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How does online shopping work?
Online Shopping Basics
An online shop is a Web site that offers a selection of products or services available to buy over the Internet. Just like a catalogue, an online shop will feature products arranged into categories along with pictures, descriptions and prices.
Shopping trolleys & baskets
Online shopping involves using a virtual shopping trolley (or basket) which serves as a placeholder for the items you wish to buy. As you browse the online shop, you can add items to the trolley, adjust the quantities and remove items if you change your mind. When you’ve finished choosing your items, you enter the checkout stage. The checkout is where you choose delivery options, enter your address and pay for all the items in your shopping trolley. If you change your mind at any time (prior to actually paying), you can just leave the items in the shopping trolley and go elsewhere.
Paying for items online
The usual method of payment is credit or debit card. Your payment will be processed and confirmed automatically while you wait. Some online stores will also accept payment by cheque or over the phone (during opening hours). See online payment security.
Registering
Sometimes you’ll need to register with the online store before you can pay for your items. Registering involves entering your email address and creating a password. If you decide to return to that shop again in the future, you can simply log in and the shop will remember who you are, along with your address details.
Receiving your items
Your items will be delivered either by courier, or in the case of many larger online shops, their own in-house delivery service. You’ll often have a choice of delivery options including a next day service.
Not all online purchases involve receiving a parcel through the post. Flight tickets for example are normally supplied electronically in the form of an e-ticket which you simply print and take with you to the airport check-in. Software and music is often available to download straight after your payment has been accepted.
Collect in store
Increasingly, online shops are now offering a collect in store service. This means you can order your items online and collect them from the store. Collect in store is offered by some well know retailers such as Argos, Comet and PC World. Shops that offer a collect in store service will feature a store locator on their Web site so you can find your nearest branch.