Convenience or touchy feely? (Online shopping versus offline shopping)

Member Name: dididave

Product:	Online shopping versus offline shopping
Date:	12/11/07 (166 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Online: convenience, range and price. Offline: touch, taste and smell.

Disadvantages: Online: the risk. Offline: inconvenient.

I remember a time were you did not buy all your shopping in one place. Buying clothes and food in the same shop was unheard of and home delivery was reserved for expensive furniture. Online shopping of course, did not exist in a time were computer technology was still in the realms of top loading cassettes so, back then it was not an argument of "online versus offline" but rather one of "greengrocer versus Co-op".

Now, before I get into "I remember when this was nowt but fields territory", and wander totally off-topic let me start by saying that comparing offline shopping with online is probably quite a bizarre thing to do. After all, you surely cannot get two more different things in terms of what they offer? If I shop offline in a store I can see my item firsthand. I can touch it, smell it and even taste it (not advisable with kids strwaberry shampoo, no matter how good it smells). Online shopping does not give me this luxury.

Online shopping on the other hand, allows me to shop in the comfort of my home. I do not have brave the elements, angry and aggressive shoppers or pay a fortune for an hours car parking. Neither do I have to row with people trying to nick parent and child spaces.

So, as you can see, two massively different experiences. What you go for is largely down to personal preference. Many people avoid online shopping like the plague, insisting they can get a better price and a higher quality item by browsing the high street. After all you cannot haggle with Amazon whereas you can still haggle with a market tradesman. There is even leeway in stores such as Currys. On the other hand, there are some people who barely leave the house as they buy everything from a variety of Internet sites. Food from online stores such as Asda and Iceland, Books and CD's from Amazon and pretty much everything else from eBay, these shoppers insist there is nothing you cannot buy online and the savings to be had make the risks of not seeing your shopping until it is delivered, more than worth their while.

I am probably the typical modern shopper in that I can see the advantages and disadvantages of both and as such shop both online and offline in, comparatively equal measure. I like food shopping in stores as I like to see what I am buying, checking the ingredients and making sure the product is of a decent quality. I might be able to save a few quid shoppping for food online and yes, I would have the convenience of it being delivered to my door. However, after paying the usual delivery charges and being stuck with substitutes I do not want or damaged, poor quality items I think that the negatives outweigh the positives in terms of food shopping online.

Clothes shopping is something that I have mixed feelings about. I like seeing what something looks like on before I buy it. This is something you obviously cannot do online. However, I also loathe clothes shopping and love the convenience of having something delivered. Online clothes shopping also often has the convenience of you simply returning it for free if you do not like it. This certainly beats arguing with a spotty shop assistant because you have lost your receipt. As such, online shopping just about comes on top for me when it comes to shopping for clothes. Especially since clothes usually work out a lot cheaper if bought online.

When it comes to Books, DVD's and CD's I think few people could disagree that online shopping is the only way to go. Other than browsing round charity shops and car boot sales for second-hand books you simply do not get the choice and prices on the highstreet that you can get online for these various media. There is nothing you cannot find if you look hard enough online whereas you could be looking for months to find an obsolete book, CD or DVD on your highstreet.

For pretty much everything else a lot of the decision rests on how much of a risk taker you are. Many people are still wary of buying expensive items such as computers and mobile phones online and who can blame them when there are so many dodgy online companies going into receivership? Online stores can be closed or left hanging in moments and often phone lines are false of ignored and emails go unanswered. It is difficult to protest your statutory rights if you cannot get hold of anyone! However, you must weigh the considerable risks with the, often considerable rewards.

Huge savings can be made on holidays, electrical products etc online and it can be hard to resist a punt on an online company if you know you can potentially save hundreds of pounds. For me, online shopping is all about doing your research. For example, if booking a holiday are they ABTA protected? Many people, will consider the pitfalls of online shopping too great to buy high end items and that is understable but I am of the opinion that online shopping is worth the risk. Especially with many of the high street stores entering the online market giving the online prices but offline security consumers crave.

So, if you have managed to keep up with my train of thought then you will see that for me this is an argument that cannot truly be won by either form of shopping. Offline shopping is inconvenient but you know what you are buying and have the security of a personal dialogue with staff. You know where the store is and can take the item back personally if you are unhappy. However, you so not have the instant access to a range of goods and comparing prices is a laboured process. Online shopping is the ultimate in convenience as you can find anything and everything very easily. You cannot however, have a conversation with someone and ask questions. Neither can you check the quality of your purchase and of course, there is always the element of risk.

Luckily for you, this is the end of my meandering thoughts. Many people lament the seeming decline of offline shopping but I can only forsee an increasing amalgamation between the two with neither ever truly dominating. This can only be a good thing for me, the consumer. Bring on the price wars!

Summary: No winner here.