Since the early 1900s, shopping has become a past-time for many families to spend time together, or to reduce the stress of daily life. Shopping can be done in-store or by mail-order which is still practiced today. However, with the invention of the internet and the establishment of online shops, many are enticed to try these shops and do their shopping through the internet to save time and money. Despite the demand for convenient ways to purchase items and save time, in-store shopping still has advantages that online shopping still has difficulties recreating.
In-store shopping mostly became popular sometime around the 1900s when economists decided to introduce to the people the products that would support their luxury and their economy. In-store shopping is usually referred to as “brick” stores as consumers would have to visit physical stores to scan the items they wish to purchase. Once they have selected the purchase, they would have to go to the counter to have their items scanned through a barcode reader. Transactions can be paid either by credit card or cash. Online shopping or e-commerce was first discovered in 1990 when Pizza Hut started offering online ordering and delivery through a special website. The function of internet shopping is normally done using the business-to-consumer system or B2C. Online shopping portals vary from what shopping cart programs they use, while payment is done by securely using encryptions to ensure information privacy. Online shoppers can also select as to how the purchased items can be shipped to the customer. For a small fee, clients may opt to receive their items immediately or use the economy method, which is normally offered for free .
Studies have noted that both online shopping and in-store shopping have their advantages and disadvantages. However, there are still flaws in online shopping that can be done in in-store shopping. One example is the sensory information about the product as some stores do not indicate the fabric, the quality and the exact measurements, which may cause shoppers to purchase the wrong size or measurement. In-store shopping enables customers to scan the product before they decide on purchasing the product. Another advantage of in-store shopping is the immediate delivery of the product without the additional shipping costs as online bought items take at least 10-15 days before it can be delivered to the customer. The in-store shopping environment also enables a customer to meet up with other people. It also enables shoppers to experience the physical and stress-relieving activity in-store shopping can offer. It is also argued that online shopping does not provide a social and recreational atmosphere that only in-store shopping can do. Jobs are also opened in in-store shopping as physical stores would need a lot of manpower to continue ensuring quality products and stocks are in place. In online shopping, only a few people, if not one, work to cater to their customers. .
Although online shopping presents many benefits that would enable shoppers to do their shopping more efficiently and with less time, nothing can compare to the experience and sense of achievement given by traditional in-store shopping. Not only does in-store shopping cater to the demand for additional employment, shoppers are given optimum experience shopping can do to them. It may take years and additional developments to enable online shopping to render the same on-hand experience in-store shopping can provide.
Works Cited
Hartner, Martina. Shopping at Www.libri.de - What Keeps Me There, what Makes Me Leave?: A Simulation-based Investigation of the Approach-avoidance conflict. San Francisco: GRIN Verlag, 2009. Print.
Ison, Stephen and Tom Rye. The Implementation and Effectiveness of Transport Demand Management Measures: An International Perspective. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing, 2008. Print.
