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In the past, during lunchbreaks, we all nipped out of the office, had a bite to eat at the local restaurant, and did some window shopping. Now, we grab a sandwich, return to the office and browse the internet. Things have changed and continue to do so at a rapid rate. We can now search for shops in London, Paris and New York from the comfort of our central heated office. We can buy furniture, clothes and electrical goods at the press of a computer keyboard. We run various UK shopping sites specialising in consumer goods. Our sites go balistic over the weekday lunch period. There is evidence that this new pattern of behaviour is growing. It is very seductive to browse for old friends, dream of holidays abroad and research the new car we wish to buy. The trend is very much window shopping and researching. Actual buying on the net is mostly products of well defined parameters, such as CD's, books and computer hardware or software. In other words, items such as paintings or fashion clothes are a little harder to sell. People research these for prices, but will normally want to then go to the shop and view them. Having said that, with the advent of mail order and returning goods if not satisfied, clothes is one area that is becoming more popular. With expensive items there is still a lack of confidence in passing over credit card details, although in reality this is far safer on the net than giving your credit card to a waiter or petrol attendant! Online auctions is the most popular growth area of shopping on the net, for both the consumer and the retailer. Many small business's are abandoning their shops for a virtual shop or just putting their stock on auction sites. These goods become cheaper, through the savings the internet provides the seller. As consumer confidence grows in the credit card online security, so more goods are being bought. Ebay is the ultimate example of this, with the site capturing the tension and excitement of a real auction, in the comfort of your arm chair.
Credit card fraud is less of a problem on the web than one may think. If there is a padlock appearing on your browser window, then the shop has its own secure server software that encrypts all your personal information preventing it from being accessed or read by any body else. It is not the web that causes fraud, it is trading with the wrong company! Always make sure you have contact details which work, so if there is a problem you can contact them. As a last resort, cancel your credit card payment. The busiest sectors in the UK for online shopping are still books, cd's, videos and then followed by clothes shopping, computer hardware/software and electrical goods. Courier companies are enjoying this new boom in retail online buying, with deliveries souring. The key to all this is that goods sold online are easier to manage by the retailer. Expenses are lower, no risk of shop lifters and they have a shop window in every home in the country. The internet allows them to provide maximum information at minimal cost, with no expensive paper brochures, sales staff and real estate. The competition dictates keener and keener pricing, resulting in amazing online deals. So with the cocktail of cheaper goods and ease of information and axcess, the internet provides the UK shopper with both convenience and cheap goods. |
