Online Shopping: Is it Good or Bad?
Alex Mahone August 5, 2024E-commerce has truly changed our lives. What could be better than getting everything and anything you want without moving an inch? Kudos to the technology that is growing leaps and bounds. It has reached a level that today is not a matter of days but a few minutes.
Craving for a sandwich but don’t have bread? Or have a party in 3 days but don’t have matching footwear? The best option available to you is ordering the items ‘online’. Digital literacy knows no bounds today. Complimenting this, several applications are available to make it easier for people to shop online. Some of them are category-specific, while some of them have everything onboard for their customers for wider choice.
Today, Indian e-commerce is booming. More and more entrepreneurs are interested in investing and developing new features to add to people’s online shopping experience. However, there is always another side to consider. As simple as online shopping has made our lives, there are some drawbacks that one must look out for. Before we opt for shopping online, we must be aware of advantages and disadvantages of online shopping, as this would help us in choosing where to spend our hard-earned money.
Exploring options online has its challenges. Everything has its pros and cons, and so does online shopping. Let’s look into a few of them:
Beginning with the positive side, let’s begin with the advantages of online shopping:
1. Time-saving & convenient
One of the most promising reasons why people prefer to shop online rather than go to the store is its convenience factor. The process is time-saving and it can be done at any time of the day, be it 3 am or 3 pm. In addition to that, there is the convenience of place too. You can order your product from your couch, car, office, or any corner of the world.
2. Choice
It is rather tedious to ask a salesperson to show options after a few times. For some, it’s awkward to ask repeatedly. Online shopping eliminates such uncomfortable situations and gives you a wide choice. You can explore and scroll through as many options as you want. Online shopping offers the flexibility to shop from retailers who have businesses in other parts of the world.
3. Affordability
Another advantage of shopping online is the affordability. There are great deals and discounts on different categories of products. More than that, there are clearance sales, coupon codes, credit points, and debit card discounts, which can get customers a high-quality product at a considerably lower price.
4. Easy returns and exchange
Imagine you got the wrong size or a dress didn’t look as good as it looked at the store. The hassle of re-visiting the store and requesting the owner to return it can be awkward. As for online shopping, it is as simple as ordering it online. All you have to do is click on request return, and voila! You are done! The delivery person picks your product, and the amount gets credited to your account.
Let’s look at some of the disadvantages:
1. Frauds
Online shopping comes with its challenges. Some fraudulent sellers sell low-standard products. There have been many cases where high-end brands have faced challenges, wherein someone was selling counterfeit products, impacting their reputation and discouraging customers from buying anything from them.
2. Safety and privacy concerns
As you enter any online website, your personal information gets shared, including your debit/credit card details. Hackers take advantage of it and try to steal it through cyberattacks.
3. Lack of First-hand experience
While shopping online, you do not have an option to try first and buy later. You cannot try on the clothes, inspect electronics or check their quality.
4. Risk of receiving fake products
You are always at risk of receiving something entirely different from what you ordered. Always beware of misleading product images. Check for the customer reviews first and then buy the product.
Final Thoughts
Everything has its good side and bad side. It’s up to its user how he or she uses them. Online shopping is no different. It undoubtedly adds ease to your life but has some limitations too. A balance between them is essential for a good online shopping experience. As much as the website’s, it is also the customer’s responsibility to shop online wisely.
