Eight years ago the Internet brought us the luxury of online shopping. With websites such as Amazon.com and eBay, consumers were able to purchase a multitude of things in the privacy of their own home.

With almost every major department store now offering online shopping, students weigh in on its advantages and disadvantages.

‘When I am not in the mood to drive to the local mall, online shopping makes things easier for me to purchase merchandise I would like, but with the beauty of having the freedom to stay in bed,’ said Mary Phan a biology major.

Phan said she likes to shop in person, but appreciates the convenience of buying things online.

If you’ve ever found yourself in the midst of a chaotic mall crowd, online shopping takes care of that too. Not only are internet stores open 24 hours, their inventory and organization are usually simple to navigate and there is never a long line.

With the right item only a few clicks away, nothing can prevent accidentally purchasing the wrong color or size. Some retailers allow in-store exchanges and returns, but not all do, so before checking out read their online policies.

Most companies offer free shipping for purchases over specified amounts and sometimes offer special online deals.

‘Many websites offer discounts on shipping, as well as Internet coupons you may use towards your purchase,’ said Phan. ‘Most of the time, I find that the Internet coupons are very beneficial to my wallet.’

One aspect of online shopping that people aren’t as enthusiastic about is not being able to try on the clothes.

‘Since I am petite for my size, it is harder to purchase clothes online due to some stores’ different sizes,’ said Phan.

Clothing stores are usually pretty good about posting size charts, though sizes may vary depending on the company. As long as a shopper is familiar with the fit of a particular brand, online products tend to be a’ direct reflection of what the company has in their stores.?

‘If I shop online, it’s from a particular store, so I know my size,’ said Kristy Llamas, a sociology major.’ ‘Sometimes you think they have something you want in the store, but they don’t. A good thing [about] shopping online is I can see everything they have in stock.’

Though this alternative may be convenient, some are concerned about un-secure credit card transactions.

‘I don’t trust it,’ said Nick Winegar, a math major.’ ‘If it’s on the computer, there’s always a way to hack it.’ He has shopped online once.

Additionally, Winegar said he would rather see the product in person before spending his money on it.

Good or bad, the internet has changed the dynamic of shopping. With these 24-hour store fronts, anyone around the world’ ‘ can shop whenever they please.

Websites:

www.forever21.com
www.bluefly.com
www.charlotte-russe.com
www.macys.com
www.activerideshop.com
www.express.com ‘- clothing for men and women