Advantages and disadvantages of online shopping free essay sample

Today clothing, technology, beauty products, furniture even groceries can be purchased via the internet. The idea of not having to wait in long lines or in traffic, shift through racks of clothing looking for the item you need or being able to shop at any time preferably in your pjs has caused more people to turn online for all their shopping needs. Online furniture stores are also increasing in popularity, and will continue to increase as the internet grows. Many people are choosing to skip the trip and purchase their sofas and other home furnishing from the comfort of their home. With that said, here a few advantages/disadvantages before shopping online. ADVANTAGES: Shopping is not limited to retail store hours. You can now shop anywhere and at anytime. This means that if your daily schedule doesnt allow for picking up house hold necessities or if you get the shopping bug at 12am; your shopping mall is now just one click away . We will write a custom essay sample on Advantages and disadvantages of online shopping or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Comparison shopping has been made easier due to online shopping. Instead of driving around wasting gas or spending hours on the bus in travel time you can visit all the stores that you’re interested in at once. This eliminates time going from store to store to see what is available and at what price If you love knowing the latest styles, or having unique pieces then online shopping makes it easier to do so as well. Easier to find discounts on the sofa you’re looking for. Websites such as Ebay, Amazon and many other websites out there offer amazing prices on must have items. Online stores usually offer online specials as well, and there are multiple websites dedicated to sharing these deals with you. DISADVANTAGES: You usually have to wait long periods of time to receive your items. Sometimes, this can take up to a month or longer if being shipped from overseas. There could be delays on the delivery and miscommunications. Shipping costs on your item can be extremely high in comparison to what you paid for the item, sometimes making the purchase not worth it. Sometimes looks can be deceiving. You dont get to test the product before you buy it. What might have looked beautiful to you in picture might not live up to your expectations once received. Then what? If it’s an online store that doesn’t have a local store in your area, returning the item can be a HUGE hassle. Make sure before you purchase online that you are clear on the stores return policies. Make sure that no matter how good the deal is that you have the option to return if need be. Another factor to remember about returns. You will have to pay the charge for shipping it back, repackaging, and stocking in most cases, unless it’s a manufacturing problem. People worry about fraud or theft with credit cards purchases. Make sure every website you shop from is security verified secure and protected and has this information displayed clearly on their website. Also, read the privacy policy on the website to see what they will do with your information. Do everything to ensure your safety while shopping online. Make sure you are shopping from a reputable site. If something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t.