Online Shopping
The debate on whether to prefer online shopping to physical shopping can be solved by looking at the advantages of online shopping. Patrick Vala-Haynes appears to have an idea as to why online shopping is the best idea in a world where time management if an essential tool for pursuing success. Vala-Haynes does not hide the truth behind the advantages of online shopping to his client, despite owning a physical store. The article on “What Does Online Shopping Cost Us?” brings out an idea of the challenges that consumers go through when shopping and shows an idea as to why online shopping might be a better idea for any customer.
Patrick Vala-Haynes and his wife Robbie had decided to start a bicycle store to help them achieve the dream of being self-employed. Although Robbie would later change her career, Patrick Vala-Haynes maintains his career and takes business as his career choice. In the article, “What Does Online Shopping Cost Us?” Vala-Haynes and his client engage in a discussion on the importance of either online or physical shopping. The client has chosen physical shopping because he needed the bicycle urgently but has to spend more than would be the case if he ordered the bicycle online. Also, the assembly process would cost him additional time if the shopping was to be done online. However, online shopping remains the best choice for customers since its advantages are unmatched.
Online shopping saves customers a lot of time since they only need to have a list of the items to purchase, and a few clicks on the mouse do the rest of the work. Time is arguable one of the most precious resources one would ever want to waste (Vijay, Sai, Prashar and Sahay, 10). Physical shopping requires travel to and fro as one moves from store to store looking for the goods on their lists. Besides, it is almost impossible to find all the times on a customer’s list under one roof, and thus they have to move from store to store looking for them. That time can be saved by searching the items online and ordering all of them at once and then using the time saved to do other valuable work. Moreover, online shopping allows customers to compare prices with ease, and customers will easily choose their preferred price.
One of the most common customer behaviors is the comparison of prices, and online shopping allows that. Vala-Haynes’s customer can be taken as an example in this case. Both Vala-Haynes and his client have made a comparison of prices and found out that online shopping would be cheaper: “had he purchased the trailer online, he could have saved $7.50” (Vala-Haynes, n. p). The online challenge was that the client could not find his preferred item and thus was forced to spend more on the physical store. The case would have been different is the item was available online as the client would choose the most affordable price, and that would not pose challenges. Besides, comparing prices during physical shopping might be tiresome because the customer has to move from shop to shop asking for the prices, and that again would cost them a lot of time. Moreover, online shopping eliminates geographical limitations, which benefits both the customer and the seller.
Online is a better solution to challenges posed by geographical limitations that have cost sellers revenues from geographically disadvantaged customers. The fact that online shopping eliminates the need for traveling means that a customer can purchase items anywhere, and the seller is left to make efforts to see that the customer gets their items. For example, Vala-Haynes’s customer was lucky that there was a store in town, and physical shopping served his purpose, and he was not comfortable with the time he was wasting at the store. Vala-Haynes noticed “the man’s genuine sense of unease that he was wasting valuable minutes of his day in a brick-and-mortar store” (Vala-Haynes, n. p). The gap might be serious where stores are far from the customers’ residents, and online shopping comes in to solve those challenges. Therefore, online shoppers have lesser worries because the geographical challenge is sorted. Moreover, the world is struggling to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, and social distancing might be a challenge in physical shopping.
As the world attempts to have people stay at home and keep social distance, online shopping appears to be the best solution. The fact that the seller does not have to meet the buyer throughout the buying process means that interaction is minimum. Therefore, the social distance challenges are sorted, and the customers can stay at home without worries. Physical shopping is challenging where interaction is discouraged, especially where stores are overcrowded, and people have to queue. Generally, online shopping is a better alternative, where physical interaction is not necessary.
In sum, online shopping is a better solution to the challenges associated with physical shopping. Customers are always forced to go for physical shopping by circumstances like in Vala-Haynes’ case. The debate on whether or not to prefer online shopping is sure to take a shift in favor of online shopping if the advantages are analyzed.
Works Cited
Vala-Haynes, P. “What Does Online Shopping Cost Us?.” Newsweek 135.24 (2000): 10-10.
Vijay, T. Sai, Sanjeev Prashar, and Vinita Sahay. “The influence of online shopping values and web atmospheric cues on e-loyalty: Mediating role of e-satisfaction.” Journal of theoretical and applied electronic commerce research 14.1 (2019): 1-15