By Simon Wright - Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
This article was first commissioned by TheRankTank
The buying
habits of the everyday shopper have changed considerably. Retail outlets
continue to diminish, as a solid proportion of us opt to do our shopping
online. Gone are the days of heading to Woolworths or Jessops to pick up a
bargain, or get the excellent customer service we rely on. Today the likes of
Amazon dominate our thoughts, whilst many retail stores have had to embrace the
change in habits, and make a viable business online.
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| Amazon has been an online leader, but there are some downsides |
For many
years, Amazon (warehouse pictured) has been the preferred choice to buy gadgets online. However it
isn’t always the best place to purchase the latest technological advances, from
cameras and game consoles, to iPods/MP3 players.
Before committing
to buying online, make sure to check out the latest deals. Sure, Amazon is
going to be on many people’s shopping list. They definitely do an excellent
range of products but it might not be the best deal around. The process can be
time-consuming but it will be better in the long run to save money if a more
specialised website is offering the same product you are after that Amazon has.
In that way, having knowledge of online shopping websites before you begin is
advantageous. There’s eBay, the standard online shop from retail stores,
Play.com or specialist shops. For example, the choice of printer cartridges is
better on Amazon, but prices are often far more expensive to a specialist shop
like Printerbasics.com.
When going to
shop on Amazon, the important face-to-face transaction with shop assistants is
lost. In the recession, the success of the online market has driven
gadget-driven stores like Comet to the wall, whilst others such as HMV and Game
have been in administration. It is fine to shop online and again, Amazon can
offer a better range, and handy information about the product but not the
technical information that might be required. Consumers after a new tablet or
laptop should always try Currys/PC World. The sales assistants are there to do
a job, will offer tremendous service to buyers and nine times out of ten,
you’ll walk out of the store with the latest model and a huge smile on your
face for the faultless shopping experience. No matter what they try, Amazon
can’t offer this.
The risk of
shopping online is the quality of the product. Amazon does offer some quick
delivery options and free shipping of products, but third-party websites won’t,
and that could mean paying over the odds for the item the customer is after.
The service is not always totally reliable, and the estimated dispatch date can
be inaccurate. Be aware of high postage charges on Amazon. At the end of the
day, they are a business just like anyone else who want your money and are keen
to make a handy profit at the end of the year.
Amazon is a
good starting point for many but make sure to shop around to get the best buy
and always be aware of the product you want before purchasing.
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