Common problems in online shopping

Despite the many advantages of online shopping, there are also problems that may occur with this type of shopping. These issues such as ordering the wrong item, receiving the wrong item, and needing to return the item are often significant enough to make a potential online shopper reconsider the decision to purchase an item online. Although these issues are some of the most common problems that occur while shopping online, they do not necessarily occur frequently. However, when these issues occur, they can cause a great deal of stress and frustration for the online shopper. This article will discuss some of these common issues in an effort to help the reader make a wise decision about whether or not to purchase an item online.

Ordered the wrong item

When shopping in brick-and-mortar stores, it is very difficult to accidentally purchase the wrong item because the sales process usually involves the consumer physically carrying the item to the sales counter to make the purchase. However, in online shopping where the consumer never physically handles the item before the purchase is completed and the item is delivered, it is certainly possible to purchase the wrong item. This can happen when a shopper uses the website to make a purchase and clicks on the wrong item or when a consumer contacts customer service to make the purchase and provides the wrong product number. Even if a consumer clicks on the correct product and provides an accurate product number, they could make an error in the ordering process if there are options such as size or color associated with the item. This issue can be somewhat annoying because the consumer will be disappointed upon receiving the incorrect item.

Receiving the wrong item

Even when online shoppers don't make mistakes during the ordering process, it's still possible for a consumer to get the wrong item. This often happens when orders are filled manually and an error occurs in the warehouse. The warehouse maker may ship the wrong item in full or may ship the correct item in the wrong size or color. Again, the consumer will likely not know that an error has occurred until the order arrives. The online retailer will likely be responsible for returning the incorrect item and will ship the correct item as soon as possible. However, this may not completely correct the problem in all cases. For example, a consumer who purchased an item for a specific event may not receive the replacement item in time for the event.

Need to return the item

In situations where an online shopper orders the wrong item, as well as situations where an online retailer mistakenly ships the wrong item, a product return may be required. Although this may not seem like a big deal, it can be particularly concerning for some consumers. In particular, online shoppers who choose to do their shopping online specifically because they work odd hours may have a great deal of difficulty achieving returns. This is because the process of shipping the item back to the online retailer will generally involve transporting the item to a post office. Depending on the hours a consumer works, the post office may be difficult to reach during regular business hours and may require the shopper to take time off work to make a return.