Running head: COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Buying things online vs buying things from brick-and-mortar stores
English Composition I
Southern New Hampshire University
Comparison/Contrast Essay
Due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, businesses all around the world have
had to change their mode of functioning. This essentially elaborates the fact that the onset of
the corner virus pandemic that has taken over the world, has affected the usual conduction of
business all around the world. The biggest change has been observed in the retail industry.
This elaborates upon the idea that in regards to the retail industry, companies have had to take
their business online so that they could continue to cater to the demands of their customers
and earn lucratively from their industry. This has brought about a significant change in the
shopping patterns of customers. This instance has provided the customer base with choices in
regards to their method of shopping. This primarily elucidates the idea that customers
currently are inclined towards shopping online rather than through physical stores. However,
it is also necessary to mention that after the pandemic, companies within the retail industry
have chosen to conduct their business both online as well as through brick-and-mortar stores
so that they can cater to the demands of all segments of their customer base.
Online shopping brings with it a sense of leisure and convenience while brick and
mortar stores provide their customers with their undivided attention and time which helps
enhance the shopping experience of people. In regards to online shopping, it is necessary to
mention that online shopping not only allows the customers to experience a sense of
convenience but it also allows them to have no pressure in regards to the shopping time. This
mainly suggests that online shopping allows customers to shop at their own pace. On the
other hand, in regards to brick and mortar shopping, does not allow customers a lot of time in
regards to shop. This is because brick-and-mortar stores run on scheduled time. In addition to
this, customers also have a scheduled time that they can allot to visit stores and shop. This is
why customers prefer to shop online due to the convenience as well as the time that they can
offer.
Also, while online shopping presents the added benefit of product reviews, offline
method of shopping presents the opportunity to test out the product first hand before
purchase. In addition to this, it is also necessary to mention that online shopping allows
customers to save time and money as well as review the products efficiently. This mainly lays
reference upon the fact that online shopping allows customers to save an immense amount of
time as they can shop from the convenience of their own homes. Furthermore, online
shopping also allows the customers to review the product as other customers leave reviews
regarding the product that is being sold by the company. However, on the other hand, with
brick-and-mortar shopping, customers are in no way saving any time when it comes to
shopping. In addition to this, customers are also unable to review the product as online stores
have the possibility of seeking reviews from their clients while brick-and-mortar stores have
no such process available.
It is also imperative to note that while online shopping allows people to look through
multiple varieties, brick-and-mortar stores only allow consumers to test the products and
peruse them in person. This essentially elaborates upon the fact that while brick-and-mortar
stores equip customers with the ability to test the products on their own, online stores are
unable to provide their customers with this service. Similarly, online stores are able to
provide their customers with multiple varieties which is not possible in brick-and-mortar
stores. This essentially elaborates upon the fact that while brick-and-mortar stores are able to
provide consumers with the ability to test out the product that they are purchasing, online
shopping allows the customer base to choose from a variety of different options. This
establishes the fact that while brick-and-mortar stores are the usual way of conducting
business for companies within the retail industry, online shopping is the future.
Since the pandemic, the customer base all around the world has figured out an
efficient way to shop online and hence prefers convenience over visiting stores. Furthermore,
the amount of time that they save by shopping online can be utilized in different ways by the
consumers. This enables them to choose online shopping over brick-and-mortar shopping.
However, in regard to certain products such as groceries, beverages, etc. customers do prefer
to shop from brick-and-mortar stores so that they can test out the product. This means that
while brick-and-mortar stores are no longer the future of the retail industry, they will forever
remain an essential part of the retail industry as the businesses within this industry cannot
completely let go of the idea of a physical store as customers do rely upon physical stores to
peruse the product that they purchase.
