Shipping Costs

• One of the main disadvantages of shopping online is that Internet vendors often add shipping costs to the final sale price of items. Shipping costs tend to be higher for large, heavy items, which can make it less attractive to buy expensive items like electronics and appliances online. In some cases, consumers might spend less overall by driving to a retail store to purchase an item than buying it online and incurring shipping costs.
  
  

Shipping Time

• The cost of shipping often depends on how quickly a customer wants to receive an item. Some online retailers offer free shipping on certain items, but customers often pay a premium if they want to receive goods quickly. If a consumer needs a certain product as quickly as possible, online shopping may not be a viable alternative to shopping at a retail store. For example, if an athlete suffers an injury and needs to apply an ice pack to the injury and take medication to reduce swelling, shopping online would not fulfill his immediate need effectively, since it would likely take at least a day to receive the ice pack and medication.
  
  

Inspecting and Testing Products

• Another drawback of online shopping is that it does not allow the customer to inspect or test products ahead of time. Online shoppers are often forced to rely on product descriptions and customer reviews without actually being able to handle or use products. The ability to inspect goods before buying them can be especially helpful when buying items that need to be a precise size, such as clothing and footwear.
  
  

Paying Online

• While brick-and-mortar retailers usually accept cash, checks and credit cards, online retailers may only accept credit cards or online payment services like PayPal. In addition, financial information that is transmitted online could potentially be stolen.
  
  

Customer Service

• Online shoppers do not have the luxury of talking to customer service workers face-to-face. Online retailers may force customers to communicate via email or filling out online customer service forms, which may be less efficient than talking to a live customer service representative.