Question 1
I notice that the m-commerce helps to reduce the whole process in terms of time. This is due to the fact that everything can be done at once. In traditional shopping people spend the time on their way to the shopping center and try the products. However, the m-commerce reduces the buying process even more, because usually people adjust the app to their needs and insert their buying information in the beginning. Mobile-commerce affects mostly the stages: evaluation of alternatives and the purchase itself. Evaluation of alternatives can happen everywhere, even on the go, because usually it is the application, that is adjusted to the person, which automatically offers alternatives. Also, the purchase can be done on-line by one click. Additionally, a varied range of payments is one of the benefits, that affects the purchase (Gürbüz et al., 2015, p. 393).
Question 2
Consumption online has both advantages and disadvantages. Browsing and shopping online reduces time, helps to find the best option, because of usually a broader range of offerings (for example, from all over the world), the packages are delivered to your home and you can return goods. So, it is convenient. However, it also has drawbacks. First, you can’t try the products (such as clothes and shoes) online and if you don’t like them, you spend extra time to return them. Also, shopping is a social process, when people meet, spend the time together and buy things. However, online shopping, especially m-commerce (when it is only you and your mobile phone), eliminates the opportunity to socialize.
Privacy concern is one of the most powerful issue that affects consumer perceptions and behavior online (Benou et al., 2012, p. 93). Also, recent research revealed that people trust online shopping less due to cybercrimes. The perception of security has fallen down and if companies and the government don’t fix it, the e-commerce market can fall down (Hardekopf 2015). This implies to me that with all the benefits of e-commerce there are still many powerful drawbacks, that prevent people from online shopping.
Question 3
I personally more in favor of traditional shopping method, because I can’t try or touch products, while buying online. Shopping online is a good way of getting goods that you don’t have in your city for some reason. That is why I shop online only after I have checked the local stores and did not find there what I needed.
Question 4
Both these days have the same idea of selling things for better deals and increasing sales. They differ from each other by the assortment of goods with deals. However, if to compare these two days, Black Friday is more beneficial for consumers. This is because as I noticed Black Friday usually offers electronic goods and Cyber Monday offers more clothing deals. In my opinion, people get more satisfied while buying long-term products with reduced price. Also, there are many other periods of good deals in fashion industry, that spending time on Cyber Monday is just not reasonable. Black Friday happens in the end of the week, it is announced earlier and people prepare themselves and pick products. After Thanksgiving day, a celebration with the family, no one probably has the time to prepare and choose what to buy wisely.
References
Benou, P., Vassilakis, C., & Vrechopoulos, A. (2012). Context management for m-commerce applications: Determinants, methodology and the role of marketing. Information Technology and Management Inf Technol Manag, 13(2), 91-111.
Gürbüz, A., Ayaz, N., & Albayrak, M. (2015). Consumer Decision-Making Process in E-Commerce: Case of Salzburg-Ankara. Journal of Business Research - Turk Isader, 7(3), 377-377.
Hardekopf, B. (2015, October 31). 3 of 4 Consumers Have Changed Online Behavior Due to Cybercrime. Retrieved February 15, 2016, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2015/10/31/3-of-4-consumers-have-changed-online-behavior-due-to-cybercrime/#2afe37d93e7f
