Online Business Disadvantages as Compared to Storefront Business

Despite their conveniences, online businesses have disadvantages compared to on-site (“real world”) businesses. Ironically, although the cyber Internet is accessible to everyone in the world and consists of vast space and capabilities, these disadvantages are all due to the limitations of the cyber highway in which online businesses are situated.

One of the main disadvantages of online businesses would be the inability for shoppers to inspect merchandise upclose, one benefit that regular on-site stores allow. Because of this, customers are not 100% sure of exactly what they are getting until they actually get it, and that requires mailing time, whereas one can pick up, buy, and take home any product in an on-site store right on-the-spot. Return policies are quite often offered through online stores, but they are more difficult than simply returning an item to a physical location. For one thing, packing and resending an unsatisfactory product takes time and even costs money. Whether or not damages incurred before the product’s arrival at the customer’s home are hard to prove as well. This whole process can be risky, all because the said customer is not able to look over the merchandise before purchasing.

Then there is the ease of online businesses to “stiff” unsuspecting customers who innocently buy into what looks like a good deal. Deception occurs all over the place, true, but such scrupulous and underhanded practices are so much easier through the Internet because one can only see and read what is posted, not what really exists “behind-the-scenes.” Because the Internet is not governed by the laws of any particular region or country, so prosecuting the offending party is so very difficult, if not impossible. Only offenders such as hackers or international online criminals like pornographers, who are being hunted by the collaborative efforts of several nations, can be tracked and eventually apprehended. The headache cause by being taken online is more trouble than its worth.

This, of course, is aside from the more common server glitch, such as those that occur when orders are entered but are not received. Constant interaction with technical support eventually clears up the problem, but when money is still withdrawn from the bank account (not necessarily absconded by the businesses in question, just simply lost), aggravation levels can soar and screetch through the roof. Technical problems happen all the time and are, more often than not, very unpredictable and uncontrollable.

No doubt that online interaction, especially where financing is involved, can be indeterminate and even hair-raising for anyone. This is why such transactions should be handled carefully at all times. Dangers cannot be completely eliminated, but they can be significantly minimized when initiating and utilizing and and every security precaution possible. Such precursive preparations will definitely make a difference.

Rick
fuzduzitbigtime.ws



Technorati Profile