Shopping Online vs. Shopping at the Mall

With so many brick and mortar stores with websites, we have the option to choose between the convenience of ordering merchandise online or purchasing it in the local store. I like other people choose shopping online because we like shopping during the time the physical store is closed, or to avoid crowds. Other people prefer shopping in stores in order to try on merchandise.

Whether you prefer shopping online or in the stores depends a lot on what you are shopping for, your time frame needing the item and if requires your hands-on approach. More often than not we online shoppers may be paying for the convenience of shopping online.

A growing trend over the last few years has been merchants using online coupons in order will entice shoppers to the website hinting that their order will be less expensive than at the actual store. Some of the most popular codes, “Free shipping” and “25% off” may look like a big savings, but beware of the fine print and the requirements with these savings, if it is a code for 25% off a $150 order, than we really aren’t saving that much with that coupon.

How does shopping online at a local store website differ from the physical stores, in regards to price?

It’s simple really. Online stores usually ship from a main warehouse, no faceless mannequins’, storefront costs, mall leasing or even the teenaged employees who bounce around to the very loud music through the expensive sound system in the brick and mortar stores. This saves them money because a warehouse doesn’t require the overhead costs, can store more products and ship regularly usually at a discount with an agreement through the shipping companies.

Additionally, prices are influenced by logistics. Have you even noticed why prices are more expensive on a store’s website, and they are less expensive in the physical store? This is especially true with clearance items and end-of-season merchandise. Department stores receive new seasonal merchandise ahead of time which needs to be on display as soon as possible. The turn over requirement for stores is a seasonal and ongoing issue, with merchandise that is current or from a previous season needs to be sold quickly and at a deep discount within the stores due to storage issues. Warehouses, on the other hand, have a great amount of space, so merchandise has the ability to be stored for a greater amount of time. This is why online discount coupons or clearance sales may not always get you the best deal.

So when to shop in the physical store?

Weekend in-store shopping also offers additional discounts on clearance items by allowing shoppers to take as much as an additional 50-75% the current clearance price.

When to shop online?

If regular, in-season merchandise or merchandise that is a store staple year-round, online shopping will probably save a shopper the most money. By using an online coupon, the shopper can save more by purchasing from the store’s website as opposed to shopping at the store’s physical site.

In the end, we are back at the beginning. If you are shopping for convenience and the joy of shopping in the comfort of your home, than online shopping with discount codes is a great option. When shoppers base their purchases on price alone, than researching the weekend sales, browsing the clearance racks in the stores are the most cost effective option for you. It all depends on type of item(s) needed, cost of the item, and whether or not the item is seasonal or not. With proper research and comparison shopping, and weekend flexibility, shoppers’ dollars can go further; be it online or in-store.