Online shopping Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Online shopping - Research Paper Example The largest online retail companies include eBay, Amazon.com and Alibaba (BLUSCHKE 2011, pg8). The growing business and consumer demands a lot of creativity and this cannot be achieved through physical only. This is evident with the increasing number of retailers now offering online stores interface to consumers. With the enhancements in online shopping, there is an emergence of new market footprint coverage opportunities for stores that can appropriately cater to offshore market demands and service requirements (WINDWALKER 2002, pg19). Online shopping is an all-round benefiting process that does not only benefit buyers but also the sellers. Setting up a physical store comprises huge setup costs and recurring operational costs. Products that remain unsold can only occupy premium space, as opposed to resources required to manage them. Additionally, virtual stores ensure product movement based on orders. Physical shopping limits customers through factors such as distance, shopping time and time. These limitations do not exist when it comes to online (KÜHN 2010, pg77). Those who undertake online shopping argues that searching a product online is very easy and relatively less time consuming. Moreover, most of the time products are sold at a cheaper price online. Online customers must have access to the internet and a valid payment method so as to undertake a complete online purchase. Basically, high education levels and personal income is directly related to more favorable perceptions of online shopping (KÜHN 2 010, pg19). Online shoppers generally use a credit card or a PayPal account in order to make payments. Nevertheless, some methods such as debit cards, postal money order, wire transfer, cheque, cash on delivery and many others are also preferred. Financial part of online transaction may be processed in real time or may be done later as part of the fulfillment process (KÜHN 2010, pg31). Technological developments bring