The Pros and Cons Of Shopping Online Vs./ Shopping @ A Store  

Alot of people shop online. They say they are able to get a lot of bargin prices. For me personally I like to go to the physical store. That way I can try on the merchandise and see how it fits on me or if it fits and how it looks. By ordering online you are really taking a chance on the merchandise, you can not try it on until it arrives, then it maynot fit and you have to send it back. Then you have to pay shipping to send it back. Then you may not get what they advetise. the material maybe different. There is just so much you have to take into consideration while shopping online.

I love to shop online, and would say at least 75% of it is done online. No crowds, no walking around all day to find what I want, no kids to distract me. I love it~

Lately I have bought several things at a Libris. It is a website where you can buy used books, especially out of print books. I have lots of readers on my gift list who tend to like books that are no longer available. It is a lot of fun. I do not have a Petco in my town and I can get my flea prevention medicines for my cats there. I have shopped at Amazon once, but they could not get the item I wanted after I had ordered it through their site. I will probably order some new workshoes online because I know what size and style I like the best. I am not sure which website I will use though. I prefer to use sites that accept Pay Pal, as I accumulate money there pretty steadily. I also go to stores through a website that gives me points for every dollar I spend in member stores. I accumulate those points and get gift cards to use or give as gifts. Oh, Yeah, on Wednesday or Thursday I should be getting new RAM for my computer from Tiger Direct. I got two points apiece for each dollar I spent.I like shopping online because I do not have to drive 30 minutes or an hour to shop and risk the products not being in stock.

I love shopping online. Because I get better deals online. And plus you could do it all online with out having to leave you house, being able to shop online in the middle of the night is great.

hi sherrypeck I love to shop at LandsEnd and Lane bryant. as for prices LandsEnd are about the same as the better stores and their stuff is so well made its worth paying a little more. Lane Bryant caters to us bigger women and I shop their sales as their prices are a tad higher than I like but all big womens clothing stores overcharge us way too much. I love on line shopping and often buy beanie babys at tye.com and they are all really reasonably priced. I have gone to ebay a few times but the shipping often costs more than the items I have bought taking all the money I saved on the items clear away with the cost of shipping. I did not know I could shop Walmart.com,I like their clothes.

I like shopping online for the points I get from a couple of programs I belong to. It is fun waiting for the package to arrive.

I like shopping in a physical store too. Usually oddlots, walmart (though i hate their policies I still have to shop there) Where ever there is a bargain I will go.

I am anticipating spring so I can order some rose bushes and other flowers online.

Happy shopping, and happy mylotting!

In answer to your questions:

Do you like to shop online or in an actual store with a physical address?

I prefer shopping on line because I can do it at my convenience, and the selection is wider.

If you like to shop online, which website(s) do you use and why?

I am a member of a number of points programs. Airmiles.ca Aeroplan.com, mypoints.com, swagbucks.com all of which have affiliate programs where I can earn points by shopping stores advertized on their sites. If I can find it there I will.

What do you buy there and what kind of variety of products do they offer?

Just about everything! Last thing I bought were some flowers from ftd.com which I ordered by going in through MyPoints.

If you prefer shopping at an actual store, what stores do you go to for food, appliances, gardening supplies, etc?

Zellers Department store, a store here in Canada that has just about everything, and awards points.

Do you have to have a membership for these stores or no?

Definitely!

What do they offer in terms of products at your fav stores and what are their price ranges?

All kinds of great stuff, very low prices.

I will prefer to shop at a store as compared to online shopping.. hehe ^_^ even though online shopping is much more convenient, but it's too much of a hassle as well, especially when waiting and aranging of delivery.. hehe ^_^

And some ple do buy things on impulse, thus they dun have the patience to wait.. However it can be a good thing too, so that one is able to control their urge to anyhow buy.. lol =D

online shopping is convenient and u dont have to go out. u just sit back and click on things u want to purchase.

DO's

DO
- Make sure that you are shopping at a legitimate and established online site. Look for business contact numbers and email addresses. Check to see if the site is listed as a verified seller of goods and services. Make sure their payment transactions involve shielding your credit card details from third parties. Look for a standard protection logo such as a trustmark from a reputable security site. Only sites that pass identity theft and credit fraud security tests can display a trustmark. You should also read the website's security and privacy policy.

- Use a payment method that protects your financial and personal identity. Sites such as PayPal do not reveal any of your credit card or bank account information. Encryption is essential to ensuring secure online purchases. Encryption will code your personal and financial data after you hit the payment submit button. Websites that use encryption will display a key or closed lock in the web browser. Make sure the payment site address begins with https:.

- Watch out for internet fraud and identity theft. There are illegitimate companies that will send emails offering products at a great discount. Be aware of scammers and those trying to steal your financial information. Maintain a current firewall and anti-virus software.

- Use a payment method that guarantees your money will be returned if there is a problem with the product or shipment. Read the merchant's terms and conditions before making the purchase. Find out what the total cost is before submitting the payment form, including the taxes and delivery charges. Keep a record of the transaction.

- Inspect your new purchase as soon as it arrives and check your credit card statement.


DON'T
- Don't send financial and personal information in an email. Don't respond to emails that request financial identification and other personal information.

- Don't leave your credit card number stored on your computer where someone else can access and steal it.

- Don't use a debit card or money wire transfer because the money will go directly into the merchant's account. It will be much more difficult to get your money back if there is a problem. Using a pre-load credit card is a good choice because you can easily dispute fraudulent charges.

- Don't make a purchase from a website if you are feeling uncomfortable. Look for links to "About" pages or "FAQ" pages, and if there is no mention about protecting the privacy of its customers, you should shop somewhere else.

- Don't make purchases from an online retailer that does not provide an actual physical address and telephone number.

thanks to ezinearticles.com

I like that online stores generally have a greater range of products, but for things like clothes and food, I like to shop in stores. I like the experience and I like to actually see what I'm getting.