Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Shopping

Man has access to a wide range of amenities in this age of science and technology. The spread of information technology has made life simpler for people. With the internet, we can now purchase online while at home and gather information from around the globe. E-shopping is the practice of purchasing your preferred goods online. E-commerce began in India around the turn of the twenty-first century.

Still, in only a few years, it has become so pervasive throughout the nation that it is unbelievable. As soon as you leave your house nowadays you will find large hoarding-banner stores ornamented with a variety of goods. On the other hand, there is a thriving market on internet for e-shopping. Offline shopping is when you go to the marketplaces outside of your home and buy products that you need.

This is how offline purchasing works. After navigating the traffic and crowds, customers can roam in the market to find the items they want to purchase before haggling over the price. On the other hand, all purchases are made with just one click when e-shopping, or internet shopping, which can be done whenever, anywhere.

Within two to three days of ordering the items bought online, the ordered items are delivered to the customer's house. "Even if there are many consumers in India, people are unable to travel to the market to buy things, but today's trend of e-shopping has expanded so much in the nation that 500 to 600 million people shop through this medium," says Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Sons.

In fact, the country is seeing a tremendous rise in the trend of internet buying nowadays. The online market in India was $2.5 billion in 2009, increased to $16 billion in 2013, and is projected to reach $56 billion by 2023, making it the largest retail industry in the nation, according to research by ASSOCHAM.

ASSOCHAM claims that the direct home delivery of items and the provision of improved service are the primary drivers of the rise in online shopping. According to a survey published in 2014, Mumbai is the top city for internet shopping, followed by Ahmedabad and Delhi. According to DS Rawat, general secretary of ASSOCHAM, "Today it has become tough to find time to travel to malls or marketplaces among the growing market and traffic congestion, expensive gas, and regular everyday living. People like doing their shopping online to avoid all these issues."

Additionally, according to Rawat, the expansion of the Internet and new payment alternatives have helped the e-commerce business rather than slowing down the growing trend of online buying. If we take a closer look, we can see that what he is saying is also true.

People residing in the cities and towns of states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu are increasingly engaging in e-commerce today, in addition to the major cities of the nation like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chandigarh. The nation's e-commerce market is growing at a rate of twofold yearly.

Most young people in the nation, who use the Internet in huge numbers, choose to purchase online. Currently, a variety of things may be bought with just one click on the websites of the biggest e-commerce firms operating in the nation, along with groceries, electronics, accessories, ready-made clothing, gadgets, shoes, fragrances, books, etc.

Forms of Electronic Shopping

1. Online Retail: The most typical kind of e-commerce involves selling tangible things via an online store. Retailers might be big, well-known brands or little, independent merchants.
2. Digital Download: This form of e-commerce entails the selling of digital goods like e-books, music, and movies. The consumer's gadget can download these things right away.
3. Online Auctions: In an online auction, customers can place bids on goods being offered for sale by people or companies. At the conclusion of the auction, the item goes to the highest bidder.
4. Subscription-Based Business Models: In this kind of online shopping, customers pay a recurring price in exchange for a selected selection of things like clothes, housewares, or even meals.
5. Group Buying: In this kind of e-commerce, several customers band together to acquire a good or service at a reduced cost.
6. Crowdfunding: In this kind of e-commerce, customers contribute funds in exchange for rewards to create a good or service.
7. Business-to-Business: (B2B) e-commerce refers to the exchange of products and services between companies as opposed to between a company and a consumer.
8. Social Media Commerce: In this kind of e-commerce, products or services are sold using social media sites like Facebook or Instagram.
9. Online Bazaar : This kind of e-commerce is the selling of products or services via a website that links buyers and sellers, like Amazon or eBay.

Advantages of Electronic Shopping

Consumers can enjoy several benefits from electronic shopping, sometimes also referred to as online shopping.

1. Convenience is one of the key benefits of online purchasing. At any hour of the day or night, consumers may purchase from the convenience of their homes. They are relieved of the burden of getting dressed, travelling to the store, or navigating crowds. For people who live in rural regions or have restricted mobility, this is especially advantageous.
2. The simplicity of price comparison is another benefit of online buying. Consumers may easily compare costs at several online retailers or even within the same retailer with a few clicks to discover the best bargain. Additionally, discounts, coupons, and promotions are frequently offered by online shops, which can further lower the cost of purchases.
3. Electronic purchasing not only gives convenience and price comparison but also makes it simple to browse customer reviews and ratings. Consumers may use these ratings and reviews to make informed judgments about the things they are thinking about buying.
4. The availability of a greater choice of goods is also made possible via electronic shopping. Online businesses can carry an infinite number of products, but physical stores are constrained by the amount of space they have. Customers will find it simpler to discover what they need as a result.
5. The ability to follow orders and deliver is another benefit of online buying. Numerous online merchants offer tracking information so that customers may check the progress of their orders and learn when they should expect them to arrive.
6. And last, purchasing online is frequently more affordable than going to a physical store. Online merchants do not have the same overhead costs as physical businesses, such as rent and electricity, in addition to the possibility of discounts and promotions. They may be able to offer consumers reduced costs as a result.

Overall, online shopping has several benefits over traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, including convenience, price comparison, a greater selection of items, and frequently lower costs.

Disadvantages of Electronic Shopping

There are numerous benefits to electronic purchasing, often known as e-commerce or online buying, but there are also some possible disadvantages to consider.

1. Security is one issue with online buying. There is a chance that unauthorized persons will obtain sensitive personal and financial information shared during online transactions. Customers should only conduct their online transactions on secure websites, create strong passwords, and enable two-factor authentication to protect themselves against fraud.
2. The inability to personally inspect or try out things before buying is another possible drawback of internet shopping. Clothing might be especially challenging since customers could be unsure of how the item will fit or appear on them. However, not all online retailers provide free returns or exchanges.
3. The potential for delays or mistakes in the delivery of items is another drawback of electronic purchasing. Although the majority of online sellers use dependable delivery methods, there is always a chance that shipments will get lost or damaged while being transported.
4. Electronic shopping also has an impact on the environment since it frequently necessitates transporting goods to the customer. Increased transportation-related carbon emissions may result from this. However, some internet merchants are trying to lessen their influence on the environment, including working with eco-friendly delivery firms and utilizing sustainable packing materials.
5. Lastly, compared to conventional purchasing, electronic shopping may be less intimate. It might be challenging to receive the same amount of individualized attention as in a physical store, even if some online businesses provide exceptional customer care.

Overall, even though online shopping has numerous advantages, customers should be aware of any possible risks and take precautions to secure their personal and financial data.