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Comparing
Online to "Brick and Mortar" Shopping
PRICING
Traditionally, an online store has very low overhead. Since
there is no need to pay for retail display space, storage
costs are negligible or non-existent. Shipping of product is
often factory direct, further reducing warehousing costs and
eliminating the expense of multiple shipments to various
distributors. All of this creates significant savings that
can be passed on to the consumer, and which allow even
family run businesses to successfully compete with their
much larger, brick and mortar competitors.
A brick and mortar store has unavoidable expenses with which
it must contend. A physical location has to be
lighted,heated or cooled meaning electrical and gas
expenses. Then there are things such as wages, maintenance,
and warehousing costs. Shoplifters |
means "shrinkage";
and that too costs the retailer. As well, stock must be
brought to the storekeeper before it can be transferred to
the consumer. These are expenses not normally encountered by
the online stores. On the other hand, there is the
possibility for the brick and mortar retailer to buy in
bulk. That saves, and generally, the larger the retailer,
the larger the bulk purchases and the larger the bulk
purchases, the larger the savings which can be shared with
the final purchaser.
Advantage: Indeterminate
SELECTION
Online stores tend to specialize, and that specialization
normally results in great selection in that particular area.
Online stores are also more likely to carry hard to find
items that do not have a large market share. These retailers
are dealing with national and international markets so they
are better able to meet even a minimal demand for such
merchandise, and, with their low overhead advantage, even
slow moving items create no real problems.
Brick and mortar locations are much more dependent on local
demand. If demand is weak locally, the item you want may not
be carried at all. Other items are carried only seasonally,
eliminating year round access to them. Many retailers, for
cost considerations, are also forced to concentrate on best
sellers to the detriment of slower movers that are just not
"brought in." Of course, there are some items to be found
that may not be available at any online store because they
are not sold online. On the other hand, how often have you
seen the phrase, "Not found in stores"?
CONVENIENCE
What could be handier than shopping from the comfort of your
own home? You don't have to contend with crowds, dressing up
to go out, or wasting gas to go hunting something that may
or may not be there at all. Online stores tend to provide
comprehensive descriptions of potential purchases that go
well beyond what is printed on the items' boxes or that a
less than knowledgeable store employee may be able to
provide. The chances are you will not even have to pay sales
taxes when finalizing your purchase.
Do you want to see it? Do you want to touch and handle it?
Do you want to feel the heft and better gauge the size? None
of that may can be done online. If you're lucky, you may
even encounter a real live salesperson who actually knows
what he or she is talking about, and can answer your
questions in person.
Advantage: Indeterminate
DELIVERY
Somebody somewhere is going to have to pay for the delivery.
Where Online Stores advertise "free delivery" that is only
because the delivery costs are built into the advertised
price of the product. On the other hand, if your purchase is
produced in Milwaukee and being shipped from Milwaukee, you
will only have to pay the costs of the shipment from
Milwaukee to your home, and not all sorts of intermediate
shipments such as from manufacturer to wholesaler, to
secondary wholesaler, to distributor, to secondary
distributor, and finally to the retailer.
You want it. You've got it as long as it is in stock. If
you're picking it up yourself, you don't have to pay any
sort of delivery, at least nothing beyond the price of the
product and its related taxes. Brick and Mortar retailers
never assess extra delivery charges when it comes to the
costs of getting the product into their stores and onto
their shelves. That cost is invariably built into the price
shown on the sales ticket.
Advantage: Indeterminate
WARRANTY
Online Stores provide manufacturers' warranties.
Brick and Mortar stores provide manufacturers' warranties.
Upon occasion they will do the servicing themselves, but in
most cases and for most products, that is left to the
manufacturer.
Advantage: Indeterminate
RETURNS
Almost all Online stores allow returns. Be aware, however,
that you are dealing with a distant entity, and that will
mean some inconvenience. The returned item must be
repackaged and shipped. That means there will be shipping
costs and probably restocking fees to be considered. These
costs are normally not there in the case of returns of
defective items, but they normally are there in the case of
returns due to change of mind.
Almost all Brick and Mortar stores allow for returns.
Policies vary from store to store, however, so be sure to
acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations prior to
purchase. Restocking fees are often encountered, but because
you are likely handling the return on a person to person
basis, it is unlikely that any additional shipping or
delivery costs will be involved. Make sure, however, that
yours is not an "all sales final" type of purchase.
Advantage: Brick and Mortar Store |
SECURITY
It is normally just as safe to buy from a reputable Online
Retailer as it is to buy from a Brick and Mortar Store.
It is normally just as safe to buy from a reputable Brick
and Mortar Store as it is to buy from an Online Retailer.
Advantage: None
Conclusion: There definitely are pros and cons to both types
of shopping, and even this quick review should be enough to
show that there is a place in this world for both types of
stores. As consumers, we simply need to determine what will
best meet our needs.
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About The Author:
This Article Was Written By Gary Palmer
http://www.storeitfoods.com
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