Compare/Contrast Shopping Online With Traditional Shopping
EN130.2.2 English Composition II
Assignment 5_05,
Compare shopping online with traditional shopping
Shopping has been a part of every individual's life, for many it is a hobby. Once upon a time, the only way to shop was to leave your home and visit store. Today technology has grown to new heights and provides every individual with more than one option to shop. Every individual has the options of purchasing whatever they need or want by the traditional way of shopping or shopping online. However, shopping preferences and lifestyle will determine whether online or traditional shopping is right for you.
Online shopping provides a wide variety of items to choose from, just as in a department store. For example, an individual searching for items in a store can find the same items online. There are a lot of stores available online likewise in a shopping mall. The same deals that are being offered in a department store can also be found online. For instance just as department stores offers discounts on certain selected items, in the same way online stores offers the same discounts. Department stores provides an individual with the opportunity to place items on lay away, just as online stores allows an individual to do the same, using a wish list. A customer has the privilege of viewing items being bought online, just as in a department store. Purchases made online can be returned; in the same way purchases made in a department store can be returned.
However, on the contrary, while shopping online can be very convenient with just a click of the mouse button on your computer, shopping in a department store can be very overwhelming and stressful. For example, while an individual shopping in a department store may have to deal with long lines and a lot of crowd, an individual shopping online can relax and shop from the comfort of their home. Online shopping is available 24/7 so you can shop at the midnight while never leaving your home. It doesn't matter what the weather is look outside. You simply sit down at your computer, browse around the various online stores and purchase what you need. In an traditional shopping , you can only shop during normal business hours. you have to plan the outing and drive to the location of the shopping center. Whether you live in a big city or small community determines how much time you spend travelling. Weather can make travel dangerous especially if it is raining heavily or snowing. With traditional shopping, you often have to wait and if you have impatient young children this can be very stressful.
On the other hand, with the online shopping you can't touch the item. Sometimes it is hard to ensure you are ordering the right size shirt or dress since you can't try the item on. Color of clothing is not always accurate on the computer screen. Returns for online purchases are more difficult and can be costly. Most stores require you to pay the original shipping cost and the return shipping. With online shopping, you have to pay with a debit or credit card. There are only a few online stores that allow you to pay with a PayPal account. Online shopping may be more expensive due to the ever increasing shipping cost. In traditional shopping, you can pay with debit or credit card, cash and most stores will accept a check for payment. There are no shipping costs associated with traditional shopping unless the item is a special order. Shopping in a department store is more interactive than shopping online. For example, an individual purchasing a pair of pants in a department store is able to try, feel and examine the fabric used to make it; while a person purchasing a pair of pants online imagine what the fabric feels like.
As we have seen, there are benefits and drawbacks involved both in traditional shopping and online shopping. Both have its own value and important. It seems more likely though that those who enjoy shopping my prefer to do it in person while those who detest it may be just as happy to shop online.
References
Huang, M. (2000). Its relationship to online exploratory and shopping behavior. International Journal of Information Management, 20(4), 337-347.
Laudon, K.C. & Traver, C.G. (2010). E-Commerce 2010 (6th Ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
