by Amanda Evans

Created on: December 01, 2008

Online shopping versus bricks and mortar shopping is something that everyone will have their own personal opinion on and for the sake of this article I am going to share my views and thoughts on the subject.

Comparing online shopping and offline shopping has to be broken down into the various different categories. After all, shopping for groceries is totally different to shopping for DVD's. Let's take a look at each of these categories individually and see exactly what the differences are.

Grocery Shopping

When it comes to grocery shopping I am definitely in favour of offline shopping.
I like to see exactly what I am putting in my trolley. I like to check my fresh fruit and vegetables and you can't do a squeeze test online now can you? Another thing I like to do is try out new brands and avail of promotional offers.
While you can do this online, you can't see exactly how big or small something is. I also don't like the fact that if you order your groceries online and they run out of a particular item you are given a replacement item instead.
What if you end up getting a brand you don't like? Take for example butter or ketchup. There are people who only like a particular brand and they don't want to pay for an alternative. Another thing that I enjoy about offline grocery shopping is the social aspect of it.
You get to go out and meet people even if it is just a friendly chat with the checkout operator.

Does online shopping have advantages? There is one, and that is that your groceries are delivered to your door, but I'm afraid for me that really is about it.

Clothes Shopping

When it comes to clothes shopping again I have to say that I am in favour of offline purchases. I like to try on the clothes I want to buy to see exactly how they fit. In saying that, I have been known to purchase an item or two online. If I do buy some clothing online though, it is normally something that I have previously purchased or a brand name that I know and love. I wouldn't purchase new jeans online because every make is different in their fit. T-shirts are fine but everything else really needs to be tried on before buying. I do have one exception to this rule and this is online shopping that allows you to return your items if you are not happy with them. Most catalogue companies support this feature and have the facility whereby you can pay for your purchases in installments.

The real benefits of shopping for your clothes in regular stores is the fact that once again it is a social thing and there is nothing better than a good day out shopping to put you in a great mood.

Books/DVD's/CD's

This is one category where I am definitely in favour of online shopping. Not only can you get the best deals online, but you can also get the best price too. If you are looking for older books, DVD's, or CD's then again online is the place to shop. Amazon and Ebay are two of my top websites to visit when I am looking for books or CD's.
Play.com is my favourite for DVD's as they stock all the new releases, ship them for free, and they are cheaper than all the major stores.

If you read e-books or listen to MP3's then you have to shop online and with iPods, Kindles, and Sony readers becoming increasingly popular it is only a matter of time before online shopping for this reading and music really takes over.

That is my opinion on online shopping versus offline shopping. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and really what it all boils down to is your own personal preference.

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