Five reasons you should shop online

With most brands having their presence online, it makes immense sense to ditch your local mall and head to your PC instead

It is the holiday season and your shop-o-mania is at its peak. The list of those you have to send gifts to is long but the very thought of entering a shop swarming with shoppers makes you break out in cold sweat. And you absolutely hate that smooth talking salesman -- as soon as his pitch begins, your cart automatically fills up with things you don't even want.

Thankfully, help is just a click away. Online shopping can be your way out of this predicament. In the virtual world, there are loads and loads of goodies to choose from, without pushy salesmen and jostling crowds bearing down on you. Here are five good reasons why you should chuck the local mall and log on for your holiday shopping.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

Stay-at-home dads and moms are pass . The 'in' thing is the stay-at-home shopper. Online shopping means you can go 'buy buy' within the very comfortable environs of your home or your office.

So, no need to dress up, take special time out for shopping or cut back on your 'me' or family time. All it takes is a computer and a good internet connection and you are on.

This also means you save on petrol bills and parking charges, taxi fare or whatever mode of transport you swear by.

Stay in your pyjamas, have a coffee, catch your favourite TV show, or help the kids with their homework even as you fill your shopping cart. Can any store make you feel at home this way? Unlikely!

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

Yes, you can trawl the entire World Wide Web for that mint green handbag your skirt has been crying out for or those moccasins your new pants just can't do without.

These days, most big brands have online presence. What's more, you can also access items that are not even available in your country.

So, no waiting for the chachas and the mamas to come to India for their annual holidays to bring what the Joneses are proudly showing off.

Most foreign retailers ship items to many countries. And as the items are shipped from warehouses, the chances of the right size and the right colour being available are higher here than at your local store.

For online shoppers, the world's their oyster.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

Your local store wants Rs 12,000 for that camera. A little ahead, another storekeeper would be 'kind enough' to give you the same thing for Rs 10,000.

But your friend who already has that camera is boasting big about how he bought it for Rs 8,000. So what is the right price of that camera?

If your bargaining skills are not so good, log on. Shopping websites such as eBay and Amazon give you the option to compare prices of products and get the best for the best price.

You can also use online forums to ask other consumers what's the best deal you can get for the item you want to buy.

This way, you can avoid getting gypped by the local vendor and pay only for the item, not for the shop's air-conditioning, rental, electricity, etc.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

If shopping is your substitute for doing weight training at the gym, by all means stick to the real mall.

But if your arms and shoulders always protest after a day at the mall, take the high-tech highway.

You don't have to cart around umpteen bags of the items you bought around when you order online they're all delivered right to your doorstep.

This works best when you are ordering gifts that have to be sent across to the recipient's address. Not only does this save you the hassle of packing the stuff to prevent damage during transportation, it also helps you avoid a trip to the local courier guy.

In most cases, the shipping charge is less than the cost of couriering the item.

And many sites even give you free shipping if you buy items worth a certain amount. The virtual cart is definitely lighter than the real one!

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

You wouldn't be caught dead in a lingerie store. But you just can't think of a better gift than a red negligee for your wife. Here's where online shopping is a huge help.

From intimate gifts to certain medical necessities to adult items, the virtual world gives you privacy to buy what you want without feeling pairs of eyes on you.

Many websites dealing in such items pack the shipments well to protect the privacy of the buyer.

All it takes to wipe those raised eyebrows, half smiles and knowing looks is a click.

If shopping is your pastime, the local mall is for you, for it allows you to catch up with family and friends, grab a quick bite or just hang around.

But if shopping is a chore you need to finish, stepping into the virtual market is a much better option. Be a smart shopper!

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

Kunnath Santhosh, Co-founder and Director, Perfios software Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Perfios offers an online Personal Finance Software Solution that provides a 360 degree view of one's Personal Finance with very little manual effort. www.perfios.com