subject: Shopping On Online Malls [print this page] A lot of people prefer online malls to offline malls these days. Most people prefer this kind of shopping because of convenience. By shopping online, they do not have to leave the house to go to a particular store, put up with traffic and bad weather, and waste countless hours waiting for their turn in line. Others like their twenty four-hour availability. Because these online shops can be accessed anytime at any day, busy individuals who could not leave their offices until late in the evening could easily surf and purchase items on the Internet. They get more detailed information on an item because it contains pictures, descriptions, and prices. They could also send gifts to family members and friends as a surprise. In addition, some items may only be available in certain locations of the country, so the online buyer has the privilege to compare prices while not having to travel from one shop to another. And an item which is not available locally can be easily purchased online and have it delivered to his house conveniently. Furthermore, online malls offer plenty of discounts and bargain sales that are not available elsewhere.
However, there are also numerous disadvantages to online shopping. The fear of identity theft, for instance, is one of the primary reasons why a number of individuals do not shop through the Internet. But there is nothing to fear about if a shopper buys from a secure website. Another worry is about dealing with returns. In most cases, the procedures for product returns on online stores are the same as that of the offline stores. But sometimes, it is the shopper who is financially liable for the shipping cost. This can be expensive if the product to be returned is oversized. That is why it is very important for shoppers to always read the return policy, as well as, the detailed information of the products before purchasing them.
Another disadvantage to online shopping is the possibility for the shopper to get the wrong merchandise. Sometimes there are cases where in the shopper gets another shopper's order or the online store sends the wrong item. The simplest solution for these is by calling the customer service hotline to verify the orders before purchase or to inform the customer service about the failed transaction of the correct orders immediately after they receive the wrong merchandise. But shoppers have to deal with the poor customer service of some online stores; and some stores do not even have customer service. The long delivery term of products is another common problem. Oftentimes, the shopper has to wait for two to four weeks before his order arrives. And aside from that, the shopper also does not have the opportunity to try and fit the items such as shoes or pants. Slow internet connection and slow website downloads are also typical problems of shoppers. However, the problems and disadvantages of buying through online malls can be avoided if the shopper buys wisely; that means he has to carefully read and understand each product's details such as shipping cost, price, delivery days, and return policy.
Also, the shopper must choose which online malls to visit and must only buy from trusted and reputable online dealers.
