by Jennifer Searle

Created on: December 01, 2008   Last Updated: December 04, 2009

Online shopping has grown in popularity over the last ten years, but still does not make up for half of retail sales done through brick and mortar stores. Nevertheless, according to Forrester Research Inc, retail sales online is expected to reach, and possibly exceed $204 billion by the end of 2008.

Eventually all shopping might be done without ever going into a store, but for now, shopping in an actual store or mall is still the way most people do their shopping. There are benefits to both as well as draw backs, but it is nice to have the option between the two.

Online shopping can alleviate some of the headache of waiting in lines, dealing with crowds and the general nuisance of shopping in a store. It can also be nice when shopping for people who live out of town where gifts can be mailed directly from the online store to whomever you desire and usually can arrive gift wrapped. Many online retailers will offer low cost shipping and frequently free shipping, as part of a sale, or like Overstock.com with their $2.95 shipping every day on most orders. Yet, there are many online stores with high shipping costs, and like some auction sites, people may over charge for shipping to make up for 99 cent deals.

Most retailers offer expanded sizes, selections, and options when shopping online in addition to their in-store merchandise. Shops like American Eagle, who in the store rarely carry clothing over size 14 for women and XL for men, carry plus sized women's clothes and larger sized men's clothing online. Aside from finding larger sizes, often when stores are out of a product in store, they can be found online and even back-ordered at a sale price.

Shopping auction sites like Ebay can be fun as well as a bargain shoppers dream. But, much like a lawn sale, you have to dig through countless pages to find anything you might want. This can lead to hours hunched over in front of your computer giving you a stiff neck and still not find what you are looking for. This can lead to shopper's frustration and many wasted hours that could be better spent doing something else.

There is also such a plethora of items being sold online you can virtually find anything you ever wanted. This is a major advantage for those who are not lucky enough to live in large shopping cities. It is also nice to find specialty items or one of a kind artesian items that you can only find on a website.

The disadvantage of online is also the most advantageous part of shopping in a store, seeing and

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