eCommerce Frank Ross on 24 Nov 2006 10:53 pm
Use the Internet - It’s Cheaper
Such is the trumpet call from online shopping fans. This article (Article Link Here)describes the scene at a CompUSA store on Thanksgiving. CompUSA is one of the retail stores that decided to open on Thanksgiving day to try to get a jump on the holiday shopper’s desire for electronic goodies.
Is it cheaper to buy on the internet? One could probably compare the price of fuel to the shipping charge incurred when purchasing online. And what if the store you go to is out of the thing you want? Will they get it for you or will they give you directions to another store (where you will expend more fuel getting to and from).
I suppose some people like the ‘holiday crowd’ hustle and bustle thing. I am old enough to remember Holiday shopping before the internet and I can assure you, that all of the people on my gift list will receive gifts bought online. There are those of us who don’t really like waiting in long lines (see my previous post on line management) and would rather shop online.
The selection online is far more vast than your neighborhood scope can ever be - even if you live near a Wal-Mart. The biggest drawback to Holiday Shopping online is the window of time. One must plan ahead to shop online for the holidays. Things purchased after about December 15th may or may not arrive in time. After that, it’s off to the store!
Online shopping is great for planners-ahead, but for last minute buyers, there is no substitute for that physical retail store.
Tags: Online Shopping, Holiday Shopping, Christmas Shoppers, Holiday Shoppers