If your business is not online by now, then you are losing out. It is not a secret that people are switching to shopping online these days, and as much as there are many traditional establishments that still operate in the traditional manner, many of them also have an online presence as they understand how important things can be.
So how do these two models measure up against each other? Is there any future where offline shopping will ever regain its past glory, or is it in its twilight zone? For instance, if you are looking to buy furniture, would you go directly to the chair base factory, or would you rather buy ready-made furniture from an online shop? These are some of the questions we are going to cover in this piece today.
Benefits of Online Shopping
There are several benefits that one can get when shopping online compared to offline shopping. These benefits include the following.
Convenience
In matters of convenience, online shopping is king. You can get anything delivered to your doorstep without any issue. As long as you are within a location that the shop you are making your online purchases from, then you will have your entire shopping sent to you no matter how big it may be. This city the commute you would have had to make, helping you save on fuel and time. This has become a very convenient option during the pandemic as it has bolstered social distancing by allowing people to shop from the comfort of their homes.
Good Discounts
There’s an incentive when it comes to shopping online. Most companies tend to offer lower prices for people who are using their online portals compared to offline shopping. For instance, you get good discounts based on the number of purchases you make, and this may even extend to free delivery. Therefore, if you are a heavy shopper, try using an online option next time. The best part is everything comes packaged in a well-branded bespoke cardboard box for good measure.
Flexibility
You can change what is in your online shopping cart at any time you feel like it before you hit the purchase button. As you add more items into your cart, you can see how the price changes, and this gives you an opportunity to decide what you need based on your exact budget, unlike offline shopping, where you can easily overshoot your budget if you don’t use a calculator. This level of flexibility makes hopping a more wholesome experience.
Immediate Feedback
You can have your issues sorted on the spot by a simple call, messaging, email, or live chat. It doesn’t matter whether you are dealing with a sourcing agent in China or the store next door. You are always assured of getting hold of someone to help you deal with any problem you may have. This enhances the shopping experience and, at the same time, gives control to the shopper as they are able to make split decisions based on the availability of items or alternatives advised by the shop owners.
Easy Price Comparisons
Another great advantage of using online shopping is that you get to compare prices from different shops and their delivery charges and go with the cheapest one to save money. All you have to do is browse their products and compare the prices side by side. The price difference may not be that much, but when you are dealing with bulk purchases, it does build up into something bigger that you could use for other important things.
How About Offline Shopping?
This doesn’t imply that offline shopping is not ideal or should be avoided at all costs. It does come in handy in certain situations, and some notable benefits include the following.
- You get personalized help and attention from the staff when you ask for it. These in-person interactions are more organic.
- You don’t have to wait for deliveries. You pick things on your own, and once you have paid for your goods, you get to carry them home with you.
- There are quick returns when you buy damaged goods. You simply head back if the goods are damaged with the receipts, and you get replacements.
- It is fun shopping offline with your family, especially kids, as they tend to have more when they are shopping with you.
Conclusion
The type of shopping you choose to go with varies with your needs. Sometimes online shopping will work for you, and there are times when offline shopping is what you need. You are the one to decide the one to go with. Fortunately for many shoppers, nearly all shops that have physical premises have an online option too, so you get to use both of them at the same time.
