Topic 4: Home Business

Online shopping and searching for products on websites:

• Many people search for and order services and products using the internet
• Online stores have databases of their goods and services that you can access
• You can browse/search for a specific thing

Online shops

• Topshop
• Jack Wills
• eBay
• Amazon
• Play.com
• Waitrose
• M&S
• Tesco
• Asda
• Sainsburys
• HMV
• iTunes

Online shopping

• Purchasing goods and services using the internet
• Customers browse online catalogues
• They add goods to their virtual shopping basket/trolley
• They go to the checkout
• They then enter their card (debit or credit) details and other details, which are encrypted for security reasons

Advantages of online shopping to customers

• No opening hours- goods/services can be bought 24/7
• Goods/services are cheaper because of lower costs of internet businesses
• Wider range of goods to choose from
• Cost savings are passed to customers with cheaper goods
• Worldwide marketplace- you can order goods from anywhere in the world
• Goods are delivered to your home- ideal if people can not get out because they are elderley or disabled
• Shop from the comfort of your own home
• No fuel/parking costs
• Can take advantage of online voucher codes
• Lots of deals online

Disadvantages of online shopping to customers

• Products could get lost/damaged in the post
• You could be buying from fake websites
• You can not try on clothes you buy so they may not fit
• It is a hassle to send things back if they are the wrong size/faulty etc...
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