Shopping can be defined as the examining of goods or services by the shoppers with the intention of purchasing the goods or services from retailers. Usually, the shoppers select the product they want after analyzing the other options. Some people consider shopping as a leisure activity and also an economic one. However others view it as a tedious task.

What are the various types of shoppers?

o The shoppers are of different types. There are people who are known as window shoppers. They indulge in window-shopping. Window-shopping is the activity in which shoppers look through various products or give them a trial without actually buying them. They do it as a leisure activity just to pass time.
o Oniomania is the term used to denote shopping addiction or shopaholic. Some people are addicted to shopping. They have a compulsive desire to do shopping. They derive satisfaction while purchasing something.
o Some people consider shopping as a tedious task. They feel uncomfortable to stand in queues for buying the product they want. Some people do not have the patience to analyze various products and buy the suitable one. They often buy the first product they see or they pick randomly.
o There are shoppers who go in groups (friends or relations) for buying products. They ask suggestions from all of them and then buy a product.

What are the different types of shops?

o The shops may be of different types. There are shops that sell goods, which have the same theme. These include bookstores, gift stores, hardware stores, medical stores, pet stores etc.
o Some shops sell second hand goods. A second hand bookstore is an example of such a store. Super markets, departmental stores are examples of stores that sell a wide range of products.
o In cities there are shopping centers like shopping malls, bazaars, Town Square etc. where people can do one stop shopping.
o There are shops, which sell services such as in the case of the travel agencies etc.
What are freebies, free goods, free samples etc?

Freebies are any goods or services that you can acquire without spending a penny. People are always attracted to such freebies. This is because no one will say no for a product that comes to you free of cost.

Some products will be given free for purchasing a certain product. Though it is often a promotional activity, shoppers feel more satisfied when they get something extra for the amount they pay.

Free samples are certain quantity of a product that is given away free of cost. This is a promotional technique to make people to try the product for increasing the sales. Such free samples make shoppers feel happy. These freebies, free goods, free samples etc make shopping even more exciting for shoppers.

What is bargaining?

When we think about shopping the next thing that comes to our mind is bargaining. Most people like to bargain while shopping. Some shoppers are very efficient in bargaining.

Some shoppers might consider bargaining as a prestige issue and will not bargain. Usually bargaining is not encouraged in comfortable and air-conditioned shops with posted prices.

Bargaining is often not possible in a chain store. Bargaining can be done in shops situated in bazaars and market places. In North America and Europe bargaining is limited to expensive items such as automobiles, real estate and jewelry. But the situation is not the same in the rest of the world where bargaining can be done on essential products also.

What do you mean by shopping seasons?

Shopping seasons are the particular time of the year when people spend more. Shopping seasons differ from one country to another country depending on their customs, religion etc. usually the biggest spending seasons are during the festive time. In United States, the greatest spending season is around the Christmas time.

What is online shopping?

We are living in the computer era. Number of people using the computer and internet is increasing. Nowadays internet is used as a means of communication, a great source of information and as an entertainment tool etc. Apart from these uses internet has also become the tool for performing business. Nowadays many online business ventures are being undertaken. With the rapid development of technology the concept of online shopping has been made possible. Online shopping is a process in which people do shopping over the internet. You can buy products or services online. You can also pay for the goods online through credit cards and other modes of payments. Online shopping is a gift because you can sit at home and buy what you want.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping?

The advantages of online shopping include:

o It is more convenient as shoppers can search for the products they want and buy them just by sitting at home. They can also save a lot of time.
o Shoppers need not buy products due to compulsion from the sellers. They are not pressurized in online shopping.
o Shoppers can analyze a variety of products and select the suitable product leisurely.
o It is easy to compare prices of the products and buy.

The disadvantages of online shopping include:

o You lose the enjoyment of retail shopping.
o Issues regarding privacy and security.
o You must have an access to internet.
o There is lack of feel and touch.
oYou might find it hard to trust the unknown vendor.