Topic > The Rise of Online Shopping During the Pandemic: Advantages and Disadvantages

Index IntroductionOnline Shopping PanicAdvantages of Online ShoppingDisadvantages of Online ShoppingConclusionIntroductionOnline shopping is the act of purchasing products and services over the Internet in the comfort of your own home. It has been around for many years but has grown rapidly during the pandemic. People's lives have changed drastically after the pandemic, almost every aspect of our lives has become just a click away due to the lockdown and closure of businesses. Companies offered online shopping and people rushed to do so to continue their daily lives somewhat normally. It seems to be a simple and practical option to buy the things you need during the lockdown, such as household items, electronic devices, sports equipment, office and school supplies, as well as food, however it has its disadvantages. As everyone around the world responds to Covid-19 in their own way, consumers rely on the digital world, so businesses have had to adapt their strategies to meet everyone's needs. Online shopping has revolutionized the world of business and technology in times like these, online panic shopping has come to mind for those who need to stock up on items, it has its benefits for businesses and consumers, as well as its disadvantages. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayOnline Shopping PanicMany humans respond to the crisis in different ways, during the pandemic people overstock certain products to try to think they have some control over something. Due to the pandemic, panic has shifted to online stores. We have purchased many medical supplies and household items such as masks, hand sanitizers, bread and more through online stores to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. Psychologist Paul Marsden believes that people buy in a panic to satisfy their psychological needs. There is autonomy which is the need to feel that you are in control of all your actions, relationship which is the need to feel that what you are doing is for your own benefit and that of your family, and there is competence which is the need to feel that you are making the right choice. Seeing others buy all the shelves makes people feel the need to get involved in something like increasing shortages of certain products. The media has a great influence on panic buying, seeing photos and videos of empty shelves shows how much people only care about themselves, so others start panic buying to combat the need to have these certain products necessary that are exhausted on the subject. of seconds. Peer influence can also be a big part of panic shopping, as purchasing decisions are influenced by friends and family, this can occur by hearing what colleagues are doing to stock up, which worries you. Online shopping brings mental comfort just at the click of a button, so it has its many benefits. Benefits of Online Shopping During the pandemic, some business adjustments are needed to benefit businesses and its customers. Online shopping is a very beneficial strategy brought into our world by technology, it has never been so convenient to shop as it is now, it keeps everyone safe. There are many advantages for businesses when it comes to shopping online. One of the major benefits of online shopping is that it keeps small businesses thriving during times like this, online shopping has helped them get at least theirnormal income through this service. Customer data is a boon to allow businesses to see who their customers are and connect with them to build more relationships. Having a larger customer base allows businesses to make more profits as they are no longer limited to customers in their physical location, they can sell their offered products and services to online shoppers across the country or even the world. When selling online, the business is open all day and night which allows customers in different locations to purchase products while other customers are sleeping, so automation ensures that sales are still happening. It's easier to increase inventory when you don't need to pay rent if everything you need can be in one place without paying for square footage. Many companies provide their services online such as gym memberships or reservation systems, as well as restaurants to ensure everyone's safety. Finally, getting product reviews through online services and social media can help businesses grow. There are many advantages for customers who buy online. As convenient as it is, there are no long queues to check out, reviews can encourage customers to buy the product, there is no pressure to buy the products at a certain time, and notifications let customers know when there are sales. Consumers have a wide variety of products when looking for a certain niche product, doing a more in-depth online search will allow you to find this product much easier than going around from place to place worrying about the time you might waste and the viruses. Since getting product reviews benefits the company, it also benefits the customer. With online shopping, products display customer ratings to show the top rated products, this not only teaches customers to be smarter shoppers but also helps you save money. As easy and useful as all this is, which brings me to my next point about the inconveniences of online shopping and Covid. Disadvantages of Online Shopping Online shopping is not as glamorous and relaxing as it seems, it has its downsides which have peaked during the pandemic. Businesses face many problems during times like this, it can be difficult to communicate with customers as most websites have automated chats, so resolving customer issues can be more difficult and time consuming than face to face. Businesses could lose a lot of profits due to the lack of trust that potential customers have in purchasing from new companies that have come online, some customers do not feel confident when reaching the payment methods when purchasing and prefer to take a risk rather than feeling uncomfortable in your own home just for something as simple as shopping. Another main disadvantage is that many seasonal clothes are still in stock, so it may be more difficult to sell them, this could allow the company to have so much inventory that they become too overwhelmed and are unable to sell them. Finally, businesses during the pandemic may fail to meet some customer expectations. This is especially difficult as the pandemic has prevented many businesses from carrying out their normal activities, which has changed many customers' thinking about certain activities. Customers have some inconveniences when it comes to online shopping, such as simple things like not being able to examine a product before purchasing, such as checking if it is the right size, waiting for an item to arrive due to the virus, especially when buying gifts . or important products could-19.