by Dimuthu Samarasinghe

Created on: January 06, 2010   Last Updated: January 07, 2010

Most modern day shoppers would undoubtedly opt for on-line shopping as opposed to traditional shopping methods. Reasons being easy access, convenience in finding anything you want in minimum time, virtual sampling options and more variety at reduced price.

Below are the fundamentals that most on-line shoppers overlook:

Security of your transaction:The advancement of technology has made it affordable and accessible to a mass audience which is a positive factor. The negative effect of this is it also has led to a growth in forged transactions, hacking, violation of privacy and increased risk in sharing sensitive information on-line. There are enough and more instances where consumers encounter stolen shopping IDs or forged credit card transactions. Though experts are trying their level best to increase security levels, there is no guarantee for us shoppers on a satisfactory solution.

Meeting expectations: As shoppers our expectations are relatively high specially when quality and money is involved. It's true that virtual reality offer us with tools to enjoy a very realistic on-line sampling experience. But do we get the mental satisfaction we are accustomed to receive when we try out a well fitting pair of jeans? It's never going to be like trying out the real thing. Also its hard to evaluate product quality when purchasing on-line. Thus in a way we should even be ready to face the disappointment if the product does not meet our expectations or image promised by merchants.

Shopping as a mode of social interaction: Is shopping limited to just shopping? Not exactly for most of us. It's what we do for fun with the people we love to hang out with. In this busy world most of us rely on on-line social networks to interact with our friends. However shopping is the next best alternative. Most families make seasonal shopping a family event. Some even shop as a habit. Also purchasing a Christmas gift on-line cannot be compared to visiting the colourful shopping mall during the season. This experience cannot be matched or evaluated against factors such as convenience or efficiency offered when shopping on-line.

Other factors to be considered are hassle we go through with shipping limitations and delays. Most often, free shipping is offered within selected geographical areas only. Thus the final price of a purchase inclusive of shipping charges will be relatively higher than the market price. Also due to security measures and quality issues, customers would think twice before paying for purchases with high monetary value.

If it's an emergency I too would go on-line for my shopping. But considering the risks and mental satisfaction we are bound let go, I would think twice before taking up on-line shopping as an alternative to traditional shopping.

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