What benefits are there for internet shopping?

" Is it not better to go to a shop and get all the latest offers - deals?"

Just like you, I was of the exact same view.
During my 17 years working in retail, for different companies, from small shops to large superstores, I would have advised exactly the same thing.

Not anymore!
This is not because I'm building a website promoting internet shopping, it is because in the past 18 months or so, there has been a dramatic change in the way "offers" are available.

Over the past 5 years, high street companies have scaled down their staffing levels. (I've witnessed this firsthand) wage rises are scaled down and stores are closed after initial incentive rent prices run out, for opening on a new industrial estate, for example.
Ever year, about 4 weeks prior to christmas, the promotion document would come through with all the offers on it for the new year or boxing day sales.
Less about bargains, more about getting you, the customer, through the door so that you will have a look around and buy other things. Its called "footfall drivers"

As local council's have to find extra funding directly from their own area, year after year, the rent prices for business' continue to increase, which of course are passed onto you, the customer. Energy bills rising at home, its the same for business' and again these costs are passed onto you, via the prices they charge. Fuel and storage prices are increasing, (I'm trying not to sound like a doom merchant honestly) companies are finding it increasingly hard to control costs and make profits.

The shopping climate is changing in a way not seen since the start of retail parks. (which came about as having a shop on the high street became too expensive)

More and more companies are catching on, to internet shopping. It costs the company less for overheads, staffing, storage and advertising, and instore posters, etc.

As companies develop their websites and their influence in the internet shopping market, more benefits fall to us, the internet customers.

Take Christmas 2007 and this year's January sales for example:

First look at the sales:
Sales started on Christmas day via company websites, some started boxing day, when their stores didnt open until a day later.
This also opened up the "reserve online service" to the customer. No need to queue up and hope the sale item was in stock, it was held in reserve for you at the click of your mouse or delivered to your door!
Price you see is the price you pay:
No mistakes with being charged more at the till, than it has on the label or shelf pricing.
Free delivery to your door:
This christmas and the January sales have seen an avalanche of free delivery offers or free delivery if an order is over a minimum amount.
Price matching service:
Just as on the high street, internet shopping offers price matching. If you see the same product for less within a set number of days of buying it from their website, they'll refund the difference (some even refund the difference plus 10%)
No need to trudge around the town centre checking, a couple of clicks of the mouse and you can email the company a weblink of the lower price and they credit you the money back!
Online or Web Exclusive deals:
Products for delivery only from a company's warehouse, offers exclusive prices, not available to regular high street or retail park shoppers!
Or the click and reserve price, which is often 10% less than the person standing behind you in the queue for the till will pay, all because you reserved it via their website.
Internet discount vouchers:
Company websites often offer "extra" discounts with the use of internet vouchers. Some have even started doing "All this week" deals, where an extra 10% discount is given when a voucher code is typed into a box, when paying for your order. Again, you will not find these offers in the shops in your nearest towns.

I no longer put up with short staffed shops, or untrained extra staff who don't say "thankyou" and just want to talk to the staff near to them, or have more interest in finding out what time it is, so they can go on their break, etc. I dont need to, I use internet shopping, which is starting to save me money!

Click here to go to the front doors!