5 Reasons Why Online Shopping Is Better Than In-Store Shopping

Online shopping has boomed worldwide in recent years, and current research shows that it’s likely to remain popular for the foreseeable future. For instance, one survey by Forrester projects that online retail sales will balloon to $2.5 trillion by 2024. The study also notes that the Southeast Asian ecommerce market is especially strong at present, accounting for up to 50% of online sales globally. This figure is expected to swell to 64% in the next year.

As more and more customers choose to shop online rather than in-store, retailers have also begun to adjust their operations accordingly. Many brands that have historically operated brick-and-mortar stores now also run online storefronts where customers can order their products. Some have even abandoned physical shops entirely and now do business exclusively online. 

Have you been bitten by the ecommerce bug, or do you still prefer to do most of your shopping at physical establishments like malls and standalone stores? If you’re still unconvinced by the hype, take a look at these five reasons to shop online rather than in-store:

You Have More Variety

Mall-going culture has long been one of the hallmarks of life in the Philippines. In fact, our country is home to some of the largest and best-outfitted shopping malls in the region, if not the world. The fact remains, however, that any mall you go to will still offer you limited options in comparison to the near-endless array of products available from online retailers. 

Whether you’re shopping for clothing, books, cosmetics, houseware, or anything else, you’ll definitely have more options perusing online stores and ecommerce marketplaces than going to a physical shopping center. As long as a particular retailer can ship to the Philippines, there’s nothing stopping you from diving headfirst into their product catalog. And if you’ve got your eye on a brand that doesn’t ship to the country, you can always get around this obstacle by working with a reputable forwarding service.

It’s More Convenient and Accessible

You may not always realize it, especially if you’ve been shopping in-store all your life, but visiting physical stores costs you a lot of time, energy, and money. You’ll have to drive or commute to your shopping center of choice, pay for parking if necessary, walk from store to store to pick out the things you need, and carry all your purchases home. Malls and stores also tend to have set operating hours, usually from late morning to evening, though they’re often open a little later on weekends.

In-store shopping can be infeasible for people who work long hours or live far away from the urban centers where most shopping centers tend to be located. The physical effort in-store shopping requires also makes it difficult, if not impossible, for people with disabilities or terminal illnesses. On the other hand, anyone can shop online from the comfort of their home. In addition, the majority of online stores are always open and able to process orders in real time. Any products you purchase online will either be delivered directly to your doorstep or to an accessible pickup location. 

Even if you’re capable of shopping in-store, there’s very little reason to do so if you can find what you need online. Cutting physical shopping trips out of your regular routine means you’ll have more time and energy to spend on your hobbies and your loved ones.

You Avoid Crowds

The social distancing and mobility restrictions imposed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic have been major contributing factors to ecommerce’s meteoric rise in the last few years. Even now that these restrictions have relaxed, many shoppers assert that they’re no longer willing to weave through crowded corridors or wait in long queues at stores. It’s ultimately safer, easier, and more comfortable to shop online, where all you need to do is add items to your cart and take them directly through the checkout page.

You Can Find Exactly What You Want

Few things are more frustrating than having to comb through endless shelves and bargain bins, only to discover that the item you want is no longer in-stock at your chosen store or is only available at a different branch. You’ll never run into this problem online, as just about every online store and marketplace has an efficient search function to help customers find what they want in seconds. You can filter items by type, color, size, and even price range to make sure that you only see results that are relevant to you.

Many online retailers also have measures in place to assist customers whose preferred products aren’t currently available. For example, some platforms let you add out-of-stock products to your wishlist so that the store can notify you via text or email when these items are back in stock. 

You Can Take Advantage of Special Offers

Pinoys love a good deal, and you’re much more likely to find discount codes, cashback vouchers, and other special offers available from online sellers than physical. Some brands, for instance, will offer special discounts to customers who shop online rather than in-store as part of their promotional efforts. Online stores also tend to go on sale more frequently than their physical counterparts.

At the end of the day, online retailers offer consumers an easier and more engaging experience than physical stores can hope to match. Once you start purchasing things online extensively, it won’t be long before you’re ready to kiss in-store shopping goodbye.