pro and cons of online shopping

Over the years the Internet has become a great source for bargain hunters for good reason.

Over the years the Internet has become a great source for bargain hunters for good reason.

Over the years the Internet has become a great source for bargain hunters for good reason.

There are many great buys online, price comparison companies that help us drill down to the best prices, shipping and tax advantages, and the convenience of not having to leave home.

There are many great buys online, price comparison companies that help us drill down to the best prices, shipping and tax advantages, and the convenience of not having to leave home.

There are many great buys online, price comparison companies that help us drill down to the best prices, shipping and tax advantages, and the convenience of not having to leave home.

However sometimes the deal that looks great falls short of what has been advertised.

Communicating dissatisfaction can be difficult online versus face-to-face and often takes enormous patience and tenacity to achieve satisfaction.

Communicating dissatisfaction can be difficult online versus face-to-face and often takes enormous patience and tenacity to achieve satisfaction.

Communicating dissatisfaction can be difficult online versus face-to-face and often takes enormous patience and tenacity to achieve satisfaction.

Communicating dissatisfaction can be difficult online versus face-to-face and often takes enormous patience and tenacity to achieve satisfaction.

Communicating dissatisfaction can be difficult online versus face-to-face and often takes enormous patience and tenacity to achieve satisfaction.

Communicating dissatisfaction can be difficult online versus face-to-face and often takes enormous patience and tenacity to achieve satisfaction.

Communicating dissatisfaction can be difficult online versus face-to-face and often takes enormous patience and tenacity to achieve satisfaction.

The stores are never closed.

There is no dress code.

There are no parking woes.

You can escape from aggressive salespeople.

There are vast resources for product and price comparisons.

Products can be found that are not available locally.

The inabilities to physically check out the items you are purchasing.

Losing the power to negotiate the price and payment terms that may exist in local stores.

Losing the power to negotiate the price and payment terms that may exist in local stores.

Items ordered online are sometimes on backorder but the consumer is not always informed until weeks after the purchase is made.

Items ordered online are sometimes on backorder but the consumer is not always informed until weeks after the purchase is made.

Items ordered online are sometimes on backorder but the consumer is not always informed until weeks after the purchase is made.

Not always knowing if a site is a legitimate and safe site to shop.

Having to pay for shipping costs that far exceed the true shipping rate.

Returns and exchanges can sometimes be difficult because of the lack of face to face negotiations.

Pros: Many companies online provide excellent values because they do not have to pay the overhead of owning a physical business that will cost them insurance, employee pay, taxes and more.

Pros: Many companies online provide excellent values because they do not have to pay the overhead of owning a physical business that will cost them insurance, employee pay, taxes and more.

Pros: Many companies online provide excellent values because they do not have to pay the overhead of owning a physical business that will cost them insurance, employee pay, taxes and more.

Pros: Many companies online provide excellent values because they do not have to pay the overhead of owning a physical business that will cost them insurance, employee pay, taxes and more.

Pros: Many companies online provide excellent values because they do not have to pay the overhead of owning a physical business that will cost them insurance, employee pay, taxes and more.

Pros: Many companies online provide excellent values because they do not have to pay the overhead of owning a physical business that will cost them insurance, employee pay, taxes and more.

Consumers can benefit from the savings of online shopping, especially when they combine it with special promotional coupons, and other consumer incentives.

Consumers can benefit from the savings of online shopping, especially when they combine it with special promotional coupons, and other consumer incentives.

Consumers can benefit from the savings of online shopping, especially when they combine it with special promotional coupons, and other consumer incentives.

Cons: Companies offering free items online sometimes hike up the cost of shipping so high that they profit from the purchase.

Cons: Companies offering free items online sometimes hike up the cost of shipping so high that they profit from the purchase.

One example of this is the free software products that are advertised.

Reading the customer service sections on e-commerce sites should provide you with clear answers on return policies, restocking fees and what guarantee is offered on the products.

Reading the customer service sections on e-commerce sites should provide you with clear answers on return policies, restocking fees and what guarantee is offered on the products.

Reading the customer service sections on e-commerce sites should provide you with clear answers on return policies, restocking fees and what guarantee is offered on the products.

If you have any remaining questions call the company and get them answered before you submit your credit card to any site.

If you have any remaining questions call the company and get them answered before you submit your credit card to any site.

A new trend for online retailers is to utilize their websites to sell out-of-season merchandise, allowing them to keep their brick-and-mortar stores stocked with the fresh new stock.

A new trend for online retailers is to utilize their websites to sell out-of-season merchandise, allowing them to keep their brick-and-mortar stores stocked with the fresh new stock.

Shopping online is also an excellent resource for finding matching pieces to an out-of-season outfit that is unavailable in your local stores.

Searching the sale sections of online department stores and manufacturers who also have retail divisions is a good resource for picking up matching items you failed to get when the merchandise was current and in the local stores.

Searching the sale sections of online department stores and manufacturers who also have retail divisions is a good resource for picking up matching items you failed to get when the merchandise was current and in the local stores.

Another advantage to online shopping is the capability to price-compare before buying.

You can read reviews and visit manufacturer sites to read the specifics on products you are considering buying.

This is hard to do in local stores and often the only resource you have to compare prices is the advertising you see in your local paper.

Many of the online electronic and computer stores have adopted the policy of matching competitors advertised price on any item you buy.

Many of the online electronic and computer stores have adopted the policy of matching competitors advertised price on any item you buy.

Check the online store customer service policies to see if they offer this customer courtesy.

Most all stores require a copy of the advertisement and the item has to be the exact same model number.

Every year the participation of stores offering exclusive online deals and discounts seems to grow.

Every year the participation of stores offering exclusive online deals and discounts seems to grow.

Retailers do not have to pay as much to do business online as they do in their local stores, so the cost of running good promotions does not hurt their bottom line as much.

Retailers do not have to pay as much to do business online as they do in their local stores, so the cost of running good promotions does not hurt their bottom line as much.

Competition is also just a mouse-click away, resulting in more aggressive marketing strategies and promotions.

Competition is also just a mouse-click away, resulting in more aggressive marketing strategies and promotions.

Shipping a nice gift to a relative can chip away at your holiday budget.

When you shop online and utilize the free shipping options or select a gift card instead of an actual item, you will save money.

When you shop online and utilize the free shipping options or select a gift card instead of an actual item, you will save money.

With gas prices reaching an all time high, sitting in front of your computer typing into search engines seems more prudent than putting miles on your car looking for the perfect gift.

Often if you just call and ask the retailer, you will hear a "No" but if you show up ready to buy with a coupon in hand, they are more prone to become flexible with their policies.

Often if you just call and ask the retailer, you will hear a "No" but if you show up ready to buy with a coupon in hand, they are more prone to become flexible with their policies.