Why Will You Shop Differently This Year? Pros and Cons of Shopping Online

Many people today find the internet convenient and affordable. From clothes to airline tickets, anything can be purchased on the world wide web. But, even with flexibility, there is some negative drawback to shopping globally.

4 Pros of Shopping Online

1. Accessibility. One of the most significant benefits of e-commerce is the access to global retailers. Because of smartphones and computer applications that track location, a great deal of data can be collected which helps consumers compare product availability and pricing.
2. Convenience. If you have ever stood in a check-out line for an hour waiting for service, then you can truly appreciate the convenience of fast online shopping processes. If you are logged in, the items also stay in the cart until you are ready to check-out. Online businesses are open 24-7-365, and chatbots make the experience user-friendly and convenient.
3. Social media reviews. Online consumers are excellent sources for reviews and honest opinions. While you can discount one or two experiences as just being picky, you can save a lot of time and money if there are many negative reviews about products.
4. Privacy. There is no real privacy in retail stores. Every shopper behind you in the check-out line knows exactly what you are purchasing. There are specific products that you just do not want to show the world. Not to mention, everyone now thinks it is normal to take pictures or videos and post them on social media. Online shoppers have much more privacy because of the automated processing and delivery of orders.

4 Cons of Shopping Online

1. Timely return hassles. Almost everyone who has ordered something online had to contact customer support when the product was not what was expected. Whether it was broken or the wrong size, this issue can be complicated if you speak a different language, the company disputes the charges, or they want you to pay for return shipping. In a brick-and-mortar store, this would not be an issue. In some cases, you may end up putting in several hours of time trying to communicate with the company via social media or email.
2. Shipping fees. Most online businesses charge shipping and handling fees which can be pricey just because of the convenience of receiving an item by mail. Sometimes, the costs are more than the item you purchased. According to Entrepreneur, 49% of online shoppers say that the expense to return an item is the most annoying aspect of e-commerce. They reported that 46% of consumers keep items when shipping is too high.
3. No idea if product is as advertised. Unfortunately, sizes vary, and descriptions are limited when it comes to online product advertisements. You are not able to try on any items, and that can be problematic if the products were not made in the country you live.
4. E-commerce does not guarantee refunds. If a company has hidden ToS agreements that stipulate return policies, even when not explicitly communicated, there is no refund guarantee. E-commerce is not as clear-cut as brick and mortar stores, and it is often difficult to navigate a submitted refund inquiry. Invesco found that about 30% of products online are returned compared to just 8.89% of in-house shoppers. This high return rate is recovered by business owners by raising prices.

Online shopping today offers many benefits to getting products that are not available in the local markets. A favorite online business is in the academic industry as well. Students lack time to finish college course assignments and often search for an online writing agency to help with their essays. While it is a competitive market, not all custom writing companies are the same. FastEssay.com has more than 400 academic writers who have the skills and experience necessary to provide sample essays within an hour of receiving orders from students who require urgent writing help.

The professional writers prove their abilities before they hire them by producing writing samples. Their applicants also are tested for knowledge of APA, MLA, and Chicago citation requirements. Additionally, their applicants are screened on use of grammar, academic writing, style, and knowledge of a discipline. Their writing staff monitors every order to maintain a high delivery standard and works to educate writing staff about citation updates or last-minute customer changes. Because of plagiarism concerns, deadline requirements, and lack of communication, it is essential that protocol like essay requirements, editing, a quick revision, and verification of authenticity are strictly followed.