traditional shopping vs online shopping essay

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Online Shopping vs Traditional Shopping, Essay Example

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Even before internet became a widespread phenomenon, futurists used to predict that a day will come when we may shop from the comfort of our homes. It might have seemed a strange idea in those times but now we finally understand what they truly meant. Online commerce has emerged as a serious challenger to traditional brick-and-mortar commerce. Both formats have their own pros and cons and it may be mistake to declare either online shopping or traditional shopping as the superior of the two shopping formats. People have different lifestyles and whether online shopping or traditional shopping may be a better option, depend upon the needs of the individual customers.

Online shopping is a better option when time and prices are the main concerns. Online shopping makes it easier to do quick price-comparison among different online retailers and do so inexpensively. Unlike traditional shopping in which one has to go from store to store for price comparison, online shopping tools allow price comparison among hundreds of online retailers in few seconds. In addition, one can purchase items online from virtually anywhere and anytime of the day as long as there is an internet access. Thus, online shopping may also appeal more to those who have very busy work schedule and cannot afford to spare few hours for traditional shopping. Traditional shopping may appeal more to those who actually like to experience or try the items in person and who enjoy the experience of shopping in mall as much as they enjoy purchasing the items. They view the time spent in traditional shopping also as an opportunity to bond with friends and family. Those who prefer traditional shopping may also care about prices but they have an idea of what they want to pay and do not want to spend too much time and efforts to find the cheapest-possible price. But traditional shoppers may switch to online shopping during difficult economic times because not only online shopping results in better deals, it also allows the shoppers to save on fuel costs. Online retailers understand this which is why many now offer an opportunity to customers to qualify for free shopping.

Whether online shopping and traditional shopping is a better option also depends upon the nature of the goods and services purchased. While online shopping is suitable for many items such as electronics, clothing, and grooming products etc., goods such as perishable food item and big-ticket splurges may be best suited to traditional shopping. Big-ticket splurges are specifically suited to traditional shopping because they often require huge financial investment and require personal inspection and/or test-trials. Some items are so complex or need to be customized that traditional shopping is the only option.

Traditional shopping appeals more when we also enjoy discovering new things in the shopping mall and do not always know what we want to buy. In online shopping, we usually know what we are looking for. But when we know what we want, online retailers have an advantage over traditional retailers. Online retailers do not have to invest in physical infrastructure, thus, they can display lot more varieties on their website than a traditional retailer.

Both online shopping and traditional shopping meet different needs, thus, it is common for most people to employ both shopping formats. Shopping is a lot more than just purchasing goods or services. Online shopping is a relatively new phenomenon, thus, it will continue to evolve and get better over time while traditional shopping format may continue to exist more or less unchanged.

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Online Shopping vs. Traditional Shopping Essay

Introduction, comparisons and contrast.

The advent of internet shopping in the late nineties created a revolution in the retail industry. Benefits that were previously inaccessible to the masses became a reality. Today, buyers can get the latest I-Pad from Apple at the click of a button. They can purchase the latest designer-colognes from Paris, even if they live in New York. One, therefore, wonders whether online shopping will replace traditional shopping. Through a contrast and comparison of these two shopping channels, it can then be possible to answer the latter question.

Some of the most advent supporters of online shopping are environmentalists. Many of them assert that online shopping eliminates the need for consumers to transport themselves to a physical store. This saves on fuel charges and paper. Similarly, traditional shopping from a supermarket or in a mall can also save on plenty of energy costs.

Customers can get everything they require under one roof, thus eliminating the need to transport themselves from one point to another. This saves on fuel and other charges that emanate from physical movement of people for shopping. On the other hand, these two channels differ in terms of their environmental-friendliness.

Individuals can use the Postal service to ship their online commodities. Since the postal service is bound to come to a certain neighborhood anyway, then fuel costs can be minimized. Such economies are unavailable in traditional brick and motor stores. Furthermore, one can buy multiple items from distant locations and save volumes of fuel. Traditional retail stores would require one to drive physically to the concerned store, even though it might be located all the way in China.

Both types of shopping avenues provide buyers with a certain level of comfort and ease. Customers go to online stores in order to avoid the overcrowding and hurling that is synonymous to traditional stores. This is quite helpful during the holiday seasons. Buyers can transform their shopping into a pleasant experience by simply avoiding these crowded areas. Similarly, some customers go to traditional stores in order to enjoy a different type of comfort.

They approach these physical stores in order to access immediate help from sales persons concerning certain items. Shopping from traditional stores allows retailers to consult about the features of a certain product and this causes them a certain level of ease and comfort. On the other hand, traditional retailers cannot offer the same level of comfort that online stores can.

In online shopping, buyers simply have to select an item and pay; everything else is handled by the internet firm. Conversely, shoppers from physical stores have to plan for their transportation to and from the brick and mortar store. If the products they are purchasing are bulky, then they must make special arrangements to carry the item to their homes.

All channels of shopping furnish customers with information about the features of products. It is possible to know about the sizes, features, and costs of products in online and traditional shopping. Conversely, the dependability of the information differs substantially depending on whether one is using online shopping or traditional methods. Many customers have complained about misleading information or unavailable information in online stores.

Buyers who need advise about using a certain product or need to inquire about its capabilities in traditional stores can easily get this information from sales persons. On the contrary, one cannot get this information easily from internet forums. Some websites may have contact numbers or e-chat forums; however, these are not available in all of them. Online shoppers only have pictures and product descriptions to know everything they need to know about a product.

This method may work for certain types of products that have low prices and minimal modifications. However, the same approach may not work for expensive and highly customizable products such as cars or houses. Few customers would buy houses based solely on a product description or picture they saw; many would want to see the spacing and features in that house. Automobile purchasers would also need to test-drive items before they can walk away with them. In this regard, internet channels fall short because they cannot provide personalized information or experiences.

It is possible to compare prices in these two avenues. One can walk from shop to shop and find the best offers in one’s location. The same thing happens in internet shopping. One can visit a number of websites and compare the prices offered by these entities. In contrast, it is much easier to compare prices on the internet than in physical locations. If a store was located in a different city, it would be impractical to drive all the way to that store simply to find out what their prices are. Therefore, online shopping is superior in this regard.

These two platforms are both vulnerable to theft or fraud. In physical stores, criminals may organize a massive robbery and this can cause substantial losses to the concerned entrepreneurs. Alternatively, customers may shoplift or get away with non payment in physical stores. Similarly, theft can occur in online stores when an alleged retailer either purports to sell non – existent products or sells counterfeit or inferior goods to clients.

The main difference between these two types of channels is that in physical stores, customers do most of the stealing. Furthermore, they use relatively simple methods to carry out these activities. On the other hand, the internet has created a new breed of wrongdoers. Most fraudsters are fake sellers rather than buyers.

A number of them tend to use very sophisticated methods to lure their ‘clients’ and defraud them. It takes a lot of intelligence and security measures to guard against these individuals. Therefore, buyers must be wary of these challenges when they select online shopping as their preferred method of purchasing.

Cases of missing information exist in these two approaches. A customer may purchase something from a brick – and – mortar store, and this item may not be easily examinable at the retail store. This may make it easy to find flaws in it. For example, someone may purchase a television set from an electronics shop, and when the buyer gets to his or her house, he or she may find that the keys on the remote control do not work as stated.

Similarly, one may buy a book from Amazon and find that it has several missing pages. These issues occur because sellers may have hidden certain information about their materials. On the flipside, it is easier for retailers to hide information about their products on the internet than in physical stores. Many online customers often complain about the hidden costs that come with internet purchases. Shipping costs and other miscellaneous charges may hide the true price of a certain commodity on the internet.

Furthermore, even the process of purchasing an item on the internet is never as short as retailers claim. One must register, enter a series of personal details, read the privacy policy, and enter details about one’s credit card information. It may take a phone call or an e-chat to find out about certain order details. Therefore, what should have taken fifteen minutes ends up taking forty five or fifty minutes. There are more loopholes on the internet to facilitate missing information as compared to traditional shopping

Internet shopping still has a series of flaws that physical shopping does not. Nonetheless, the convenience and flexibility offered by this method are unrivaled in brick and mortar stores. It is likely that these two methods of shopping will continue to complement each other in the future as the pros and cons of one method are neutralized by another.

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Traditional vs. Online Shopping Essay

1. introduction.

Traditional shopping is an activity that consumers do to find what they want to buy and make decisions which they can use to buy their goods. Then, online shopping could be defined as purchasing goods which the consumers need through the internet, paying for it and waiting for the goods to be delivered right to their place within a certain promised time. Simulation of traditional shopping can be done through the internet, such as online bookstores. Online shopping began to develop around 1996, when libraries began to put in a card to rent books. It has evolved to the current condition where many bookstores have an online store to make it easier for their customers. The presence of Amazon further reinforces the phenomenon of online bookstores. In traditional shopping, consumers can clearly see the goods that they are going to buy. They can see the physical form, the color, the actual size, and many more. This can be considered quite an advantage compared to online shopping, where the consumer only sees the digital image of the goods. Although it is considered more complete, consumer perception of goods is a subjective matter. This then encourages the emergence of the third module of AIDAS theory, action. Here, the purchase decisions are taken. In traditional shopping, the purchase decision is taken after the consumers find the goods they perceive as most suitable for their requirements. This is because the goods can clearly be seen, making it very easy to compare one with another. While in online shopping, the purchase decisions can be triggered by the advertising of a product. For example, the use of recommendation systems often exposes consumers to windows containing ads of relevant products. Consumers may click on the ad and continue to purchase the product. Due to the easy access to online shops compared to physical stores, consumers are often exposed to promotional products that they might not need.

1.1 Definition of Traditional Shopping

Traditional shopping is an activity in which consumers search for, select, and purchase goods or services. This includes the procedures to make the decision and the process of looking for product information. This is all conducted outside the internet and implemented through offline methods and procedures. There are factors that distinguish traditional shopping from online shopping. Firstly, traditional shopping provides consumers with the ability to see the actual good or service before purchasing. In this, it is possible to see if the product is of quality or a good fit at a glance, whereas online shopping can provide descriptions about the product, but at times these can be misleading. Prices can be hidden under the cost of shipping add-ons or deter the consumer from buying, although the actual product may be of cheaper price. Another difference is the instant gratification that traditional shopping provides, given that it often takes less time to select and purchase a product, while the product itself provides instant usage or does not require shipping time. Although online shopping may have its apparent way of being more convenient, traditional shopping definitely has its own edge and advantages in terms of the above factors.

1.2 Definition of Online Shopping

Online shopping is considered a sequential process where a consumer is able to purchase goods or services through the internet in the convenience of their own homes (Wand, M. et al, 2002). This is definitively different from traditional shopping where the consumer is always in the presence of the seller and hence able to act as a form of persuasion towards the consumer. In contrast to the traditional definition of shopping, online shopping enables the consumer to look for the desired product at their own pace, which is accomplished through information resources such as http://www.pricegrabber.com/. The consumer is able to easily compare prices or search for product reviews on a specific item, which is mainly due to the unrestricted access of information on the internet. Once a purchase has gone through, the consumer is then put into a stage called post-purchase evaluation, where they will ensure that they have made the right decision and if they are a satisfied, loyal customer, they may spread positive. Another main difference to traditional shopping is that online shopping will generally result in buying a good or service at a lower price due to the convenience of comparing prices at different retailers.

1.3 Purpose of the Essay

The main objective of this essay is to explore the differences between traditional shopping and online shopping. These days, online shopping is an extremely popular option for many consumers. There is a huge variety of products available online. There are several businesses that flourish, or exist solely, online. While the size of the retailer may vary from a small one-man business to a large corporation. When traditionally shopping, consumers will have more flexibility. They may make a trip to several different stores or one big trip to one store. Traditional shopping in a brick and mortar store is favored by many people. They like the idea that they can touch and try on the clothing or item they are desiring. They like the idea of going to the store and buying the item right away. They like the impulse of purchase. They like not having to wait for the item to arrive in the mail. Depending on the size of the store, there may be many options or only a few options to what consumers are seeking. It may take longer to shop because there may be more options or because the consumer needs to locate the item at a store. If the item is large, it may need to be delivered by the store. Although traditional shopping is more prevalent, online shopping is increasing in popularity. The products are vastly available with the availability of the internet. Everyone is always searching for a good deal, and with the internet, that is easier to do. Many stores offer the same products online and offline, but if you shop online, often times you're presented with a deal not available in-store. This pulls many consumers to make the decision to purchase online. The decision to purchase online is accompanied by the decision to wait for the item to be mailed to the consumer's home. The result of the waiting time and the product being available in the store can often lead to an impulse buy. For many items, consumers are presented with information that is not strictly advertising. This information can be used to make a decision. This is especially prevalent in purchasing electronics. Often times "salespeople" in the form of customer service representatives can be contacted with questions. This can also be done with another consumer to get an opinion on the product in question. This is often more effective than visiting a retail store and asking questions in person. In stepping towards the future, more and more consumers are aiming to purchase electronics online. With the availability of online-only stores, there is a specific goal in mind of what the consumer wants to purchase. This method of purchasing electronics, for example, has parallel effectiveness to purchasing the item in a brick and mortar store. Ultimately, the consumer wants to walk out or "log out" with the item in question after spending as little money as possible. While parallel comparative information is available online, the consumer makes the decision to forgo a trip to the store when considering price and all other factors. After the decision is made to purchase the item, the item is often delivered to the consumer's home. This is, of course, ideal for electronics where the decision is made to most effectively utilize the device after fully understanding it. This method of purchase will fully replace purchasing items at a retail store, it just takes some more time.

2. Advantages of Traditional Shopping

It is important to clarify that this essay is about the comparison of traditional shopping and online shopping. We provide a thorough survey of both modes of shopping. Then we broadly outline how traditional shopping is done. The advantages of traditional shopping are as follows. Now let us decipher what the advantages are and their benefits to shoppers. Traditional shopping is done in real time, in real-life, real shops with real stock. You just walk down the High Street and off you go. This is especially important if you have immediate needs. For example, your child may have an accident and need a particular first-aid item. Then there is the ability to see, feel, sample and try the product before making a purchase. This is especially important when buying certain items such as clothing and food. For example, in the case of clothing, colors and texture may not be accurately portrayed in online pictures, and trying on your newly bought clothes in a changing room gives you the option of an immediate exchange if you are not satisfied with your purchase. With food, it is almost certain that everyone would prefer to physically see and handle the fruit or meat products before they buy it. This may be to check for freshness, firmness, or use-by date. You would not want to have a mushy apple and complain in writing to an online grocer in the hope of a refund.

2.1 Ability to physically examine products

The advantage of being able to physically examine a product is the ultimate reason many people choose traditional shopping rather than online. This is also the reason why some people may choose to do their shopping in store rather than wait for their purchase to arrive in the post. There is also the added cost of postage and packaging consideration when buying online. It is very frustrating to have to return a product, due to discovering upon receipt that it wasn't quite what you expected. Often when buying clothes online, the product may look amazing, however when you receive it you feel the fabric is of poor quality or thinner than you were expecting. By shopping in store you avoid this situation completely, as you can touch the fabric of the garment and try it on before making the decision to purchase it. The same can be said for food shopping. Many people prefer to pick their fresh produce rather than have it selected by a third person at the other end of the computer. This allows for the identification of any bad spots and selection of the best quality, something that is a little hit and miss when buying produce online.

2.2 Immediate product availability

In traditional shopping, it is clear for the retailer to display the product and for the customer to see and be handed the product. This is an advantage which is also a disadvantage because it can be frustrating for some online companies to have to 'stock' product if a customer wants it but it is better than losing customers for purchases. If the product is available and the price is right, the customer may decide to buy a product then. This is also good because the retailer can receive the money on the spot and the customer is in the store purchasing the product, so it is a win-win for both parties. This is a win-win because the customer can have the product in his/her hands directly after purchase and the retailer does not have to hassle with shipping and the product being lost or damaged in transit. Many people like online shopping because it provides a lot of benefits. One of them is the price is cheaper. Why? Because an online store does not have to pay rent for shop space or hire a large sales team, it is much cheaper for them to run their business. It allows them to sell their products at a lower cost and still get the desired profit. Online shopping also offers us the comfort of purchasing from our own home. We do not have to go out in bad weather to purchase products. We also do not have to deal with long lines at the checkout. A very lucrative benefit is that some websites offer buying with no tax charge. The products purchased online are often sent to the customer's address, increasing consumer convenience. However, this can also be a downside. Sending a product straight to a customer can be a costly method. If the purchase is for a single, small product, the shipping costs can far outweigh what it would have cost the customer to take a bus or drive to a store to purchase the same product.

2.3 Personalized customer service

Personalized customer service is provided by many traditional retailers. This is impossible to achieve through online shopping. Online stores have their own way to provide a "personalized" experience through data collection tools and methods to profile customers. However, this is done through the replication of an existing service and it is not possible to truly change an online site compared to front line staff. An example of this can be that a high street travel agent may ask a few questions to understand the customer's intention and help to make the best product choice to ensure the holiday is custom made. However, an online travel site will have the customer tick a few boxes and will then throw up the best available option. This is not a truly personal experience and can lead to the customer receiving a product or service which is not truly what was required. A more traditional example would be a menswear shop. This would often employ a sales assistant to help a customer find exactly what they are looking for by asking probing questions to find out the intended use and requirements of an item. The customer service assistant would then use this information to direct the customer to the area of the shop and product which would be most suitable. This level of service is greatly reduced at chain stores.

3. Advantages of Online Shopping

A great enduring advantage of online shopping is its convenience and time saving. It is much easier for people to sit at home, locate the product they are looking for, buy it, and have it delivered to their door. Business can be carried out anywhere at any time as Internet availability 24 hours a day through computers and mobile phones is still resulting in saving of time and up to a certain extent money. An impressive online store is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. This frees up the consumer to shop at a time that is more suitable to them. Online stores are highly competitive not only with other online stores but also with brick and mortar competitors. Price comparison is much easier and with sales taxes often not applied to online purchases, consumers can source products which are of pricing, quality, and style, demanding the best. A global online shop has no limitations of space or location of stock, especially in the virtual world. For those who are on a mission to locate hard to find items, this can be very beneficial because in the three-dimensional physical world, the effort and time in searching for an item can be more consuming than it is worth.

3.1 Convenience and time-saving

When it comes to convenience and time-saving, online shopping is often compared to traditional shopping. Out of a myriad of available options for enjoying time-saving, modern consumers are increasingly leaning towards the option of doing their shopping via the internet, as opposed to the traditional method of visiting a store in person. It is true that store visits can be time-effective in cases where the buyer knows that the shop has a product they want. In this case, having bought the item before, the buyer will have a clear idea of what the packaging looks like and what the size of the item is, so they could easily go to a store and quickly locate what they are looking for. However, in the general case, the purchase of an unfamiliar item will always be more time-effective when the item is bought online. This can be credited to the fact that online shopping offers the buyer the ability to browse a virtual store which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from the comfort of their own home. It is an easy matter to quickly locate and purchase an item from a range of online retailers, as the item will often be a couple of mouse clicks away from the search results page. An example of an optimally time-effective form of online shopping would be buying electronic goods. It is usually possible to find a wealth of information on an electronic product online, and many buyers would compare the various specification and pricing details on a product without leaving their homes. Measures such as these will end up saving time and allow the buyer to purchase the product from the most informed retailer.

3.2 Wide variety of products and options

The wide spectrum of products and options available on the internet often attracts customers. Here, consumers can find several foreign brands that may not be available in a conventional store. A few consumers like to shop and compare costs on the internet rather than having to visit the shops and then carrying the chosen goods to the price comparison counter. Products and options are more easily accessible on the internet than they are in brick and mortar stores. This is mainly because stock is much easier to maintain and organize on a website than it is in a shop. It's a lot easier for websites to stock a large number of items than it is for a retail store to, because all they have to do is make a deal with a supplier, whereas stores have to have physical space to hold their stock plus additional back stock space in case there's excess stock they can't fit on the shelves. Because of this, every viable color and/or style of a particular item is more likely to be in stock on a website than it is in a retail store. Many people are also enticed by the fact that there's no pressure to buy anything. This is quite important to people with kids. If you've ever been to a shop where no matter what you are watching is being sought after to buy, it could be a bit irritating. In contrast to online shopping, products can be looked at and may be left for some days without having to worry about the store's stock.

3.3 Lower prices and discounts

Consumers find a greater selection of products online. A variety of products are offered on websites. Many online shopping sites exclusively offer their products online, the consumer could not find these items in a traditional store. To contrast, traditional stores that may carry the product could not stock the item. Also, stores that carry a product may run out of the item just when the consumer wants to buy it. In addition, many stores I found do not offer the product, but offer items very similar to what I was looking for. Online shopping can provide the consumer with a greater selection of products and sometimes even services that are not found in stores. Shopping online provides the consumer with the freedom to choose the exact item they are looking for, in comparison to a retail store a consumer would receive an item similar to the one they were looking for, but would have to settle for an alternative.

4. Conclusion

The popularity of online shopping continues to grow, and there are no signs of slowing down. Hopefully, now that you have read this essay, you will realize how different shopping is for consumers. You have seen, in this essay, that there are pros and cons to shopping online as well as shopping in the traditional manner. Time and convenience, where shopping is concerned, are not enough of a reason to give up the good old-fashioned way of shopping hoped for the leisure of shopping. While others believe online shopping provides a very practical, convenient, and often times more affordable alternative, it may not always be the best substitute idea. This leaves us with the idea that more consumers could learn to search for bargain prices. With today's advances in technologies, price comparisons, and a wide range of product choices, the savvy shopper will not rule out intelligent future choices to shop online. With all things considered, the rapid growth of the internet and technologies as time progresses may see shoppers in a different light, but the main thing to take from this discussion is that shopping will always be a form of social interaction in some form.

4.1 Summary of the main points

The focus of this essay has been to look at the main advantages and disadvantages of traditional shopping and online shopping. The comparison has been made with respect to the advantages and disadvantages of each, and the final choice of shopping method. The main points can be summarised as follows. Traditional shopping is much simpler than online shopping as it is no more complicated than producing a list and leaving the house to shop. The consumer feels the item and examines it before purchasing, which may make this method higher in consumer satisfaction. However, this method of shopping, particularly in the case of spontaneous and expensive purchases, can be quite regretful. Online shopping is much more convenient than traditional shopping. It is no more complicated than turning on the computer, connecting to the internet, and then shopping around the online store. Quite often, websites give better prices than stores, as they have lower overheads and this is because they are global. Online shopping also offers a wider variety of items to the consumer too. An example of this would be that a search for a particular item can be found with a variety of different websites. An item is in stock and is definitely available when purchased. Items can also be ordered and received very quickly, often the same day. The consumer does not need to move from their seat. Emptying the contents of a virtual shopping cart is no comparison to the weight of a large and heavy shopping trolley. When purchasing, the item is delivered to the consumer's address, often even free of delivery charges. High-speed internet has also made it much easier to look for information relative to the purchase and the consumer can also seek ratings on the items and compare the prices. This is something that is not possible when shopping traditionally. At a time of great weather and hazardous conditions, it is a lot easier to sit at home and shop online. However, a major drawback of online shopping is the immense trust required between the consumer and the merchant. Often customers are sent different items than the ones they ordered or are sent defective items. Returning items is often very complicated and can be more painful than traditional shopping. This is due to the fact that the item can often be exchanged for another of the same type. Another major issue ripping through the internet is identity theft and fraud. Consumers are at risk of information stolen at the checkout. Credit cards and debit cards are not as safe as they are when used at a traditional store. Finally, the product may not hold up to the expected standards, and thus resulting in a dissatisfied consumer. Overall, the item can be expensive, particularly if it is a large item of high value. This is still far easier than shopping around retail stores for the same item. A final choice of shopping method would depend on the consumer's lifestyle and cost. Traditional shopping is better for the environment. Often in a high population area, there is much congestion and hasty driving in the search for a parking space. This can be quite frustrating. However, it does provide exercise and the consumers will often walk much more than is required when leaving the house when shopping. Online shopping is far less stressful and much more calming than traditional shopping. It is also far better for older people or consumers with children. Maintenance of the web and servers will ensure that online shopping will become an increasingly dominant method of shopping. This will eventually force prices of all items to decrease due to competition, as a virtual global store would have no particular target group and the cost of running the store would be quite low.

4.2 Final thoughts on the topic

It is the future and the reality of e-commerce that brings consumers much more in the way of choice and convenience, and it is all down to the internet. In today's fast-paced society, people have very little time to shop. Shopping online is far more convenient and offers greater access to your favorite stores and products at the click of a mouse. It is easy, quick, and hassle-free. With so many advantages to online shopping, it is no wonder it has become so popular. On the other hand, N. Hingorani said that "people who are in it for the experience, who like to socialize and rub shoulders aren't likely to bite." This is exactly what shopping is about for some people: a day out to meet friends and have a catch up in the city over a coffee or maybe a spot of lunch. For others, it is a chance to escape the house. This is the main reasoning for people heading back to the high street. Online shopping is a choice that people will tend to make when it is more appropriate, due to weather conditions, a time when they don't have a car, and other circumstances that will inhibit the experience of traditional shopping.

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