Online Shopping Spree

You are driving to the mall, trying to find a parking spot in an endless lot, fighting over the one shirt in the right size at the crowded store, and finally, you are waiting in the infinite line for the fitting rooms. Why do all that when you can simply go shop online?
This is the new social trend which is taking over our shopping experience. Costumers feel more comfortable and efficient when they can click on the product they are interested in while sitting at home, and after couple of days get their purchase in the mail. It does not get more convenient than that. Or does it?
Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, came up with a new online program called “Pick Up Today” which is expected to increase online purchases and store sales as well. This program enables customers to choose from thousands of products online and receive a text message when their buy is ready for a pick up at the costumers’ local stores. This new marketing tool is handy for the shopper who gets free delivery to a close to home location, and is ultimately beneficial for the store as well. By requiring the buyer to physically enter the store, Wal-Mart increases the flow of customers and eventually increases its sales.
Interestingly enough, there is a paradox in this marketing method. Wal-Mart relies on customers to be constantly connected and shop online. Yet, Wal-Mart developed this application to enhance its at-the-store purchases in addition to the online buys. This recent marketing innovation represents the balance our society seeks of “old-school” habits and new technology. After all, every form of life on earth has to reach equilibrium at some point. As a society, we need to find a way to maintain our traditional life style while still pushing for higher life quality. This juggling around of events will eventually lead us to an ideal equilibrium.

Online Shopping and the Environment

In an effort to save the environment, many people resort to online shopping for their retail needs. Online shopping is beneficial for the environment in many ways. One example is how it saves gas and lessens pollution from motor vehicles. Although the amount of gas you use roundtrip to drive to the store is less than what a delivery truck uses to bring you the item you purchase, the delivery truck is also using that same amount of gas to bring packages to many other people. Online shopping is more environmentally friendly than in-store shopping because the gas required for one hundred people to drive to the store and back is far greater than the amount of gas that a delivery truck will use to bring those packages to the homes of those one hundred consumers. Additionally, the energy that is put into running a store is lessened when those purchases are made online. There’s no electricity or gas bill for online shopping.

Contrary to popular belief, online shopping can actually be detrimental to the environment when compared to in-store shopping under certain circumstances. For example, purchases that come in the mail have far more packaging than in-store purchases do because of the boxes and such they use to deliver the purchases in. Additionally, you can’t buy locally over the internet; that has to be done at your local store. Buying locally definitely helps the environment by saving in gas for transportation of goods. Lastly, if you are a consumer who uses public transportation, bikes, walks, or uses any other mode of green transportation, going to the store has less of an impact of the environment than online shopping because you use little or no gas in the venture.

In the end, the effect of online shopping on the environment compared to in-store shopping depends on the consumer’s habits. If you drive a long distance to the store and you don’t tend to buy locally, then online shopping is the way to go to help the environment. Contrastingly, if you live near the store, use public transportation, and/or buy locally, then in-store shopping is better for the environment.

*I used an article on treehugger.com to aid in my discussion of this topic.

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Stick it to the Man

When deciding on a restaurant on a given Saturday night there are a few things I like to consider: cuisine, location, atmosphere, and quality. As a starving college student it is imperative I find a meal that is worth my time and money. Menus are confusing and biased and it is hard to say whether a lone critic has good taste or not; however, today I don’t even consider these sources. Before making decisions about local businesses I always turn to some user reviewed site such as Davis Wiki or Urban Spoon for assistance.

The blogs, tweets, and online review sites are helping consumers like me every day. The power of being constantly connected has given authority to the costumer to write about his or her personal experience. Users have the ability to log in to these sites and write critical reviews on any product or business and what is written will be heard; essentially, a more effective comment card.

The review forums have sparked a new form of blogging: the mother blogger. A New York Times article discussed the online community that has formed from mom bloggers across the country. Moms have the ability to speak out and help each other. They offer up suggestions from what products to use on stains to eco-friendly decorating tips.

Online communities have brought all types of consumers together. A few online reviews can make or break a business. Thanks to these sites, we can express our opinions and anyone can hear it. So thank you Davis Wiki, and all of its supporters; my dining decisions just got a lot simpler.