tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24795442439244425792011-04-21T18:58:11.809-07:00gadget-software-games-etcHarieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10608804793457620061noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2479544243924442579.post-80259701933251152212009-04-23T00:23:00.000-07:002009-04-23T00:26:42.501-07:00The Advantages of online store<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Information and reviews</span><br /><br />Online stores must describe products for sale with text, photos, and multimedia files, whereas in a physical retail store, the actual product and the manufacturer's packaging will be available for direct inspection (which might involve a test drive, fitting, or other experimentation).<br /><br />Some online stores provide or link to supplemental product information, such as instructions, safety procedures, demonstrations, or manufacturer specifications. Some provide background information, advice, or how-to guides designed to help consumers decide which product to buy.<br /><br />Some stores even allow customers to comment or rate their items. There are also dedicated review sites that host user reviews for different products.<br /><br />In a conventional retail store, clerks are generally available to answer questions. Some online stores have real-time chat features, but most rely on e-mail or phone calls to handle customer questions.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Price and selection</span><br /><br />One advantage of shopping online is being able to quickly seek out deals for items or services with many different vendors (though some local search engines do exist to help consumers locate products for sale in nearby stores). Search engines and online price comparison services can be used to look up sellers of a particular product or service.<br /><br />Shoppers find a greater selection online in certain market segments (for example, computers and consumer electronics) and in some cases lower prices. This is due to a relaxation of certain constraints, such as the size of a "brick-and-mortar" store, lower stocking costs (or none, if drop shipping is used), and lower staffing overhead.<br /><br />Shipping costs (if applicable) reduce the price advantage of online merchandise, though depending on the jurisdiction, a lack of sales tax may compensate for this.<br /><br />Shipping a small number of items, especially from another country, is much more expensive than making the larger shipments bricks-and-mortar retailers order. Some retailers (especially those selling small, high-value items like electronics) offer free shipping on sufficiently large orders.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2479544243924442579-8025970193325115221?l=hp-spot.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Harieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10608804793457620061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2479544243924442579.post-50680599470850373302009-04-23T00:00:00.000-07:002009-04-23T00:23:23.583-07:00Online shopping is the process consumers go through to purchase products or services over the Internet. An online shop, eshop, e-store, internet shop, webshop, webstore, online store, or virtual store evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or in a shopping mall.<br /><br />The metaphor of an online catalog is also used, by analogy with mail order catalogs. All types of stores have retail web sites, including those that do and do not also have physical storefronts and paper catalogs. Online shopping is a type of electronic commerce used for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Benefits of online shopping</span><br /><br />1) Bargaining power of consumers. They enjoy a wider choice.<br />2) Supplier power. It is more difficult for consumers to manage a non-digital channel.<br />3) Internet increases commoditisation.<br />4) Threat of new entrants. Online means it is easier to introduce new services with lower over-heads.<br />5) Threat of substitutes.<br />6) Rivalry among competitors. It is easier to introduce products and services to different markets.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">History</span><br /><br />The idea of online shopping predates the World Wide Web, for there are earlier experiments involving real-time transaction processing from a domestic television. The technology, based on Videotext, was first demonstrated in 1979 by Michael Aldrich, who designed and installed systems in the UK, including the first Tesco pilot system in 1984.The first B2B was Thomson Holidays in 1981.<br /><br />In 1990 Tim Berners-Lee created the first World Wide Web server and browser.In 1992 Charles Stack created the first online book store, Book Stacks Unlimited (aka Books.com), two years before Jeff Bezos started Amazon.In 1994 other advances took place, such as online banking and the opening of an online pizza shop by Pizza Hut.During that same year, Netscape introduced SSL encryption of data transferred online, which has become essential for secure online shopping. In 1995 Amazon expanded its online shopping, and in 1996 eBay appeared.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Trends</span><br /><br />One third of people that shop online use a search engine to find what they are looking for and about one fourth find websites by word of mouth.Word of mouth has become a leading way by which people find shopping websites. When an online shopper has a good first experience with a certain website, sixty percent of the time they will return to that website to buy more.<br /><br />Books are one of the things bought most online. However, clothes, shoes, and accessories are all very popular things bought online. Cosmetics, nutrition products, and groceries are increasingly being purchased online.About one fourth of travelers buy their plane tickets online because it is a quick and easy way to compare airline travel and make a purchase. Online shopping provides more freedom and control than shopping in a store.<br /><br />From a sociological perspective, online shopping is arguably the most predictable way to shop.One knows exactly what website to go to, how much the product will cost, and how long it will take for the product to reach them. Online shopping has become extremely routine and predictable, which is one of its great appeals to the consumer.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2479544243924442579-5068059947085037330?l=hp-spot.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Harieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10608804793457620061noreply@blogger.com0