Spring Break
Is Online Shopping A Better Way To Buy?
Two Daily Campus Writers Take Sides
Alyse Taub and Melissa Vega
Issue date: 12/10/07 Section: Finals Extra
Shopping Online Is Risky; You Just Can't Beat The Real Thing -- By Alyse Taub
As the Internet becomes more and more a part of our everyday lives, so does online shopping. Or does it?
Although many have embraced online shopping, the majority still prefers the traditional shopping experience. According to shop.org, online sales still account for less than 10 percent of total retail sales and recent studies show that the growth rate of online sales is slowing down.
Hidden fees such as shipping and processing fees, inability to see and touch what you're buying, and wait time to receive the items are among the many complaints associated with online shopping. Additionally, many companies charge fees to ship back and reshelf items that are returned, something that can often be avoided if the consumer saw the item prior to the purchase.
"I would never buy something online that you have to try on, like a dress," said Kelsey Lundgren, a 3rd-semester exploratory major.
Other trends in online shopping include using Web sites to find the lowest price after seeing the item in the store or using the online shopping sites to get background information on an item and then purchasing it in the store. Both trends demonstrate the consumer's desire to see and touch an item before they purchase it.
The bottom line is consumers want a more interactive experience when it comes to shopping, whether it's in a store or online.
"The leveling off of e-commerce reflects the practical and psychological limitations of shopping online, according to Nancy F. Koehn, a professor at Harvard Business School who studies retailing and consumer habits, as quoted in The New York Times. "As physical stores have made the in-person buying experience more pleasurable, online stores have continued to give shoppers a blasé experience. In addition, online shopping, because it involves a computer, feels like work to some consumers."
In addition to the unwillingness of shoppers to open their wallets, the sites are under physical limitations as well. For one thing, many online shopping sites cannot handle the increased capacity of the holiday shopping season.
As the Internet becomes more and more a part of our everyday lives, so does online shopping. Or does it?
Although many have embraced online shopping, the majority still prefers the traditional shopping experience. According to shop.org, online sales still account for less than 10 percent of total retail sales and recent studies show that the growth rate of online sales is slowing down.
Hidden fees such as shipping and processing fees, inability to see and touch what you're buying, and wait time to receive the items are among the many complaints associated with online shopping. Additionally, many companies charge fees to ship back and reshelf items that are returned, something that can often be avoided if the consumer saw the item prior to the purchase.
"I would never buy something online that you have to try on, like a dress," said Kelsey Lundgren, a 3rd-semester exploratory major.
Other trends in online shopping include using Web sites to find the lowest price after seeing the item in the store or using the online shopping sites to get background information on an item and then purchasing it in the store. Both trends demonstrate the consumer's desire to see and touch an item before they purchase it.
The bottom line is consumers want a more interactive experience when it comes to shopping, whether it's in a store or online.
"The leveling off of e-commerce reflects the practical and psychological limitations of shopping online, according to Nancy F. Koehn, a professor at Harvard Business School who studies retailing and consumer habits, as quoted in The New York Times. "As physical stores have made the in-person buying experience more pleasurable, online stores have continued to give shoppers a blasé experience. In addition, online shopping, because it involves a computer, feels like work to some consumers."
In addition to the unwillingness of shoppers to open their wallets, the sites are under physical limitations as well. For one thing, many online shopping sites cannot handle the increased capacity of the holiday shopping season.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
DotRebates
posted 2/03/08 @ 2:33 PM EST
Check out Dotrebates.com to save on all of your online purchases. Hundreds of popular stores available to earn cash back with no registration ever required. (Continued…)
vivian
posted 9/21/08 @ 11:43 PM EST
I-b2c.com is a professional online shopping mall from china to worldwide. We sell full range of commodities made in china under good quality assurance. (Continued…)
Watch out for those fake reviews
posted 10/08/08 @ 2:29 AM EST
Something to watch out for are fake reviews... affiliate marketers advertise their sites on the sponsored links in the right-hand side of Google searches. (Continued…)
Fast Payday Loans
posted 11/28/08 @ 5:46 AM EST
The holidays are just around the corner, and I know I will only be using fast payday loans if it's absolutely necessary. Like whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens, holiday shopping is one of my favorite things. (Continued…)
Cash Loans
posted 2/13/09 @ 10:03 PM EST
I think a lot of people still avoid shopping online because they don't want to wait for it to be delivered. Those who shop online will usually sacrifice the wait for a wider selection and lower price. (Continued…)
Teresa Carder
posted 2/21/09 @ 6:07 AM EST
Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce or eCommerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. (Continued…)
Maria Schellden
posted 2/28/09 @ 9:44 AM EST
Yes i agree with you , and nice news thanks. This realy nice news , i watch for them .
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posted 3/31/09 @ 4:06 PM EST
The several outstanding characteristics of online shopping is the accessibility and the array of items for that to choose. Online shopping, and its 24/7 access, provides long period of time to do price. (Continued…)
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posted 4/02/09 @ 7:40 PM EST
Online shopping has grown at an incredible rate in the past few years, not as of brilliant marketing campaigns by savvy stores; simply when it's a fast and convenient way to shop for most things. (Continued…)
Dealsglobe
posted 4/03/09 @ 6:21 AM EST
Now a days most of the people are willing to purchase their items through Online, because they want save the time, and they want check the price comparison between the merchants. (Continued…)
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