E-commerce

What is e-commerce?

the buying and selling of products and services over the internet

Advantages to the customer

• Ordering online takes less time than travelling

• Customers can access product reviews and price comparisons

• Wider choice/ customisation and greater availability

Disadvantages to the customer

• Rely on product images and descriptions so goods arriving mightn’t meet expectations

• Easy to create scam websites and fake products

• Time delay in the delivery and possibly a delivery charge

Advantages to the retailer

• Can use out of town warehouses instead of expensive retail outlets

• Can be accessed on a global scale with a larger customer base

• Reduce staffing costs compared to physical shops

Disadvantages to the retailer

• May not use a website due to concerns over credit-card fraud

• Goods not arriving on time/ faulty can give a negative experience

• Not able to connect with customers on a personal level