Convenience
For many customers, one of the
benefits of online shopping is convenience. Although some people would consider
stopping by a local store easier than ordering something online and getting it
shipped, there are a few advantages of online shopping that are simply more
convenient.
Shop from the Comfort of Your Home
For one, it
doesn't require you to actually go to the store. Just too physically go to a
store, you need a way to get there, and for most people, this is driving. Not
only do you waste gas driving to the store, but it takes precious time out of
your day.
Compare that to the convenience of online
shopping, which on many major sites has become a one-click affair. Payment
details, such as credit card information, can be securely stored for an easy
shopping experience.
There's no need to drive to
the store to pick up some shampoo or dog food. Just choose the product online,
click once, and voila, it's on its way. This brings us to another convenient
aspect of buying online: speed.
Speed
This is one
area that traditional retail has seemed to have a leg up over online retail in
the past. It used to be that shopping in stores would give instant
gratification because you get to hold your purchase in your hand the minute you
buy it.
But this advantage is slowly being negated by
the expanding field of ecommerce order fulfilment
Price
Is buying something online
cheaper than buying it in the store? In many cases, it is! Some online shopping
carts and platforms will offer yearly subscription services that offer
discounts and free shipping for every item bought.
Even when this is not the case, online buyers
can save money because they have the ability to easily compare prices for the
best possible deal.
When your
competition is only a click away, there is a huge incentive to offer the lowest
possible prices. Price has always been a critical component of ensuring sales,
and the ease of price comparisons on the web, is an important benefit to online
shopping.
Another price advantage of
online shopping is that, depending on the state, many online stores do not
charge sales tax, giving a huge competitive advantage to online retailers. But
what about shipping prices? Many stores will offer free shopping if you
purchase a certain amount.
Varity
Can't find
that specific electronic part or special edition toy in your local Walmart? No
problem, because it's very possible you'll find it online. One of the benefits
of online shopping is that specialty items, hard-to-find products, and almost
everything under the sun is sold on the internet.
This is
because online retailers do not have to hold inventory in every location, as
they do in brick-and-mortar stores. Inventory is centrally located close to
customers in fulfilment warehouses that can easily ship to online shoppers
anywhere. The internet also makes it easier for specialty sellers because they
don't have to maintain a physical storefront to sell their products.
Lastly, international ecommerce
is a big factor online. People selling on the internet are not competing with neighborhood
stores, they are competing with everyone else selling similar products,
whatever country they may be from
. The
ability to get your order shipped overseas is incredibly common these days and
gives you more choice when shopping online.
Why Choose
to Sell Online?
In short, there are major
advantages of online shopping and good reasons to shop online. Online retail
provides significant and obvious benefits over physical stores, so it shouldn’t
be a surprise that large companies are seeing huge increases in online sales.
Will there always be people who think 2-day delivery is too slow? Yes, and
there will always be people who enjoy traditional shopping in stores and
browsing as well.
Although some still believe
the disadvantages of online shopping outweigh the benefits, the shift to online
retail is not something that can or should be ignored, nor should the
advantages of selling products online. If you’re looking to improve your order fulfilment
process, it may be time to work with an experienced 3PL.