With the holiday season quickly approaching, online shopping is at the top of everyone’s mind. During the overall second quarter of 2014, 588 million users visited just the top 10 online merchants per month.
Here are 10 reasons why online shopping is such a consumer attraction.
1.) Broader product availability
Consumers have endless access to options when shopping online. They are not limited to what one store has to offer. Even if an item is out of stock online, a customer can still order any product and have it shipped to them once it is back in stock. Consumers also have the option to go to other online merchants to purchase out of stock or out of season products that they want.
2.) Online product comparisons allow consumers to gauge pros and cons and make more informed decisions
Comparison shopping for consumers no longer means hoping in your car to drive from store to store or collecting multiple catalogs. Consumers can use search engines to easily find out which merchants have the best prices. Many times, stores will offer online exclusive sales, so in many cases, shopping online can be a money saver!
3.) Find items you might not see in stores.
With the limitations that brick and mortar have, merchants complete inventory tends to not be found in-stores. Online, consumers can find their entire inventory, along with many choices of colors & styles. Consumers shop online to find exactly what they're looking for within time wasted and money.
4.) The Internet never closes. 24-hour shopping power.
Consumers can shop anytime online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Online stores never close, so they never have to worry about making time to go to the store.
5.) You are no longer tied to your physical location. No Geographical limitations
Never again will consumers be limited geographically. Many merchants do not store where you live or may not have a physical store at all. When consumers shop online, they can browse through stores around the corner or around the globe. Consumers can discover new items from exotic places that they perhaps have never even heard of before just from spending time shopping online.
6.) Ship your gifts directly.
When consumers order online, they can send gifts or even have gift baskets delivered directly to their recipient. Many stores even offer consumers with the ability to customize gifts for their recipients.
7.) Save on gas, physical energy, and time.
Consumers are looking to accomplish as much as possible, while exerting as little energy as possible and saving as much as possible. Spending unnecessary money on gas is no longer a necessity for shopping.
8.) Sometimes items are cheaper online than they are in physical stores.
'Web Only Sales' are tactics that many brick and mortar business employ to drive online purchases from customers. There are also many websites specifically geared to discount codes and coupons for online stores throughout the internet. Many consumers that are looking for great deals on their favorite products, usually start online.
9.) No Waiting. Instant purchasing power.
If a consumer chooses. they’ll never have to stand in a long checkout line or weave their way through crowds just to get the items they want. Consumers can shop online and can stay in the comfort of their own home.
10.) Pay with a credit card safely, even to small merchants.
Using credit cards to pay is easy, but sometimes small merchants or artisans can’t accept them. When consumers shop online, many dealers both large and small use PayPal. Shopping this way is safe, and consumers will always be able to pay for the great products they want with security.
What percent of your shopping is done online? Comment below to let us know.
