So let’s just break it down a bit to find out the Pros and Cons of it all so we can figure it out. So what things come to mind when it comes to comparing both, well let’s see;
Convenience
Pros: So you don’t have to drive off, take a bus or the train to your favorite store which that saves a bit of travel cash. You don’t really have to work around your job hours as you can probably shop from your smart phone on your break. Cons: It is less fun since it means you are not going to enjoy a trip to the mall. Also, sometimes when you go shopping you come up a bit short on cash to buy that cute sweater and you miss out on the convenience of borrowing money from a friend.
The Skinny: OK, this is a bit more of a Pro than a Con but that is still debatable, unless you are that friend who is always lending the money.
Store Layout
Pros: No physical layout means with a well design website you get to what you want when you want it. You will not be pressured by a store owner’s layout to dig through their preferred design to get to the brands you want.
Cons: It can be argued that the store layout is half the fun of visiting a local store. With all the multiple posters, sales messages and product placements you go into a store thinking you will only spend $80 but you come out with so much more.
The Skinny: This is probably an individual choice and to each their own on if they like store layouts or not.
Discreet Shopping Experience
Pros: No one needs to know what you are buying, when you are buying it, who you are buying it for, how much you are spending or where you went to buy it.
Cons: This sounds so lonely! Isn’t showing off to everyone what you are about to purchase half the fun? Plus you know the next day you can talk to your friends about the time you spent at the store looking at that cute skirt you almost purchased.
The Skinny: Unless you really enjoy the publicity of shopping in a local store, then the Pros have the edge here. But then again it does seem a bit lonely without having a store employee attend your needs.
Excellent Prices
Pros: With fewer overhead the items cost less to maintain in-stock so it is cheaper for the consumer to purchase. If you factor in that certain purchases can be exempt of taxes (depending on your state) and you also deduce the average cost of your transportation to the store, you will be saving a substantial amount shopping for your fashion selections. Cons: I beg to differ! You only really save on transportation costs if your purchase with free shipping, and most stores require a minimum purchase before that kicks in so unless you were planning to purchase their minimum to begin with it wasn’t an advantage. And even if it did save you money you still lost time, it can take several days to get the outfits you want after you have paid for them.
The Skinny: Better prices are a good argument that most people make for the Pros but it is a give and take where you accept the lower cost for a delay of delivery of fashion goods. So it comes down to balancing the choice of time vs. money most of the time.
By no means is this list complete as there are several other factors not covered such as; samples, hours of operation, customer service, reviews, reliability, variety, etc. as this article was more of a basis on online fashion shopping, not a straight comparison vs. local fashion stores, but we can see that the Pros of this type of shopping have created a competitive option in the fashion world and will continue to dominate certain areas for the near future. So what is your opinion about online fashion shopping?