| Benefits of online shopping
Internet shopping continues to grow!
Britain now has over 24 million online shoppers and they spent
over £2.253 billion online during November 2005, an average
of £94 each, says a report from IMRG. This is growing
daily as customers identify and gain the benefits of online browsing
for information, evaluation of products and find online shops
with the keenest prices. This is all to the detriment to stores
actually in the high
street and shopping centres.
- Broadband shoppers are driving online spend to record
levels, with the number of shoppers with broadband
access increasing, especially with the costs reducing dramatically.
- Women are outspending men online, with the sharpest
bias seen in the Health & Beauty and Grocery sectors.
- More frequent online shopping is also being
driven by retailer initiatives to improve the quality and reliability
of their service…
- … But price has overtaken convenience as the
leading factor behind shoppers' decision to shop online.
Buying Online does have a number of potential advantages:
these being Price, Convenience,
Choice, Quick Delivery
and Customer Service. It is no surprising
that new buyers quickly learn to love Internet shopping once they
have tried it.
Price:
- Items are usually cheaper on the web because warehouse and
staff costs are lower, and because online only shops want to attract
and keep customers.
- Existing retail park stores are passing on savings that they
make to customers if they purchase on the Internet, a good example
is Comet
 .
- Another example of innovation is pcworld.co.uk who
enables one to
get "online prices" by ordering first,
selecting the store that is holding stock, reserving the goods
and then collect and pay at the store!
- Obtain the best prices for insurance by submitting multiple
quotes.
- Compare products and prices at your leisure, remember, some
stores have special versions of the same product.
- Get the bargains and special offers that are not generally available
in store or via the phone.
- Businesses can order direct and communicate via "Business
to Business" web shops using trading accounts to maximise
purchasing power and minimise invoicing overheads.
- Buy via an online trusted retailer who supplies the
goods VAT free sent from a non-VAT location, e.g. the Isle
of Jersey does not charge VAT on items bought in Jersey and there
are certain tax and customs regulations that exempt consignments
of goods of low value (under 18 GBP) from import VAT so there
are no additional charges to your benefit.
An example is Tesco
Jersey whose prices also has the postage included within the
price.
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Convenience:
- Shopping can be much easier on the web. It can be done at Home,
while at work (check if you are allowed first), on holiday or
even in bed!
- At a convenient time and be very quick.
- Shopping at one's favourite stores even when you are miles
away, this can even be shopping at any store within the European
Union or anywhere in the world (If buying from outside the European
Community, tax and duty, can often mean an item is not as cheap
as it seems.)
- Repeat orders are easy to arrange; food shops can remember
your shopping list and favourite brands and deliver at a time
to suit.
- Shop around without the struggle of travelling around.
Back to Top Wide Choice:
- Internet shopping allows you access to a wide range of shops
all around the world, some of which do not exist on the High Street.
- Greater choice of manufacturers, many high street stores can
only stock items from a few manufacturers because of space and
financial overheads.
- Online shops also usually carry a much larger stock due to
either large central warehouses or by direct source from distributors.
- Buy direct from manufacturers such as Dell.
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Quick Delivery:
- Most Internet sites are able to deliver within a few days.
- Find those places which have stock and can deliver to meet
your requirements.
- Over the internet, you may have more information about stock
availability than a shop assistant.
- Many high street stores do not have store or stock rooms these
days, only display models, and these will still deliver boxed
products to your door just as if you ordered from your own Home
over the internet!
- Better delivery information, many suppliers provide tracking
of your delivery.
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Customer Service:
- Product Knowledge & Research is available in deeper depth
on the Internet.
- Get gift ideas for that special person or event.
- Improved customer service, dedicated staff are available on
the phone to assist with Internet ordering or complete the orders
to the customer's satisfaction. Technology advances enable "Call
me back" buttons so that a call centre member of staff calls
the customer either immediately or at a pre-arranged time to offer
assistance.
- The latest consumer laws have greatly improved your rights
when shopping via mail order and shopping Online.
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SAFE SHOPPING TIPS from the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI)'s Consumer Gateway (www.dti.gov.uk/consumer_web)
- recommend the following: -
- Payment: If your credit or debit card is used
fraudulently in the EU, the card company must refund you.
- Records: Keep a copy (print out) of what you've
ordered, plus the supplier's confirmation message.
- Quality: Your high street consumer rights
apply online.
- Cooling off: In many cases, depending on product
purchased, in the EU the law lets you change your mind and get
a refund within 7 working days of the delivery just like mail
order.
- Websites: Use ones you know or which are recommended
- or look for the TrustUK logo. Get the supplier's phone number
and postal address that should be clearly detailed within the
website.
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