What is the Difference Between Online Shopping and Traditional Shopping

The main difference between online shopping and traditional shopping is that online shopping is very convenient as you can shop anytime, anywhere while traditional shopping can be time-consuming, but allows you to actually see and touch the products you are buying.

Although we usually associate shopping with going to a shop and making a purchase (we call this traditional shopping), online shopping is rapidly becoming popular all over the world. However, each has its own pros and cons.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Online Shopping 
     – Definition, Features, Pros and Cons
2. What is Traditional Shopping
     – Definition, Features, Pros and Cons
3. What is the Difference Between Online Shopping and Traditional Shopping
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Online Shopping, Traditional Shopping

What is Online Shopping

Online shopping is the activity of purchasing products and services over the internet. This is a very convenient way of shopping since you can use it to buy things from anywhere at any time. All you have to do is visit a specific website or an online retailer like Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress and search for the product and order it using your credit or debit card. In addition, there are also other payment methods like PayPal, American Express, Apple Pay, etc. Some retailers also offer the cash-on-delivery option.

Online shopping is rapidly becoming a very popular method of shopping. However, it has both advantages and disadvantages. 

Pros of Online Shopping

• Customers can shop anywhere, anytime as there are no geographical boundaries.
• There are a wide variety of items available for purchase
• Customers have the ability to compare prices and find the items that fit their budget
• It is also possible to buy second-hand items at a lower price
• Customers can easily send gifts to others via online shopping

Cons of Online Shopping

• Customers don’t have the chance to physically see or touch the items they order; sometimes, what they see in product advertisement may be completely different from the product that is delivered to them.
• Customers have to wait for the items they ordered to arrive
• There are delivery charges and chances of mishandling during delivery
• There is a risk of online fraud
• Online transactions may be subject to tax
• Some websites and sellers may pause a threat to online security
• Overall, online shopping may be a dull experience

What is Traditional Shopping

When we hear the word ‘shopping’, we usually think of traditional shopping, i.e., visiting shops and buying goods from them. The main advantage of traditional shopping is that customers are actually able to see what they are buying before they make the payment. If they are purchasing a garment or shoes, they can also try them on. Moreover, customers can also take the items home with them on the same day, unlike in online shopping. This is essential in buying day-to-day essentials like groceries.

Like online shopping, traditional shopping also has its own pros and cons.

Pros of Traditional Shopping

• Customers can actually touch and see the products they are buying.
• Traditional shopping allows customers face-to-face communication with other customers as well as shop personnel.
• It’s easy to return the product.
• Products like garments and shoes can be tried on before purchase.

Cons of Traditional Shopping

• Traditional shopping may not offer a vast range of products, like online shopping.
• Shops are not open on certain hours and certain days, so there’s a restrain on time.
• There is no opportunity to compare prices and products.
• Customers may lose money and time to travel to the shop.

Difference Between Online Shopping and Traditional Shopping

Definition

Online shopping is the activity of purchasing goods and services over the internet while traditional shopping is the activity of visiting a shop and making purchases.

Convenience

Often, online shopping tends to be more convenient than traditional shopping. This is because customers can shop anywhere, anytime as there are no geographical boundaries.

Ability to See and Touch Products

In traditional shopping, customers are actually able to see what they are buying before they make the payment; however, in online shopping, customers don’t have the chance to physically see or touch the items they order; sometimes, what they see in product advertisement may be completely different from the product that is delivered to them.

Safety

Traditional shopping is safer than since there is a risk of online fraud and security issues like hacking in online shopping.

Prices

Online shopping allows customers to compare prices and find the cheapest products, but traditional shopping doesn’t allow customers this chance to compare prices easily.

Returning Products

There may be some complications in returning the products in online shopping, but it’s relatively easy to return products in traditional shopping. 

Communication

There is no face-to-face communication in online shopping, but traditional shopping allows customers face-to-face communication with other customers as well as shop personnel.

Conclusion

The main difference between online shopping and traditional shopping is that online shopping is very convenient as you can shop anytime, anywhere while traditional shopping can be time-consuming, but allows you to actually see and touch the products you are buying.

Image Courtesy:

1. “2900303” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Free photo of Woman Shopping” (CC0) via Stocksnap

ncG1vNJzZmiolZm2oq2NnKamZ6edrrV5yKxkraCVYrGqssWeqZ6mk5p6o7HTsJyepl2ku621zZ5krKCfpb2qusZmmKecXam%2ForDIraCoppGherS0zqmnoqaXZA%3D%3D