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SHOPPING TIPS HOME
MAIN HOME |
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Comparing
Online to "Brick and Mortar" Shopping |
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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, |
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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. |
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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. |
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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
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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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