Online shopping, also called e-shopping or e-commerce is a type of electronic shopping which provides opportunity to the consumers to select and purchase goods and services from dealers over the World Wide Web by making use of a web browser. Shopping online is analogous in many ways to buy your chosen items or market for services from a physical shopping mall or shop. Online shopping can be B2B (Business to Business) or B2C (Business to Consumer). Some of the largest e-shopping sites offers posting of free classified advertisements on the Net..
The success story of online shops lies in the fact that buying and selling on a retail basis does not involve a physical store anymore. E-commerce also provides an ocean of business opportunities. The online store interfaces are free to deal in any product or service under the sun. This gives consumers a much wider range to select from, providing him with ample opportunities to compare quality, prices and varieties of the same product or service.
From its inception in 1979 in the hands of Michael Aldrich, online shopping has come a long way, with the latest statistics showing that Asia – Pacific operators have enhanced their business by almost 50% by 2013. The basic requirements to complete an on-line transaction are the consumer’s access to internet and a method to make online payment. Naturally, it has been found that consumers with better exposure to education and the latest technologies, are more adept in making online transactions.
The modus operandi of on-line buying and selling of goods and services are the same in almost all the websites, like OLX Free Classifieds. These websites showcase all items that they offer for sale over the internet. All you have to do as a customer is to visit your chosen website or multiple sites to view the item you want to buy. You may also take a peek at close substitutes at better prices or offers, as well as different variants of the same product. The website that you finally settle on will then allow you to fill the shopping cart with all the things you want to purchase. Then the logistics will be decided upon with the website taking the mailing address and contact numbers. The payment mode is then confirmed. You need to make the payment first, or may opt for installments (in some selective cases only). The time taken for the delivery of the item depends on the availability, place of manufacture or lifting and your location.