Online Shopping – Why We Love It!
Face it, the shopping habits of the twenty first century are a far cry from the way people shopped fifty years ago. And what do we have to thank for that? Technology! The advances in technology have changed our world dramatically, and shopping is one of those big changes.
Fifty, forty, thirty and even twenty years ago, shopping was an event. You planned and prepared and then spent the day searching for deals and bargains. Shopping was a social activity as well. We would meet friends for lunch and shopping. School shopping for kids was something they looked forward to all summer long. And Christmas shopping was a visual experience with festive store windows and fun product displays.
However, retail shopping isn’t what it used to be. Big box stores have taken over and there are fewer and fewer specialty shops to enjoy. In addition, the face paced world we live in gives us very little free time to spend browsing through stores looking for the best deal.
Enter the twenty first century shopping experience, the Internet. Online shopping gives us the opportunity to shop whenever we want. Midnight, midday or anytime in between, you are no longer held to the hours of operation of the brick and mortar stores. You pick the time you want to shop.
Online shopping has also allowed shoppers to compare prices and find the best deals. Many shopping sites will show the best deal available on a given product. Online retailers are usually quick to ship and easy to deal with. Usually you can find almost any product you are looking for, either from a retail site or from a private seller on an auction site.
Not only can you find great deals online, you can get all the information you want on a product before you make a purchase. So even if you are going to buy something at a traditional store, you can research the product before you leave the house. Shoppers today are more informed than ever before – the salesmen better watch out!
So where does the increase in online shopping leave the traditional brick and mortar stores? Well, the competition is fierce but many stores have found a way to make it work. Many retailers now have websites so you can purchase their products online as well as at the traditional store. If their websites don’t sell the product, often they will provide information about their products and give you directions to their store.
Although the trend is shifting toward the convenience of online shopping, we still enjoy the social aspect of traditional shopping. A day out with friends and family browsing through stores is still a great way to spend an afternoon!