Advantages and Disadvantages of E-Commerce Websites

Freepik (2020)

                                                                                                        

Having previously discussed the meaning and origin of electronic commerce (e-commerce) it is only fitting to go through the advantages and disadvantages .

ADVANTATGES

• Availability: "E-commerce stores are available at all times. Customers can shop at all hours of any day during the year. In this case, customers, especially those who do not usually have time on their hands to do conventional shopping, can  do any  purchase anytime through  visiting the website. Such websites facilitate  shopping  due  to  their  convenient  design." (Taher, 2021)

• Convenience: "Being a very convenient way to do shopping, E-commerce has become the easiest and most popular way for shopping. Products can be ordered anywhere on the planet with  just a simple tap on the mobile  device  connected  to the  Internet  (Aonerank,  2019).  With  such  an easy  way,  consumers effortlessly pick merchandise from various sources with no physical constraint." (Taher, 2021)

• Time Efficient: Time indeed is  money!  "With  the  benefit  of  being  fast,  E-commerce  has  facilitated  the  buying/selling procedures. A key advantage of cyber shops is saving time. In other words, while shopping online, customers would not need more than 15 minutes to perform their purchase. Add to that, providers are so careful as to deliver the products to customers’ doorsteps within a week." (Taher, 2021)

• Comparisons of Prices: "With E-commerce platforms, consumers are provided with more opportunities to see different price points and  features and thus  pick less expensive  and superior options  (Clarke, 1999). Comparing choices in a conventional or physical marketing system can be very difficult, since visiting all the stores and asking for prices can be exhausting to the customers. The issue of asking about prices can be a little embarrassing for some customers, and some others do not even dare to ask about the price of a certain item. However, with online shopping, everything is tool to hand and clear in front of users." (Taher, 2021)

• Sufficient Information: "E-Commerce provides  a history of  customers’ purchases  available whenever  needed with a  huge amount of data. A customer does not only see the relevant detailed information within seconds, but is also able to review his/her previous purchases (Clarke, 1999). Therefore, it permits clients to search for merchandise  info,  compare  the  costs  and benefits  and eventually  evaluate  its  value before performing the purchase. This is very difficult to be seen in a conventional shop since such a vast amount of data is difficult and sometimes impossible, to be displayed to customers." (Taher, 2021)

DISADVANTAGES

• No Inspection: Inability to test items first-hand before buying "is one of the most common problems faced while shopping online.  With this kind of shopping, customers are unable to try the item before getting it (Alhamdi et al., 2019; AL‐Abrrow et al., 2020). In another sense, e-commerce takes away a crucial part of the purchase process which is testing the product. Videos promoting the products might have been made in a very professional and convincing way, but still many customers are hesitant to buy any item they have not tested or seen before. This is so due to the fact that many customers do not see a real guarantee of product quality." (Taher, 2021)

• Lack of the Social/Personal Touch: "E-commerce is missing one of the factors that many customers consider to be essential, which is the personal touch. In other words, some consumers need to feel the intimate experience from physically going to the store and  and interrelating with sales assistants. So, with online shopping there is no place for new relationships to be born (Searchcio, 2019; Al-Abbrow et al., 2019; Alnoor, 2020)." (Taher, 2021)

• Delay in Deliveries: "Waiting is  one of the  online shopping features,  which turns into  a problem  if customers are  not patient enough. To shop online means to wait up to one week, or sometimes more, to have your order in your hands. The gratification anyone gets while doing actual shopping is always delayed while shopping online where customers do not hold the physical item in their hands for a while after the procurement (Bhasin, 2019)." (Taher, 2021)

• The Security Issues: "Cyber security is a worldwide issue which needs to be resolved. Eventually, the lack of reliable security systems creates  a risky experience  for customers shopping online. In  recent years, the world has witnessed  a  number  of  reputable  organizations  and  international  businesses  falling  targets  of scammers which steal consumer data from their databank. This could result in lawful and monetary allegations.  Likewise,  it  also  deforms  the  confidence  which  took  years to  be  built  between  the customers and their providers." (Taher, 2021)

Reference List

         Freepik (2020) Free vector: Ethical dilemma illustration, Freepik. Available at: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/ethical-dilemma-illustration_10893548.htm#query=pros%20and%20cons&position=17&from_view=search&track=ais (Accessed: January 15, 2023).

         Taher, G. (2021) E-commerce: Advantages and limitations, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences. Available at: https://hrmars.com/index.php/IJARAFMS/article/view/8987/E-Commerce-Advantages-and-Limitations (Accessed: January 15, 2023).