Online Shopping vs In-Store Shopping (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to shop online or in-store? ›

Online shopping often offers lower prices, but in-store shopping may have better discounts. Can I return items bought online in-store? It depends on the store's policy. Some stores allow for in-store returns, while others require mailing the item back.

eCommerce represented a 4.93% larger share of monthly retail sales in the first half of 2023 than it did in the first half of 2022. [Source: Capitaloneshopping] As of 2023, in the USA, consumer spending on online shopping was more than in-store shopping resulting in 63% to 37% respectively.

It Is Easier to Find Sales

It just so happens that online stores have more frequent sales and discounts. Moreover, it is much easier to get notifications about sales because you hear about them via emails or online ads. Not many physical stores invest in promoting discounts.

Online shopping is highly useful for its convenience, offering 24/7 accessibility, a wide range of products, easy price comparison, and the comfort of shopping from home. However, it also has drawbacks like potential fraud risks, impersonal shopping experience, and lack of immediate product access.

Many customers find the return process for online orders too complex or time consuming. So, if you go shopping in a physical store, you already save yourself the hassle of a return. You immediately choose what you want and you don't have to worry about a potential return. Instead, just take the desired products home!

When you shop in-store, there's no waiting around for an item to arrive. You immediately have what you need — and there are no shipping costs. For shoppers who like to quickly eliminate items from their shopping list, it may be appealing to visit the store and leave with your purchase.

Primarily, physical shopping can be time consuming. Customers need to physically go to the store, find what they need, wait in line, and then bring their purchases home. Additionally, physical shopping can be expensive, as customers may be tempted to purchase more than they need, or buy items they don't actually need.

“Experience combined with a diverse selection of retail stores and businesses are what drive shoppers in, and it's also what keeps them coming back,” said Holly Rome, Executive Vice President of Leasing at [SHOPCORE MODEL].

Comparing and researching products and their prices are a lot easier with abundant online consumer reviews. Cheaper deals and better prices are also more available and accessible, since most online shopping is done without a middleman, directly from the manufacturer. The absence of sales tax is yet another plus.

What is the number one advantage to online shopping? ›

Time saving

The only resource that can rival money today is time. As a result, “saving time” is often cited as a reason for shopping online. People who shop online consciously trade instant gratification (getting the product right away) for the time savings and other benefits of online shopping.

Average Savings

When there is a difference, online prices are usually lower than in-store prices. However, on the increasingly rare occasions when the price is less in-store, it is often substantially lower (32% average savings in-store vs. 26% average online).

Finding, filling out, and submitting job applications online is becoming more common. In some cases, however, applying in person may be the better option because it gives you the chance to make a good first impression on the hiring manager.

Online shopping offers convenience and the ability to compare prices and products easily, while traditional shopping provides immediate product availability and the opportunity for bargaining .

Online pricing and in-store pricing can vary. Typically, online prices are lower to account for shipping costs and the cost of running a physical store is higher, so their prices are higher. If an online item is available at your local store, you can place a store pick-up order to receive the online price.