by David Wolstenholm

Created on: December 28, 2010

Five years ago I would have said that online shopping is the best way to go. Today, our world is much different. There are three main reasons why shopping in stores is better now than it was five years ago. First, people want to get a feel for what they are buying. Second, it is cheaper to shop in person. Third, technology has advanced so much that we can do comparison shopping online while at the store. Let’s dive into these three reasons a bit more.

The bubble has burst.

Shopping online is a real convenience. About 10 to 15 years ago, online shopping began to boom. Along with reputable dealers, deceptive practices soon began to rise. When you shop online, so many things can go wrong. What you see is not always what you get. Shipping can be delayed. Product can be damaged in the shipping process. Product may get put on back order. Extra shipping fees can pop up. You can end up with a much bigger headache than what you anticipated.

Online shopping was supposed to help us with our time, especially during the holiday season. Instead, it has caused headaches. People want to be able to put their hands on the things that they are buying, particularly those things they are buying for themselves. Looking at something on a computer screen is not the same as looking at something in real life. 

Money in the bank

This recession that we are in has made people think about money and how they spend it. What is better for my wallet, buying online or at a store? If you buy something online then you are going to have to pay shipping costs and have to wait for the item to get to you. If you buy from the store you don’t have to pay shipping and you have the item right away. You have to pay money in gas and time to get to the store. Look at both to see what is cheaper and works best for you. Most of the time it will be cheaper to buy in the store.

Technology rules

The best thing for savvy shoppers to do is to look online at different locations for the item they want. Then they can weigh their decision of where to go. What do you do when you see something while you are out shopping? You can get an app for your phone to do the research for you. Barcode scanner apps for your phone can search the internet for the best possible deal. You can even buy online, if you so wish, right from your phone. 

In summary, online shopping is not a better way to shop. The best way to shop is to utilize both online window shopping and store shopping. If you find a better deal online and can wait for the product then go for it. In the end, it is better to actually see the product you want in real life before taking it home with you.

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