Now that the Internet has exploded, thousands of merchants have put their entire inventory online for you to view and shop from whenever you want! There are many reasons why shopping online is so much better than shopping in-stores.
Benefits of Shopping Online
Daniel’s note: I’ve written before about why I don’t go shopping and this is a great list that just backs up my point!
Save on pricey gas and valuable time
With gas prices looming near $4 a gallon, it’s definitely not something to be wasted. Even a five-minute trip to your local mall can turn into a fifteen-minute excursion if the parking lot is crowded. While even that may not seem like a lot, think of how many times you visit stores during the week. With all of that extra gas, you could go on a long road trip! Save time too by shopping from home. No need to take the time to get ready, drive, park, and walk around to browse. Simply type in what you want and instantly find what you are looking for.
Organizing your finances is easy
You won’t have to worry about misplacing receipts ever again when you shop online. Since everything is done electronically, all records of your transactions are emailed directly to your inbox. Your house will no longer be cluttered with piles of receipts. Plus, you’re helping out the environment by going paperless!
Pay with a credit card safely, even to small merchants
Using credit cards to pay is easy, but sometimes your favorite small merchants or artisans can’t accept them. When you shop online, many dealers both big and small use PayPal. PayPal is a website that lets you create an account for free. You simply enter your information, and they act as a middleman when you make payments so merchants can’t see your information. Shopping this way is safe, and you will always be able to pay for the great products you want!
Always find the best deals
Comparison shopping no longer means driving from store to store or flipping through many different ads. Comparing prices is literally just a click away. You can use search engines like Google or a specific comparison shopping website to easily find out which merchants have the lowest prices. Many times, stores will offer online exclusive sales, so it pays to shop online!
Don’t waste time clipping coupons
Finding the coupons you want online is simple, and there is no cutting required! Simply find a coupon aggregator that you love, then search for your favorite merchant and use coupon codes online. All you have to do is click to save instantly at your favorite stores! There are many different coupons online that can save you tons of money, including ones for free shipping!
No more waiting in line and pushing through crowds
Malls and retail stores can be chaotic, especially during a big sale or a holiday season. Don’t stress yourself out, just shop from home! You’ll never have to stand in a long checkout line or weave your way through crowds just to get the items you want. Shop online and you can stay in the comfort of your own home.
Find items you might not see in stores
Since brick-and-mortar stores are limited in space, merchants usually don’t carry all of the items they sell in-store. Online, you can find their entire inventory, along with many choices of colors, styles, and even customization options. Shop on the Internet so you can find exactly what you want.
The Internet never closes
You can shop anytime online 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Online stores never close, so you never have to worry about making time to go to the store. Online shopping is perfect for night owls or anyone who is just too busy to make a trip to the store.
Shop any store worldwide
Never again be limited geographically. Many merchants do not have physical stores in every state, and certainly not in every country. When you shop online, you can browse through stores around the block or around the globe! Discover amazing new items from exotic places that you perhaps have never even heard of before.
Ship your gifts directly
When you order online, you can send gifts or even have gift baskets delivered directly to their recipient. This means you can avoid long waits at the post office and you can get your gift delivered faster. Many stores even offer customized cards and gift wrapping to go along with your present.
My favorite part of shopping online is using the shopping bots. I feel confident I am getting a good deal. Saving the sales tax is a nice bonus since my sales tax it nearly 10% in California.
I love shopping online for all the reasons you mentioned above. It offers much more variety, the possibilities of cash back, more discounts, and better prices.
I love shopping online, but it’s so dangerous. I just bought my BF a harry potter set on Chapters (like Amazon) for no real reason!
The only thing I dislike is the high shipping fees (one time I spent 2 hours looking for clothing online only to find out their shipping cost was exorbitant// or I had to spend $85 for free shipping). That might not be as big of as issue in the US than in Canada. Our shipping costs are ridiculous.
As someone who lives 3 hours away from the nearest city- and therefore shopping- I could not agree with this article more. Shopping online can be fun, the only downside is not being able to try items on, feel fabrics, or try out products before buying.
You also need to watch out for return policies- you could end up paying shipping twice. Not nice if you are in Canada; Youngandthrify is right; shipping rates are sky-high here!
A great place for coupon codes is RetailMeNot. Their codes work about 99% of the time, and I’ve consistently saved at least $10.00 each time I’ve used it.
Online shopping is becoming more and more popular because of the comfort, ease of use, discounts and lots of options. I do it very frequently and feel very confident because I can always do research on my computer about a certain product or seller before buying anything.
The only downside I see is returning merchandise, whether it be for size or quality, returning it might be a problem, so be sure the item is exactly what you want!
I believe in-shopping is much better than online because you don’t know what you are buying. It might look different in the store than it does online. Maybe the color is different then what you thought it would be, and in store shopping is so much more fun than online shopping its an experience.
I worked in retail for several years, so Christmas shopping has always been stressful for me. I prefer to embrace the advent season. Shopping among individuals who are all about “getting the best first, for the least amount, by any means necessary” is not my idea of a fun time. On-line shopping allows me to purchase gifts, without the stress.
I absolutely agree with you on internet shopping being more convenient. While everyone was a midst chaos on Black Friday I was happily sitting at home purchasing everything at sale prices but without all the hassle. I find going to the store, especially on big sale dates just stressful.
Still, turning 18 is great because you are “allowed” to have some fun – like a teenager
– but still enjoy of the pleasures of adulthood.
On the other hand, a common gift for a birthday
of this significance is money, which can then be spent
by the receiver in whatever way they wish. Make sure that whatever gift you purchase
for the couple as the engagement gift or for the birthday recipient as
the 18th birthday gift ideas it must show your love, care and
affection for the recipient on your behalf.
Amazon as a wide selection of products and if you join Amazon Prime for $79 a year you get free shipping, free streaming movies and free kindle books. Walmart online shopping as much better selections than in store and if you elect to ship to local Walmart and pick it up, shipping is free.
One more reason for which I like shopping online is attractive offers rolled by various sites using their discount coupons and vouchers. We end up paying less money for the same product.