Online Shopping Vs. Brick-And-Mortar Shopping

Online Shopping vs. Brick-and-Mortar Shopping

Dustin Kilgore

COM/170

03/16/2015

Dr. Black

Online Shopping vs. Brick-and-Mortar Shopping

  There has been an ongoing discussion about which shopping experience is a better option, and how they differ.  I ask that you keep an open mind while reading along to imagine one’s own experience shopping online or in a retail store, and which one deems to be the better choice in the end.  Follow along and enjoy the discussion, directing all knowledge of either shopping experience toward the writing ahead.  While shopping in brick-and-mortar stores or online is a consumer’s preference, examining the shopping experience, pricing, and product selection will help a consumer to identify their strengths and weaknesses of both kinds of shopping.

Shopping Experience

Customer service can be a huge factor in deciding whether or not one will buy a product in store or online.  This includes customer satisfaction and availability.  There are many similarities and differences in this portion of either shopping experience.  While shopping in store one comes across the choice of asking a retail professional in that establishment about the product they are interested in.  With online shopping one may chat with a representative, if this is available, about the product they may be interested in.  Online shopping leads to the ability to read reviews about the product, giving more insight to the potential purchaser, which really isn’t available while shopping in store.  However, this option doesn’t always get one’s approval to buy the product.  Not to mention, one may receive a damaged or altered product that wouldn’t even relate to the glowing reviews left on this product.  

Business hours are definitely a deciding factor in how one’s shopping experience can be altered as well.  Online shopping continues twenty four hours a day, and seven days a week, even holidays.  Brick-and-mortar shopping has specific hours, and may be closed on major holidays.  Remember as well, that online shopping gives the ability to buy items from all over the world, while brick-and-mortar shopping limits the consumer to what the store carries.  These are just a few factors that one may consider while choosing the shopping experience they feel more comfortable with, which leads to what similarities and differences there are in advertising and pricing.

Pricing

Advertising and pricing will always be two of the most important factors in either shopping experience, to include how they relate and what sets them apart.  Ads are always a big factor on where and how one shops online or in store.  Ads for brick-and-mortar can be found everywhere, to include television, radio, and even on the internet.  Ads for online shopping can pop up anytime you are visiting websites, or just flat out located on the webpage one is visiting.  This makes the ads just as visible to the shopper, but could lead to higher prices as well.