Why Buy Online?

Buying items online can be scary at times but it can also be very rewarding.  It is possible to be 'taken' online but it is also a possibility to be 'taken' when shopping locally also.  There are advantages and disadvantages to buying online but sometimes the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages making purchasing even really huge items online a very good deal.


PROS:

• Certainly the convenience and comfort of shopping online is a huge pro.  Shopping can be very strenuous, especially if your health is not the best.  
• There are crowed parking lots, crowded isles and those long lines in local stores but online this is no problem.
• Running from store to store is time consuming and uses a lot of gas which is pretty pricey these days.  Shopping is just a matter of using your keyboard and mouse.
• Most local stores have limited hours of operation.  Shopping online can be done in the middle of the night is that is when you want to do your shopping.
• The best way to find the best deals is through comparison shopping.  Doing this locally is difficult and time consuming but online it is very simple and takes only minutes of search time.
• Most items you find online, especially the 'huge' items, will have reviews.  Be sure to read all the reviews as they almost always have a couple negative comments that may influence your decision to buy the product.
• You can always check the status of your order and the progress of the shipment online any time you wish.

CONS:

• Shipping and handling costs make an otherwise great deal, not so great.  Often online shops will offer reduced or even free shipping but the catch is you need to buy a minimum amount of merchandise to qualify.  
• Buying huge items means high costs in shipping.  Some companies online offer free shipping for their items, even furniture but most do not have this luxury.  
• Some online companies offer payment options.  This might be considered a pro rather than a con but just like using a credit card to make a purchase, the item will eventually cost you more than if you bought it without financing.  Some companies, like Fingerhut.com for instance, do offer payment options with no interest but their items are all slightly higher in price than you will find in local stores.  They do not have credit checks which could again be more of a pro than a con.  There are several stores like this available online. 
• There will be pictures of the items online so you an see them but it will never equal seeing the items in person.  One way to overcome this con is to do some shopping locally so you can see the item up close and personal.  This way, if the online item is a better buy you will know it is exactly what you want.  Every item should have a picture and a full description plus reviews.  

Ordering products online has been a way of life for me personally because of the area in which I resided.  Travel was often very difficult because of the weather and the roads so shopping online became a real 'Godsent'.  

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Always do comparison shopping.
• Always take shipping and handling expenses in account.
• Always read reviews.
• If you do not know the company it is best to make your purchase using PayPal.com.  Online services like PayPal.com give a huge amount of customer protection to any online purchase you make.  
• Make sure you understand the length of time it will take to receive your item.  Often purchasing express shipping will not make a big difference in the time it takes to get your order.

Please leave any comments you have about your online purchase experiences.  My most recent purchase was a recliner chair.  The review is posted here.  The experience was very positive, the shipping was free and the product was priced below what I could find locally.  I made the purchase using PayPal.com through Mercantila.com. Also, check out Fingerhut as this has been my website of choice for several years now.