopping surpasses shopping at the mall for it not only saves money but also keeps in check ones comfort and privacy.

Montaldo D, The pros and cons of online shopping. MA: The MIT Press, 2001. Retrieved from http://couponing.about.com/od/bargainshop/a/hiddencosts.htm Bigne, Enrique. The Impact of Internet User Shopping Patterns and Demographics on Consumer Mobile Buying Behavior. Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, 2005.

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Online Shopping vs. In-Store Shopping Essay

Disclaimer: This paper has been submitted by a student. This is not a sample of the work written by professional academic writers.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this work are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of StudySaurus.

Online shopping has definitely become a new trend. With a few similarities to shopping in the store, online shopping is very different. Online shopping is convenient and easy. However, shopping in stores offers things that can’t be done through the internet.

Shopping online is convenient in many ways. You don’t have to drive to the store, or spend half an hour looking for a parking space. There aren’t any long lines to wait in, or big crowds to fight through on Black Friday. Most stores will offer a larger variety of products online than they do in their store. Another convenient part of shopping online is that it is delivered right to your house! Plus, most stores will offer online codes for discounts and exclusives.

While online stores have their benefits, shopping in store provides things that cannot be given online. Such as being able to see what you buy. You can try on your clothes to see how they feel and how they fit, whereas online you could end up with an itchy sweater that’s two sizes too small. In-store shopping also insures that your item is not defective, and that it’s really what you asked for. If you buy it online it might be broken, or maybe the wrong color. Another reason it’s different from shopping online is there is no shipping fee!

Return policies for online and in-store also have similarities and differences. If a store allows returns, it will allow you to return or exchange your item whether you bought it online or in store. You provide the receipt along with your items, and they will exchange them or give you your money back. The only difference being the process of doing so. Online, you will have to pay to mail it back and wait for it to get there, wait for the store to process it, and wait for your return. When returning to the store, you will leave with your return within minutes. Shopping online is a fast, convenient, and easy way to shop.

Shopping in the store provides you with a peace of mind that the item you bought will be the exact item you wished for. You can feel and touch your item before purchasing it. However, the decision to shop online or to shop in-store is up to the customer.

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COMMENTS

Online Shopping vs In-Store Shopping: Which Is Better?
When it comes to online shopping versus in-store shopping, the convenience of online shopping clearly stands out. A shopping list that once might have required an entire day of shopping can now be completed in one sitting thanks to online shopping platforms – if you can wait for delivery.
Online Shopping Versus In-Store Shopping: [Essay Example
Online shopping and in-store shopping differ in various ways. The cost, convince and customer service are the major differences. First, the cost of shopping online is cheaper than shopping in store as the online business owner does not need to pay for the wages of the store associates.
Online Shopping Versus In-Store Shopping
Online shopping is better because it is more convenient, save more time, and save more money than in-store shopping. Online shopping is more convenient than in-store shopping because people can buy anything no matter where they are. With shopping online, they are easily to find and get the old things that no longer produce, or the used things.
Online Shopping Vs In Store Shopping Essay
Online shopping offers the ultimate convenience to shoppers. Secondly shopping online allows saving. Online stores offer products and services at affordable prices as compared to the local mall. This is due to the fact that online stores don’t have overhead costs associated with local mall like rent, display, utilities and many more.
Online Shopping vs. In-Store Shopping Essay
While online stores have their benefits, shopping in store provides things that cannot be given online. Such as being able to see what you buy. You can try on your clothes to see how they feel and how they fit, whereas online you could end up with an itchy sweater that’s two sizes too small.