Internet Shopping Essay

In the technologically advanced world that we live in today, it seems as though there are very few things that cannot now be done via the Internet. Internet shopping is one activity in particular that has grown to be especially popular, and in fact there are some people who will no longer buy anything if it is not available online. There are two very strong opinions on this subject, those who are for Internet shopping and those who are against it. Both sides make very viable points and there are understandable reasons behind their opinions, however before one can take either side of this discussion, there is some important information regarding this matter that needs to be taken into consideration. â€Å"Past commentaries on the potential impact of the Internet on consumer marketing have typically failed to acknowledge that consumer markets are heterogeneous and complex and that the Internet is but one possible distribution, transaction, and communication channel in a world dominated by conventional retailing channels. † (Peterson, 1997). The objective of this paper is to provide a sort of framework for understanding about the possible impacts of the Internet shopping experience on consumers, the aim being to bring attention to this information, and to address both the benefits and the concerns that are associated with Internet shopping. This is what will be dissertated in the following. We have certainly come a long way over the years – only a decade ago one wouldn’t have even been able to imagine the possibility of making purchases and shopping over a computer. Today however, Internet shopping is incredibly popular and offers a surreal convenience that is really nothing less than remarkable. You can find pretty much anything over the Internet, and one of the best parts of all is that you can purchase items from the other side of the world all with just a click of a button, and without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home. This allows the buyer to be more at ease and feel more relaxed while shopping, something that everyone can appreciate. There are both advantages and disadvantages to Internet shopping however, as well as many issues that need to be learned and fully understood before one gets themselves involved in the online shopping process. There are various different concerns that are present here, and a large majority of people who are against Internet shopping because they feel that it is too dangerous. Privacy issues are a top concern, especially since for most purchases online you need a credit card, and so consumers worry that their credit card number and other personal information will be out there in cyberspace and third parties will be able to access the information. There are a few ways to ensure that this isn’t possible however, namely ensuring that the company you are purchasing from makes sure that all of the information flowing to and from their website is encrypted, making it next to impossible for hackers or other third parties to access and use. Consumers should only buy from websites that are professional looking, because after all the greater the success and reputation of a company, the more money they are going to be able and willing to put into their website, so this will say a lot about them. You also want to ensure that both the website and your web browser are set to the highest level of security notification and monitoring, so that even if by chance something does go wrong, or a third party is noticed on the site, you will be warned about it in advance. There are also certain disclosure requirements that you will want to be aware of before buying anything off the Internet, and this means understanding what you are agreeing to in a contract, as the regulation states that before you make any type of Internet purchase, the seller that you are buying from must give you the following information: â€Å"The business name, address, and telephone number; a description of the goods or services; an itemized list of the price of goods or services and any associated costs payable by the consumer including taxes and shipping charges; a description of any additional charges that may apply to the contract such as customs duties and brokerage fees whose amounts cannot reasonably be determined by the supplier; the currency in which the amount owing is payable; the terms, conditions and method of payment; the supplier’s cancellation, return, exchange and refund policies, if any; the delivery date and delivery arrangements; any other limitatio ns or conditions that may apply. † (Service Alberta, 2006). Another advantage to online shopping is one that most people actually do not even realize, as it involves the environment. Consumers who shop online typically receive parcels from major private carriers such as UPS and FedEx, and so from a short-term perspective at least, the cultural shift away from the typical brick and mortar retail has shown to be positive, as it seems to offer a net boost to recycling programs. There are many people who are for Internet shopping, who feel safer putting their trust in an online company than in an actual employee. People who want to remain anonymous and have more privacy when shopping also tend to prefer the Internet, because they are able to buy the items they want without anyone ever having to know that it was them. The convenience feature is another of the most major benefits, as you can make time to do your shopping when you want, and not have to dictate your schedule around the hours of retail stores. There are many other benefits that consumers receive from shopping online as well, such as the fact that they are typically offered a much wide range of products from a company’s website than they would be in a regular store. This is mainly because when you buy online you are buying directly from the manufacturer and so they always have the offered items in stock, whereas if you purchase from a retail store, this is sort of a secondhand merchant and so if they are out of stock of a particular item you will have to wait for them to order it in from the manufacturer before you can purchase it. From this review we are able to conclude many things, namely that Internet shopping can be a very positive experience, but only if the consumer doing the purchasing is aware of the concerns and makes sure to take every necessary step in order to protect themselves. Online shopping can be an incredibly convenient, simple, and enjoyable purchasing process, but only if and when all the necessary precautions and steps are taken. Identity theft and other Internet-related crime issues that tend to make consumers paranoid to shop online are actually rarities, and usually only happen when the consumer is careless and does not take the proper steps in protecting themselves before giving out their personal information online. The most important thing is to be educated, and the more you make yourself knowledgeable on this matter, the better off you are going to be. References Ingham, L. (2001). Grandma’s Guide to Internet Shopping. Willow Island, NE: Willow Island Editions. Peterson, R. A. (1997). Exploring the Implications of the Internet for Consumer Marketing, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 25 (4): 329-346. Service Alberta. (2006). Internet Shopping. Retrieved August 22, 2007, from