Christmas shopping: retail, better than online

With the holidays quickly approaching, it will soon be time to flood the stores in search of the perfect gift for your special someone.

When it comes to shopping we are presented with two options: shopping online or following the traditional path of shopping in the store.

Each option has negatives and positives and it comes down to four basic elements: payment, availability, delivery and exchanges.

Payment:

To shop online you will most likely need to give your bank account information, such as your credit card number, which can be risky. Identity fraud and viruses that steal your information are not uncommon.

It may be safer to just use cash or a debit or credit card at the store.   

Don't forget shipping and handling.

You may think you're getting a good deal and saving a few dollars but retailer's "deals" may go to waste when you're paying extra for shipping and handling.

Online stores require you to pay the additional money in order to send your product, which can be pricey if you're ordering from an overseas retailer, but be on the lookout for retailers with free shipping options during the holidays.

Online stores take  payments online, which can be tricky for people who are not so tech savvy.

Some payment methods can be confusing for some and may result in double payment.

People who are not so up-to-date with today's technology may want to play it safe and stick to the in-store option.

Availability:

Occasionally stores won't have what you need but the same goes for online retailers.

Occasionally you can't get what you need online because the item is "out of stock."

With brick-and-mortar retailers you can simply call another store, see if they have the item available and drive at your convenience.

With online retailers you may have to wait a lengthy amount of time until the item is available.

Delivery:

If you shop online, waiting for your purchase is inevitable. Even express shipping can sometimes take a few days and will cost extra money than regular shipping. When you shop in person there is no waiting for your item to be delivered to you. It is as simple as picking out what item you want and taking it home with you.

Exchanges:

With online shopping, you don't always get what you bargained for.

You may think you've gotten an amazing deal on a great product but once your item has arrived, it may not be as you had imagined.

Occasionally, the item you bought isn't the correct model or the new clothing item you bought doesn't fit you just right.

When it comes to exchanges online, it can be rather difficult to return items and you may have to shell out the extra dollars to get the correct item.

It could cost you time and money to send the item back to the retailer in order for them to give you the item you originally desired.

A few online stores will oblige you and send the item at their own expense, but most retailers require you to pay shipping and handling to receive the correct item.

The only way to prevent problems like these is to read the company's return policy, which can be found on the website you're ordering from.

Retail stores make returning unwanted merchandise much easier.

Most stores require only a receipt in order for you to receive an exchange or your money back.

Occasionally stores have a no-return policy but you can find out before you purchase your item from a cashier or the store manager.

Overall, shopping in person is easier than having to deal with the inconveniences of online shopping.

In order to save yourself time and money this holiday season, play it safe and stick to shopping in the store.

If you do intend to buy online, make sure to read the fine print and order in advance to avoid spending Christmas handing out IOU's.