Internet commerce today occupies a leading position. This is not surprising, because to open such an enterprise you do not need to rent a room, think over a place for storing products and much more. Virtual trading floors are also of great interest to consumers, due to the ease of use of services and the ability to make purchases from anywhere in the world.
Principle of operation
The operation algorithm of such stores is extremely simple:
- a person visits the site;
- selects the product you like;
- place an order;
- makes payment;
- specifies the delivery address.
Today, through the virtual network, you can purchase anything from socks to food. However, when visiting an online store, the advantages and disadvantages of such sites are also worth considering.
Benefits
An indisputable plus of such acquisitions is a tremendous saving of time, which is usually required before reaching a shopping center or market. In addition, it is worth highlighting the following advantages of the online store:
- There is no need to stand in long queues and communicate with others.
- No need to leave the apartment. All that is required is access to the Internet.
- Shopping can be done at any time.
- The most favorable conditions for bulk purchases.
- Purchased goods are delivered to the buyer directly home.
- The cost of things in virtual markets is much lower.
- A wide selection of products.
- Constant discounts and promotions.
- Thanks to the feedback from other customers, you can make the best choice.
- Ability to pay in the most convenient way.
These are not all the advantages of an online store. In addition to the convenience of payment and receiving purchases, the consumer can purchase the goods anonymously. This is especially true for those who are embarrassed to choose contraception or "toys for adults."
disadvantages
Despite all the advantages of an online store for customers, there are a number of problems that you may encounter when placing an order online:
- There is no way to try on a thing or evaluate its quality. Also, the buyer will not be able to check the performance of the equipment. Because of this, there is a huge risk of getting low-quality goods.
- Very often, buyers are faced with the fact that the delivered item is very different from the pictures posted on the seller’s website.
- Most often, delivery is carried out by courier or mail, which is why you have to wait for a purchased trinket from 3 days to 1 month. This is especially critical for those who buy gifts online.
- During delivery, the purchase may be damaged due to improper transportation conditions.
- There is a risk of running into scammers. Everyone can create a site, place product photos and customer reviews on it today, anyone who has at least a little badge with the principle of the CMS. Thus, the buyer can simply “give” the money (and, in addition, credit card details) to the scammer and be left with nothing.
In addition, the fair sex is deprived of the opportunity to carry out offline shopping. And for some people, communication with sellers and people in line is the only opportunity for socialization.
Of course, the advantages of an online store far outweigh the disadvantages. But there are a number of things that are not recommended to purchase online.
What is better not to purchase in online stores
If it comes to buying inexpensive supplies, then you can not be afraid.However, there is a list of things that are not worth buying on virtual trading floors:
- Footwear. There are a number of reasons why it is not worth buying shoes, boots, boots, etc. online. The advantages of online clothing stores are difficult to refute, since Chinese manufacturers sew rather high-quality products. However, the situation with shoes is different. Unfortunately, the quality of such products leaves much to be desired. Reliable sites on which to buy shoes are sites created by well-known manufacturers and proven in the market.
- Food. Having appreciated all the advantages of buying in an online store, some people “sit down” on this type of shopping center shopping trip and start ordering food. This is a huge mistake, since there is a big risk of getting an “delay”. It is better to limit the purchase of non-perishable products or completely eliminate such acquisitions.
- Dishes. Most often, glasses and elegant dining sets are delivered to customers with damage. As a result, instead of beautiful dishes, customers get shards.
It is also worth refraining from ordering cosmetics, perfumes, medicines, hygiene items and sunglasses.
Is it possible to return a non-liked purchase
On the sites of virtual platforms you can often find the column “Advantages of the online store”, which indicates that the goods are subject to return, as well as in ordinary shopping complexes.
Most often, the buyer can really give up poor-quality products and get their money back. However, there are several nuances:
- If the goods were delivered, for example, by Russian Post, the seller may declare that the item was damaged, namely at the post office. In this case, it will be extremely difficult to find those responsible, since this service does not insure purchases.
- First you have to wait for delivery, then send a return request and get a response from the seller. Ultimately, a decent period of time can elapse from the time of purchase to the receipt of money.
To summarize
Of course, making purchases from the comfort of your apartment is very convenient. But this must be done very carefully. It is better to give preference to online stores of famous brands whose outlets are in every city.