The disadvantages of online shopping (and how to solve them)

However great the conveniences and benefits of virtual commerce may be, it is inevitable that any service has its weak points!

Here are the 7 most important disadvantages of shopping online, and how they can be overcome.

1. Not being able to try items on

Consumer surveys show that, for many people, the inability to physically inspect products is one of the main drawbacks – in many cases, even the main one – of buying online. Concerns about, for example, how clothing will fit, or the color and texture of a product, which may look different in images, make many of us hesitate.

Most stores, aware of this issue, take care to present reliable photographs and descriptions; when available, features such as Augmented Reality can be useful. In any case, and as a guarantee that mistakes can be corrected, it is important to always check the returns policy before payment.

2. Doubts about the quality of the product

This point is related to the previous one. When it is impossible to try an item before purchase, and especially if it is a product or store we do not yet know, we hesitate – understandably.

One of the main resources that e-commerce places at our disposal are the ratings and comments of other buyers. Of course, an irreplaceable precaution is to try to shop in credible stores and from reliable sellers. Visiting a space like Vinted, for example, will show you a huge variety of items accompanied by, in addition to descriptions that include defects and potential problems, ratings of the sellers themselves by other buyers.

3. Shipping

Shipping orders is a central aspect of virtual commerce, as is the search for efficient solutions. InPost represents an approach to parcel shipping designed with the challenges of e-commerce in mind: economical, reliable and simple.

Our deliveries are made through an extensive network of collection points – more than 12,000 in the Iberian Peninsula. This approach not only helps avoid many of the complications and delays associated with the so-called “last mile” of a shipment, it is also highly convenient for all parties, allowing you to pick up your parcel at a time that suits you.

Visit our website to discover more about the advantages of the InPost service, and try these advantages for yourself next time you shop online.

4. Complicated returns

A confusing returns policy is a fairly common cause of annoying experiences. Once again, reading the returns policy carefully before a purchase is an important precaution that most experienced online shoppers do not forget.

Note also that, whenever you shop with a store in partnership with InPost, you can make the return in the same way you receive the item, through one of our collection points, an approach that promotes efficiency and convenience.

5. Security

This difficulty is not exclusive to e-commerce, since no form of commerce is invulnerable to ill-intentioned people, but it is one of the most obvious risks and concerns. Digital fraud is a more relevant problem than ever.

The good news is that you are not alone, and that many companies and other stakeholders are looking for increasingly effective ways to avoid these risks. One example is payments via virtual card, which make it unnecessary to use the details of your real card. Consult our article on online security for the main tips to know.

6. The decline of local commerce

For those who value traditional commerce and prefer to support local businesses, e-commerce can seem a little impersonal. However, the two are not necessarily divergent.

The InPost network of Pack Points and Lockers is based on partnerships with street-level stores, and sending and receiving parcels with us is also a way of supporting this form of commerce. And of course, ordering local products is a way to enjoy the convenience of e-commerce without giving up the community aspect.

Read this other article of ours for some ideas on how to support the merchants in your community.

7. Environmental Impact

The growth of e-commerce has contributed to worsening environmental problems, due to the CO2 emissions produced by deliveries.

It is important to know that, for all consumers and companies that care about the environment, there is a less polluting alternative to conventional deliveries. Out-of-home delivery, in which InPost specializes, reduces the pollution generated by each order for several reasons: it favors order consolidation, avoids failed delivery attempts, allows transport at low-traffic times, reduces errors and, finally, makes use of optimized routes.

Find out more about InPost's commitment to sustainability on our website.