To Buy Online Or Not To Buy Online! Is That The Real Question?
Jul 29 '02
The Bottom Line Online buying is suppose to be a good experience not a bad one. Read the fine print of any online store.
Sometimes in life you need to go shopping and you don’t want to go out of the house to do so. So what is a person to do? Well, for one thing you can just do with out! Or you can still go shopping online!!! That’s the way for me!
We are in a time of our lives that we use the Internet for various reasons. Whether those reasons are to pay a bill, buy a gift, send a card, just visit a website and of course to shop! Times have certainly changed over the years haven’t they!
All of my online experiences have been great, at least for the most part. Off hand I can’t think of one place that I have gone to on the Internet where I ordered something and didn’t get what I ordered, when I was told it would come in and I have always been satisfied with what I ordered.
Advantages of Online Shopping
One of the many things that I look for in an online store is the name itself. Meaning, is it a trusted store that I shop in my local area or is it a site that has high reviews and is recommended by others. I can always check www.bizrate.com for remarks on stores.
I like to be able to get around a site with no problems or no long load times. This is always very important to me. And I always read the fine print that can be found in most facts sections or company information sections on each site. And I strongly suggest that everyone reads the fine print before buying. You should be very familiar with their policies and how they work. The return policy, the shipping and handling cost, the company and if they are a trusted site or not!
The shipping and handling will also weigh in my decision. For instance, if it is going to cost me more to have items sent to my home then going to the store then I will not buy from the online store. For me the s/h should be relatively cheaper than the use of gas, wear and tear on my vehicle. And I also weigh in the options of fighting the crowds. And I really hate that part of shopping in a store. So the privacy of shopping in my home mostly works for me.
I also look to find that the selections of a site are updated often and the availability of the items is important to me. Sometimes I don’t find what I am looking for, but that is okay for that is how it goes sometimes.
I also like being able to take my time and look around an online store. This comes in handy when I don’t want to fight the crowds, like I stated already. The convenience of shopping online has to be just that CONVENIENT!!!
When I hear of an online store it excites me! I don’t hesitate to go and check a new store out. If I like them I give them a try, write about it to let you all know how they are, and if I don’t like them, well I will let you know that as well.
I like being able to go to furniture stores or decorating stores to get ideas for my home. I like being able to use the floor plans that some of these sites offer. I enjoy going to educational sites for my kids or baby stores for the new grandbaby, where I can really get into trouble over buying things for that little guy. And now days you can buy your medicines and your groceries online.
I like to go and look around jewelry stores to get ideas for gifts for family members for holidays. But I have never purchased anything at an online Jewelry Store, I would rather see that item in person before purchasing. But it is fun to look online first then go and buy after actually seeing. However, after seeing the item in person, I can go back to the online jewelry site (if it is a trusted name) and see if there is a better deal. Of course I have not been able to find a better online jewelry store offer than the actual store offer.
And of course I enjoy the Christian websites, where I can buy my music or Bible Study material.
I like being able to take my time and look around at all sites that I go to. I don’t have to stand in line and I don’t have to write a check!
Concerns You Should Have
But be sure that you know the store or something about the store. Be sure that your credit card info is going to safe. Be sure that you get what you ordered. Be sure that you are comfortable with shopping at the online store. Be sure that they are trusted. And be sure that you understand how the online store works.
Earlier I mention that I shop online at stores that I also shop in person at. These are most always trusted sites. Places like Wal Mart, Wal-Greens, Home Depot and various others. Look for quality named stores to shop online. By shopping online at these stores you have the advantage to returning an item to the store instead of having to mail it back somewhere. That is also a plus for me. besides who wants to pay double shipping and handling! However, some stores will send you a paid return address label at their expense. This is always a great customer service program.
And Customer Service is also very important. You need to know if the response time is quick and simple. Did they really help you or did you feel a little lost after contacting Customer Service. Were they helpful to your situation or were they rude and didn’t care. Customer Service should always be very helpful to you and your needs.
The Disadvantages
The Disadvantages for me are the high prices of items and the high shipping and handling charges. If the site is not a trusted site I don’t stay around. I am serious about those shipping and handling charges, you have to be very careful with them. For instance at www.walmart.com their s/h is very high, one of the highest that I have found. So be very sure that you understand this cost.
Bad Customer Service is just that! Bad!!! If stores Customer Service can’t treat you right online, then most likely you will not enjoy your online shopping.
If your order is not correct when you get it then that can cause a hassle to you in returning it either via mail or the actual store.
And if there is a problem with your order and the online store doesn’t bother to send you an email about it and when your order comes it is not what you wanted. Then you have to go on a search mission to find out what happened. When a simple email from them in the first place would have been most helpful to you. You know, when a person is informed that their order will be delayed or that the item has sold out “would you like something else or your money back” is always good business. I don’t understand why any company would not give this courtesy to people. Why would they even assume that you don’t want your money back or to pick another item? But unfortunately that is just what happens sometimes.
How I Feel
Although for some people online shopping is not always the way to go, I believe for most people it is.
Weigh all your options before you shop anywhere online. You must be satisfied no matter what!
My overall my shopping experiences online have been wonderful. And I will shop online for a long time to come. With all the changes going on around us everyday it is becoming safer and safer to shop online then getting out!
Just to let you all know, I do get out of the house and I do go shopping in stores and I do buy things there as well!
I hope that this has helped in some kind of way.
God Bless!
©LKD 2002
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Member: Leah
Location: Florida
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Proud Mother of a US MARINE! Love Ya Jeffery!
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