Contributed by: Huma Maqsood

In the days of yore; Kings, Queens and Princes never used to go for shopping. The merchants used to bring the latest silk, pieces of finery and Jewelery etc to the Palace so that the Royalty and Nobility could make their purchases. Following this very general pattern; the super elite of current times got into the habit and practice of hiring private Purchasing Managers; who do shopping for their clients, so that they could avoid the hassle of going to the Shops/Malls and also avoid the paparazzi and for reasons of security etc. But now even the lesser mortals can enjoy the style of the Royalty and Nobility of yore and the Super – elite of these days. This is how.....

Online Shopping has become a thriving trend of today’s world. In the modern era, time is considered very precious and people don’t want to waste it by visiting shopping malls or shopping centers. In fact we have less free time than before, because too much workload has been added to our daily routine of life. However, now with the help of World Wide Web, the customers can not only save their time but also shop internationally without leaving the comfort of home.

Online shopping is a procedure where shoppers not only buy goods or services, but it is also the source of entertainment and window shopping through different websites or online stores. Online shoppers can buy each and everything ranging from needle to a luxury car. It is with just a click of the mouse !

To place the order, customer just needs to select the product from any online store; add it to the cart, applying the coupon code for discount purpose if available by filling an online order form by providing billing and shipping information. Online customers can use any mode of payment. Usually, customers pay through credit card, but in addition to this they can make payment through Paypal, Debit Card and Gift Card etc. After providing all the information required by the merchants, the customer clicks on the order place button, an order number is shown on the screen. Most of the online stores also send an email confirmation.

In the world, there are different web stores which are not capable to ship worldwide. But International shipping companies make this thing very easy by providing reliable shipping services at reasonable rates. They can ship anywhere in the world at customer's doorsteps. Different online stores also become the partners of such companies and through this way the customer is able to buy the product on these stores and place order through international checkout. Worldwide Shipping Company’s purchasing department places orders on behalf of the customers directly on the partner store, following the normal domestic checkout procedures. Upon arrival of the items at the worldwide shipping company’s store, each order is inspected, packed, and shipped to the customer's doorstep, via different shipping methods anywhere in the globe.

Purchasing online has become so popular that it has been rapidly increasing now in the world. For instance in United States of America, roughly 70 % people prefer to purchase online. It is the most convenient and efficient process which has the following advantages for consumers:

• Saves time
• Buy from anywhere in the world
• 24/7 availability
• Ease of finding the products
• Ability to evaluate product price and its features
• Getting discount and gift certificates
• No pressure to buy
• No hassle of travel to the local store

While there are many benefits of online shopping, there are a few drawbacks as well,  due to which shoppers usually avoid to buy online. The shopper feels insecure because:

• Email address could be sold to third parties
• Physical appreciation of a good is much better than seeing a picture of it
• Fear about financial or other information being stolen
• Receiving an item different from what was purchased
• Lack of close quality examination physically
• Unable to cancel order once it is placed

Therefore, before buying anything online, customer needs to take some precautions to make his/her purchase secure and safe. Here are some general tips on how to avoid frauds:

• Research the website before placing an order
• Read privacy policy of the merchant
• Shop through reputable third party (online shopping sites)
• Always take print copy of order
• Must pay attention to the shipping and tax charges
• Must check the cancellation and return policy
• Make sure that financial information is safe

Now online shopping has become a norm and nobody can deny the benefits of purchasing online. The plus point of online shopping is that one can find all goods with one click. If you are a bargain hunter; you must have strong legs and good shoes because you have got many places to visit and bargain, otherwise enjoy online shopping !