Shopping in Malls vs. Shopping

SHOPPING in MALLS vs. SHOPPING ONLINE

In the last decade, Internet shopping has increased tremendously. Prior to the widespread use of computers and availability of online shopping portals, most people did the majority of their shopping for goods and service in person at so-called "brick and mortar" businesses. Malls were always a very common shopping destination because they offer so many different types of stores in one convenient location. However, malls are not necessarily the most economical source of consumer goods and may not offer the best value for the dollar.

Online shopping can be much more convenient than malls, simply because consumers can shop from the comfort of their homes and at any time of day or night. The traditional mall has always offered a one-stop location for many types of vendors, but the Internet provides that same benefit and on a much larger scale. Whereas malls may put dozens of vendors under one roof, the Internet consists of thousands of potential sellers for many of the very same products. There may be advantages to shopping in person, such as at malls, but on balance, Internet shopping is preferable for several reasons, provided that one knows how to do it intelligently.

Internet Shopping is Preferable to Mall Shopping

Internet shopping allows consumers to research virtually any conceivable product from the comfort of their homes in a manner that is not possible in malls. Generally, a standard Internet search such as on Google, allows consumers to looks up product reviews written by both professionals and by other consumers who have purchased a particular product. At the mall, consumers must rely exclusively on the information provided by retailers, which may not be as objective or accurate for obvious reasons. The Internet also allows consumers to conduct an instantaneous price comparison through websites such as epinions.com which instantly provides comprehensive price-comparison information to allow the consumer to locate the lowest possible price of any item under consideration for purchase.

Critics of online shopping argue that it can be difficult to select the right item without being able to touch it in person, but is probably more true of highly persona items like certain clothing than it is true of normal consumer goods. Moreover, it is also possible to conduct a product search online, research the product, locate the lowest price, and then look for it at the mall in person to examine it physically. If the product is cheaper online, the consumer can then make the purchase saving money and making no greater effort than just going to the mall to shop for the same item in the first place.

Another common objection to online shopping is that the buyer must rely on the trustworthiness of the seller. That is true but with a few basic precautions, the consumer can reduce any risk of fraud or dishonesty to an entirely acceptable level. First, consumers should always use a credit card because credit card companies protect their customers from fraud and will reverse charges incurred through any fraudulent transaction. Second, consumers should use the same search methods that they use to research products to determine the reputation of sellers. Generally, large, well-known retailers and other online merchants are safe shopping options. Third, even with well-known retailers, it is important to determine the terms of the sale and the terms of returning items. Most online retailers have reasonable return policies. Furthermore, that consideration is equally true of shopping in malls.