A guide to shopping online
27 Feb 2018
Online shopping can be a cost effective, convenient way to access a wide variety of products, from everyday essentials, to those hard to find luxury items. Here are the benefits of digital retail, as well as some things to watch out for so you can get the most out of your online shopping experience.
Benefits of shopping online
The top benefit of online shopping is the incredible convenience that it offers.
You can shop for anything and everything, from books and homewares to groceries and clothes, all from the comfort of your home. This makes it a particularly good option for anyone who lives in a rural area, or for whom access to a car is limited. Most online retailers will deliver within days, and some within hours, of you placing your order. Better still, most companies devote significant resources to making sure that their websites are easy to use, and that customer service is just a click away.
Also, online shopping can be a valuable cost cutting measure. Without the overheads of having a brick and mortar store, companies can often afford to charge less for their products. On top of this, many retailers have sales and specials that are only available to their online customers.
Often, shopping online can feel like a betrayal of local businesses. While this may be true, shopping online can also be the perfect way to support small businesses, who can’t yet afford a physical store, or would be restricted by the costs associated with having that space. Who Gives A Crap, for example, is a small toilet paper delivery service that donates 50 per cent of their profits to improving sanitation in developing countries (and solves the always inconvenient problem of running out of toilet paper).
Things to watch out for
For all the benefits of online shopping, there are a few things to watch out for.
Some (but not all) retailers will charge a small amount for delivery. Sometimes this cost isn’t made clear until immediately before you pay, so it’s worth keeping an eye out. This cost will often be slightly more if you are purchasing a product from overseas. However, many retailers will waive the shipping fee if you spend over a certain amount.
If you’re unsure of how certain brands or styles look on you, buying clothes without trying them on first can be challenging. Most companies account for this, with many offering free returns and a full refund within a certain time frame, so that if you try something on and it doesn’t look the way you imagined, or it’s the wrong size, you can return it free of charge. Some brands will also offer a collection service, while others require you to send your items back. While this option solves the problem of returning ill-fitting clothes, it can be an inconvenience.
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