by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: November 30, 2009

Despite the fact that it is cheaper to shop online than in stores, as well as being much more convenient, there are still many people who prefer to actually shop in person than to order products online. Some people still seem to have doubts about security, fearing that shopping online could expose them to identity theft or their money being siphoned out of their bank account. There are also people who may not have access to the internet or do not know how easy it is to buy online, so that they avoid doing so. Most people probably combine shopping online with shopping in real-life stores depending on what their shopping needs are.

These individuals are probably more likely to do their grocery shopping online, since it is much easier to pop into the supermarket to buy a pint of milk than to order it over the internet. However, there are those individuals who do not live close to any shops, and thus find themselves doing their weekly grocery shopping online. In the main, though, grocery shopping over the internet hasn't taken off as much as the purchasing of CDs, DVDs, electrical goods, clothing and shoes.

There are those individuals who don't use the internet even when purchasing such non-food items, as they remain fearful about giving up their credit or debit card details or don't feel they have sufficient knowledge of how to use the internet, if they have access to the internet. Perhaps, shopping in stores is just so much a part of their routine, has become such a habit, that they can't envisage shopping in any other way, even if doing so could save them quite a bit of money and time. Indeed, the people who do their shopping online tend to do so because of the range of products available, the savings that can be made, and because they can shop at any time of day without leaving their home.

Some individuals actually enjoy shopping, though, precisely because it gives them an excuse to leave the house. They might enjoy hunting in different shops for a specific item, trying on different clothes or shoes, and stumbling upon 'bargains'. Clearly, there are some advantages to shopping in person in the case of clothes, for instance, as you can try them on and make sure they fit, which isn't possible when you buy clothing online.

Internet shopping has increased in popularity, but internet shops are unlikely to replace real shops altogether because there some products are easier to buy in person, while there remain people who prefer to purchase goods in stores rather than online.

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