Great Reasons to Shop Online
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Posted On :
Mar-22-2010
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Article Word Count :
873
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The world may not be your oyster but it certainly is your shopping mall. Every conceivable product is offered at all different levels of quality and prices across the Internet
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The world may not be your oyster but it certainly is your shopping mall. Every conceivable product is offered at all different levels of quality and prices across the Internet.
Huge Selection
Many international or foreign based companies offer purchases by a credit card as a matter of convenience for shoppers. Software programs can detect the country you're shopping from by the ISP of your web connection and offer products with the prices already in your currency.
Products that have a very narrow niche may be found through the search engines in a matter of minutes rather than through extensive offline research.
Compare Across Brands
A washing machine is a washing machine, unless of course you're in the market for one, and then all the different specifications start to get confusing. Shopping online allows you to find the same capacity washing machine for example and compare all the brands.
Take the time to find learn about different speeds, what the energy savings devices are, why you do or don't need steam cleaning or how five different ways to rotate clothes in a washer gets them cleaner. You get to decide what's important to you without a salesperson pushing you to make a decision.
It's easy to print out the specification sheets and compare them at your leisure.
Most major brands have websites where they provide FAQs, online contact, phone numbers and live chat or instant messaging. In one afternoon narrow down your choices to the top five contenders for your purchase.
Compare Among Retailers
Who really has the lowest price on the make and model of that hypothetical washing machine? No need to physically travel to the big box stores, department stores and appliance stores. Many of these stores don't stock every model of every make. They order it online just like you do. When comparing prices, make sure you include assembly and delivery prices in the total. One site may have the machine for $30 less than another but charge a delivery fee of $75 making a purchase from them more expensive.
Don't assume that the online prices will be honored by the bricks and mortar stores. Some retailers do and others don't. Usually whether they do or not is noted on the website. Also don't assume that the selection you see online at the store's site will be available at the store. Many times the greatest selection is only online.
Get the Best Price
When shopping online to get the best price, make sure you are comparing the same products. One site may have cashmere sweaters for a screaming steal or so you think. When you look closely at what they're offering it's a much lower grade of cashmere than another retailer at a higher price.
Use the Internet to research the product you're considering purchasing. Jewelry is tricky since gemstones and diamonds are valued on a number of factors. The price can vary thousands of dollars. This is not to say that the web based retailers are trying to cheat you. Most are ethical and depend on return customers and word of mouth advertising to prosper.
Save Time
Getting dressed, driving to the stores, browsing, talking with the sales person, driving to the next store, looking around, and so forth takes time. Time you may not have in your schedule. Even with products that you're familiar with, purchasing at a bricks and mortar store takes more time than online.
For example, you've decided you want the latest and greatest bestseller. You get dressed, pop on over to your favorite bookstore, purchase the books and drive home. It probably takes at least an hour. Your online purchase takes minutes and may save you money as well.
Save Money
The best price for what you want may be online or at a bricks and mortar store. In any event retailers know that most shoppers make impulse purchases when they're in the store. You may have gone in for the bestseller, but you come out with that book, four others, three magazines and you had a café latte while you were shopping. That's far less likely to happen while you’re online shopping.
Another example is grocery shopping (which can be accomplished online and delivered to your door). Grocers spread the most shopped for items, produce, meats, dairy, and baked goods around the perimeter of the store, forcing shoppers to crisscross the store and be exposed to more items to pick up than milk bread and eggs that they came in for.
Save Energy
Going greener may not be everyone's objective but shopping online does save energy. Since there's no driving, less gas is used and less wear and tear on the car. Individuals save energy as well and frustration. No walking in crowded malls, being ignored by sales person who'd rather talk on her cell phone than help you. No fighting for a parking space, carrying the heavy packages to the car and then into the house. Online, you make your choice and click out.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Great Reasons to Shop Online_14190.aspx
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Author Resource :
Dee Power is a freelance writer who writes about product reviews and offers tips about how best to shop.
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Keywords :
Shop,
Category :
Fashion
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Fashion
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