Online shopping and shopping IRL both have their pros and cons. Sometimes it’s simpluy easier to run into the drugstore and buy a pack of band-aids, or order a cool printed t-shirt from a store on the other side of the world. While one isn’t necissarily “better” than the other, here are a few things you’ll want to consider before getting started.

1. Product Quality

The most important thing when it comes to buying products is product quality – after all, you want that item (a) to last; and (b) be worth the price.

When it comes to purchasing items in person, for the most part whereever you decide to shop, they’ll let you handle the product. You can test out the quality, get a better look at how it appears in different lights, look for chips and scrapes or other defects. There’s really no problem with examining something before you take it home – so long as you aren’t looking to get an applience or something prepackaged.

However, with online shopping, you’re left relying on reviews left by others who purchased the same item. Not all reviews are honest. Some are made by people who want to purprosely prevent the company from gaining business, some are a result of people not knowing how to use the product, and others are simply not helpful with comments like “not good.” You’ve got to do some digging to make your decision. That being said, many online companies are small businesses, and because of that, they work extra hard to provide something you can’t recive in person.

2. Vendors

This ties into productquality.

When you shop online, you can’t always be sure who your vendor is. It may say that a product comes from Company A , but you get Company B instead. This is more common with websites who source their goods from other companies. If you’re buying directly from the supplier then chances are the product is good. Many jewellery designers and artists offer some of the highest quality possible.

Department stores usually carry decent quality products, however, you can’t always be too sure. Sometimes they carry big brand names that don’t always provide the best product. This can be a result of many different factors, but make sure to always do your research beforehand.

3. Talking to People

This one’s tough because sometimes you do, in fact, need to talk to a person.

If you shop online it can take some time to reach a real, living person, and even then they may not be very helpful.  When shopping online, there’s no one to disturb you. Sure, you’re bound to get a few popups from websites and those annoying fake chat ads, but generally speaking, they’re easy to block out or avoid. Of course, when you actually need help or want to speak to someone, talking to a real person.

The same can be said in person; sure, there are employees walking all over the store, but that doesn’t necissarily mean they’re the most knowedglable. Keep in mind, though, that because they do work at the location on a regular basis, they should have a decent idea of how policies work and the quality of products.

Also, some people like to make shopping a social activity. They like to walk through aisles and suggest things to people. Online shopping could be social, too, but there’s a level of concentration needed to understand what it is you’re looking at.

4. Transport

This is an important factor that some people don’t take into consideration.

Let’s say you buy a new cell phone. You can easily carry it home without a struggle, whether you’re taking the train or driving your own car. However, imagine trying to transport a couch or a fridge – even a decent sized tv can be a hassle to move from the store to your house. If you have a vehicle, it shouldn’t be too bad as long as the item fits. However, if you’ve got a tiny Honda compared to a giant Chevy, that wood you need to make your new kitchen table might not fit. You might have to ask a friend for help. If you can’t, you’re going to have to rent a car or ask for delivery – both of which cost money. Not to mention the cost of parking or the time needed to load the product into your vehicle if it’s a tight squeeze.

Don’t even get started on lugging large, bulky items onto the bus.

Online shopping is much easier since shipping is almost no effort on the buyer’s end (unless you need to pick it up at the post office). However, shipping can really add up, espcially if you’re buying multiple items from different locations – particularly overseas.

5. Comparisons

Online shopping has made compairng iterms very easy – just open a few tabs and spend some time reading before making a decision. Sometimes it ccan be a bit tricky because different sites shop from the same vendor, or the item is so unique there isn’t anything to compare it to. In these situations, you’ve got to bite the bullet and decide your next move.

When shopping in person, you’ve got to make a decision then and there, otherwise, you might end up hopping from store to store, which is very time-consuming.

6. Promos

Shopping online or in person have one thing in common: they bombard you with promotions and always want to contact you about them. There’s the constant request for email addresses and social media followings. There’s simply no escaping this.