How do you think the use of the internet will affect shopping in the future?

Answer 1

people will just buy stuff online without having to go out.. its too much of a hassle.

Answer 2

Shopping on the internet will always be the lowest cost to consumers, there is no brick and mortar; no employee wages, the costs of running a small internet business is very inexpensive in comparison to your average retailer.

The only advantage large retailers have is they sell more of and product therefore they get a deep discount in context to their smaller rivals, but this can only go so far. As each year passes, these smaller internet businesses chip away at their market share..

Although there will always be certain people that like to touch and feel the items they would like to purchase before buying, or just getting out of the house. The true holders of the key to extremely increased shopping on the internet is the credit card companies. Once they have people completely convinced they are not liable for fraudulent purchases, and the process of getting it fixed is easy. Then we can see the true potential of internet shopping, and some possible employee shortages at the post office.

Answer 3

I don't think it will do much. Shopping is a very sensual (no, I don't mean in a sexual way) experience. When people shop, they appreciate seeing the colors of the object, they often touch objects that they are considering, and the psychological effects of "going shopping"

For more on the subject, check out the book, "Why we Buy" by Paco Underhill.

Answer 4

Here's a few predictions (most already happening) :-

Prices will drop (eBay). Postal, Courier & delivery companies will thrive.

Any Business offering a 'service' (Banks, Buliding Societies, Travel Agents etc) will go totally online (or go out of business). In fact the big boys should already have started selling off their high street properties (if they want to get a decent price).

Most Specialist shops will go on-line - and face competition from 'new start ups' who have no history (i.e. no employees, no pensioners, no medical & no other 'baggage').

'Customer facing staff' of all types will be laid off - and wages in the retail sector will drop. A lot of sales jobs will dissapear totally = who needs an Insurance Salesman or a Travel Agent (or even a Car Salesman) when the best deals are (already) on the web ?

Hypermarkets (such as Wall Mart) selling perishables will continue to bring in the customers but only those that can offer their other goods at on-line comparable prices will thrive.

Those without easy access to online purchasing (due to limited credit etc) will become the customers of new 'internet cafe' type services (or be forced to shop at the few remaining 'physical' stores where they will pay a high price (due to buliding & staff costs).

Music companies will go out of business (the battle against MP3 is already lost). Film companies will fight a war against off-shore digital copies - and either drop their rip-off prices to a point where piracy becomes pointless or go out of business.

Software companies will have similar problems but will 'get away with it' since we only need one Windows (but we like to listen to 100's of music tracks and watch dozens of films every year).

Governments will attempt to Tax internet sales by attacking their own country internet sellers - and damage their own economies as customers desert to off-short suppliers.

Oh yes - and Playboy & the other 'top shelf' soft-porn mags. will loose out to internet porn ...

Answer 5

It will be about the same, the big change has already happened, and as a species of shop-aholics we will still be wanting to do the hands-on retail therapy, that a virtual shop will never replace.

Answer 6

I'm not sure if it will affect it becuase internet shopping is hassel.
If the item doesn't work out, then you have to mail it back to the manufacture. I like to go to a store.

Answer 7

make shopping at home much easier. Also lead to society that stays at home more leading to more homophobia

Answer 8

we probably wont ever have to leave our house anymore for any thing