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Disadvantages of Internet Shopping – A Need to Overcome Them
Disadvantages of Internet shopping certainly cannot override its advantages.
Nevertheless, we need to overcome these disadvantages, as the advantages of
Internet shopping are many. Internet shopping is akin to tele shopping, and is
nothing else but shopping done through your computer on the net. People purchase
products and services online, without physically going to the stores. Certain
customers consider this as one of the disadvantages of Internet shopping, as
they feel more comfort in buying things from people across the counter.
Disclosing Personal Information
Disclosing personal information is considered the biggest of all the
disadvantages of Internet shopping. When making your purchases online, you are
required, generally, to pay through your credit or debit cards. Customers are
leery of disclosing their credit/debit card details on the net. In the hands of
unscrupulous people, this information can be detrimental to the cardholders.
One way of trying to overcome this problem was the development of pre-paid
Payment cards. Most products on the Internet target young people and those in
their teens. This mode of payment, through pre-paid Payment cards, is a way out
for those teens and young people, who are not eligible for credit cards.
People believing in social interaction, and having the sense of community, are
uncomfortable with shopping on the Internet. For them the Internet is a faceless
entity, very cold and inhuman. They would rather meet people and do business
face-to-face. Another disadvantage is the overload of information available on
the products they wish to buy. This leaves them more confused than they were to
begin with. They find it hard to tell the difference between what is ‘quality’
product information and what is not.
One of the disadvantages of Internet shopping is that you see only the images of
products you wish to purchase. They are no substitute for touching, feeling or
trying on, say, a piece of garment.
Internet, with its global reach, certainly allows customers to check out
products from all over the world. It is believed, generally, that products
bought through the Internet are less expensive. It is so, if the products are
local products. Products bought from other countries may attract duties and tax
along with transportation costs. These transactions, through the net, will
certainly, not be cheap.
However, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages of Internet shopping, and
these should not stop us.
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