E-SHOPPING                                

Online shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser. Consumers find a product of interest by visiting the website of the retailer directly or by searching among alternative vendors using a shopping search engine, which displays the same product's availability and pricing at different e-retailers. As of 2016, customers can shop online using a range of different computers and devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablet computers and smartphones.

An online shop evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a regular "bricks-and-mortar" retailer or shopping center; the process is called business-to-consumer (B2C) online shopping. When an online store is set up to enable businesses to buy from another businesses, the process is called business-to-business (B2B) online shopping. A typical online store enables the customer to browse the firm's range of products and services, view photos or images of the products, along with information about the product specifications, features and prices.

Online stores typically enable shoppers to use "search" features to find specific models, brands or items. Online customers must have access to the Internet and a valid method of payment in order to complete a transaction, such as a credit card, an Interac-enabled debit card, or a service such as PayPal. For physical products (e.g., paperback books or clothes), the e-tailer ships the products to the customer; for digital products, such as digital audio files of songs or software, the e-tailer typically sends the file to the customer over the Internet. The largest of these online retailing corporations are Alibaba, Amazon.com, and eBay.[1

Advantages :

• Access - Online shopping allows you to shop from any vendor, at any time, anywhere in the world. Virtual window shopping enables all users to shop at their leisure and across multiple marketplaces.
• Time Saver - You no longer have to get in your car and have to drive to the mall to shop. There are no lines and you can come back to your cart whenever you want.
• Online Deals and Promotions - Before you checkout, you can scour the Internet for online coupon codes or special discounts. Many companies send coupons to their customers who have opted into their email marketing campaigns, delivering them with the latest product or service information and what current promotions they are currently holding.

Disadvantage :

• Shipping Rates - Though some companies offer free flat rate shipping, it still may come at a cost. For instance, a clothing store may offer free shipping but at a minimum of a $50 purchase.
• Waiting - If you're an impatient person, waiting for your product to be delivered can be a pain. There is a lack of instant gratification and even possibilities of delay when it comes to receiving your items.
• Refunds/Returns Disputes - If an item comes damaged or not as described, you will want to return the item or be refunded your money. Depending on where you purchased your item, there can be different policies for refunds and returns; this process is tedious and is prolonged since you would have to ship back the item and wait on the buyer to refund your payment.