5 Reasons Consumers Prefer to Buy Online

Online shopping has become an integral part of our lives and it is not reserved for younger generations anymore – our grandparents are embracing the trend and even if they aren’t sure where to click and how to order, they don’t mind asking a younger family member to do it for them.

That being said, all modern brick-and-mortar stores need to have at least an online presence if not an online store because even your most loyal local nana has started ordering take-out food. However, although we are aware of this trend, are we sure we know why it is so popular? Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons people buy items online.

The abundance of choice

One of the perks of living in this modern age is that when you want a product, you can find a similar item made by many brands, which is a luxury our grandparents didn’t have. You have countless brands of shampoo, lamps, shoes, keyboards - you just need to make a wish and type it in Google’s search bar.

Your geographic location used to limit you in terms of food, clothes, and other things but that is no longer true and you can live in Berlin and order traditional Japanese clothing. The same luxury handbags (or their copies) are worn in the Philippines just as in California so not only do you have a wider choice but you also don’t have to limit yourself in terms of local products.

Online reviews as an authority

The variety of choice is a wonderful thing but it can sometimes be frustrating because you somehow lose half an hour standing at the aisle while trying to decipher which item to get. Chances are that, for no rational reason at all, you end up with aromatherapy-honey-ginger bubbly shower gel when all you wanted was a plain bar of soap.

People trust online reviews more than their government in some cases but when it comes to that, we are all united on the topic of sharing our personal experience with a service or a product in exchange for a helpful review about some other product. Also, many brands collaborate with influencers to improve their brand visibility which is also an effective strategy because people sometimes trust influencers more than celebrities or sometimes even specialists.

It’s more discrete

There are times when we don’t want others to know that we order something. When you want to surprise a member of your household with a gift, hiding birthday presents around the house is rarely successful. This is why people often resort to online purchases – they pay for the present online and then the person gets genuinely surprised when it gets delivered to their doorstep.

Also, sometimes people feel embarrassed to go to a regular store and search through certain items, such as lacy lingerie or sex toys. In this manner, you can browse thousands of products of an online adult shop from the privacy of your home and take your time to research and find something that you actually want. It saves you the trouble of lying unconvincingly that it’s a present for a friend when you are in fact getting it for yourself.

Say no to compulsive shopping

Do you think those candy bars and bubble gums are placed next to the shop’s cash register by accident? The shop owners know that even if you were strong enough to resist the urge of taking a candy bar from the isle while you were passing by, the temptation of standing next to it while waiting in the line is just too strong.

You might have a similar feeling when you see all those items in an online store but as soon as you add them to the cart, the total sum will wake you up to the fact that you might not need all those things. So, online shopping helps prevent compulsive shopping.

It’s time-saving

One mustn’t forget one of the main advantages of online shopping – the fact that it’s time-saving. You don’t need to go to a couple of shops to try things out or to check whether they have a certain item at all. You don’t have to go anywhere at all, internet access is all you need to start shopping via your smartphone or desktop computer or laptop.

The only time when you have to get up is to answer the door when the post arrives and then you can pay to the courier if you haven’t paid it upfront with your credit card. Depending on where you live and the country of origin, you can get your package in 2-3 days or up to a month.

Whether you won’t or can’t leave your house, feel embarrassed to purchase something or you just don’t have the time to go from shop to shop, online shopping is the answer to all your problems. And this is precisely the reason why this trend won’t diminish any time soon.