To be fair, this one’s a little late. Probably would have been a good idea to get it posted earlier in the month. Still, there’s some valuable information here – it shouldn’t be discounted just because it’s a little dated. Anyway, enough rambling; let’s get right to the point.
Christmas is nearly upon us. Like every year, the spirit of giving (as well as that of consumerism) is particularly strong. Those of us who, for some reason, have yet to do our Christmas shopping are currently scrambling about, running from store to store like headless chickens in a desperate effort to nab the perfect present. What if I told you there was a better way?
While they certainly haven’t been replaced (not by a long shot); physical storefronts are quickly being supplanted by online retailers. So, with that in mind; why not do your shopping online? There are plenty of reasons why you’d want to.
The first, most obvious of these is that you don’t actually have to leave the house. That’s a decent argument at any time of year, but it’s a particularly poignant one during the Christmas season; when retail outlets are filled to bursting with desperate, annoyed, and frantic shoppers. It’s a spot of stress you don’t have to deal with, and that’s a huge plus.
Speaking of physical retailers; shopping online also means you’re not going to have to jump from outlet to outlet trying to find the products you’re looking for. If one virtual storefront is out of stock, it only takes a matter of seconds to click over to another one to check the stock there. Contrast this with physical shops, where you might end up travelling halfway across the city before you find what you need. Seems fairly clear which one is the more advantageous choice, no?
Admittedly, digital storefronts aren’t necessarily perfect. In some cases, you’re going to need expert advice on which product or service to purchase. When visiting the store, it’s as simple as looking up an employee. Online, however, things get a touch more difficult: unless the place you’re shopping has a live help line, you’re out of luck. Delivery times (and fees) are also an issue. Chances are good that if you’re ordering a gift today to be delivered before Christmas, you’re going to have to shell out a bit extra to ensure it gets to you when it should.
Still, these small inconveniences are a small price to pay, when you think about it: overall, shopping online presents less hassle, and with the rise of mobile technology, it’s possible to do it from pretty much anywhere. Not a bad idea at all.
Image Credits: [MiniLakesSocial][BruceSallan][PrudentBlog]
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