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Online Shopping
With the advent of credit cards and Internet, online shopping has become quite the norm in today's society. But is online line shopping a blessing in disguise or a sore in the thumb?
Advantages:
- Price: Items are usually cheaper on the web because warehouse and staff costs are lower, and because online shops want to attract and keep customers. Not to mention the fact that foreign items are made available without the added cost of having to first purchase a ticket to that country.
- Convenience: Shopping can be much easier on the web. It can be done at home, at a convenient time and be very quick.
- Wide Choice: Internet shopping allows you access to a wide range of shops all around the world, some of which do not exist in your country. Online shops also usually carry a much larger stock.
Disadvantages:
- Delivery: Many sites still use traditional carriers and do not deliver at night or at weekends. Often you end up having to go and collect from a depot.
- Costs and returns: Adding up transport and, if buying from outside the European Community, tax and duty, can often mean an item is not as cheap as it seems. If the item proves to be defective, or is the wrong item entirely the process obtaining redress could be very complicated. Added to the fact that returning a purchase often means having to parcel it up and take it down to the post office where you have to pay the cost of postage.
- Cost of using the net: Although online access is getting cheaper, many internet providers still charge per minute. Browsing around a wide range of shops can take as long as a traditional shopping visit, so beware.
- Buying more: Because everything is at the click of a mouse, it is very easy to buy and spend more then you first intended to.
Ultimately the choice to shop online is yours. Choice is your right. Weigh the pros and cons and decide what's best for you.
Remember, the power is yours!
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