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Below is an overview of the pros and cons Cruze mentioned in her video.
See whether her insights can help you decide which shopping method is better for your budget.
Also see how much the average American spends online shopping.
Online Shopping Pros
According to Cruze, here are some of the pros to shopping online.
Easy Price Comparisons
The internet lets you easily compare prices across multiple vendors.
A little research can help ensure you dont pay more than necessary.
Tip:Online price comparison tools like ShopMania and Price.com can do the work for you.
Tip:Despite its convenience, online shopping can be costly if you frequently pay for shipping.
If your goal is to save money, pay attention to how much youre paying for that convenience.
Tip:Cruze recommended shopping for clothes in person unless youre certain a style works for your body.
Easier Exchanges
Exchanging an item online usually involves a return and another purchase.
The ease of anin-person, in-store exchangeis usually more convenient.
Instant Gratification
Not all retailerscan offer same-day shipping like Amazon.
According to ICSCresearch, the return rate for online purchases is three times higher than that of in-store purchases.
Online Shopping Cons
And now here are some cons to shopping online.
Tip:Pay close attention to all possible fees associated with an online transaction to avoid a costly surprise.
Decision Fatigue
Sometimes, the internet provides too many shopping options, which gets overwhelming.
Consider Cruzes example of shopping for a black sweater online.
Youll find thousands of choices.
Tip:When presented with too many products, start withsale and clearance items.
A great price could save you time and money.
Complicated Returns
Many online returns require a complicated, multistep process.
On Amazons website, for example, it provides a seven-step checklist for completing a return.
Tip:Always review a retailers return policy before buying.
You may decide not to take a chance with the return process.
In-Store Shopping Cons
Alternatively, here are some cons to shopping in person.
Tip:If available, self-checkout can considerably cut down your shopping time.
you’re free to also spot pricing errors more easily when ringing up the items yourself.
Tip:If you dislike crowds, you might avoid in-store shopping regardless of the money it might save.
Falling prey to their tactics can lead to overspending.
Take grocery stores, for example.
Supermarkets are purpose-built labyrinths.
Out-of-Stock Items
Cruze pointed out that both online and in-store items can be out of stock.
However, driving to the store for a sale item only to find a bare shelf is particularly frustrating.
Online vs. In-Store Shopping: Which Is Better for Your Budget?
Youll likely need both shopping methods to get the best deals.
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