Online vs offline shopping

October 16, 2016 6:04am CST
Some time ago, I bought a product from an offline store. The product was branded and costly and the quality of product was very good.After some time,the product got finished. This time, I bought the same product online. I was shocked!! I paid the same price but the quality of online product was very poor.I realized that there is a big difference in the quality of these two types of products of same brand.Perhaps, goods for online purchase are being made separately!!! Is this fair??
11 people like this
19 responses
@miniam (9154)
• Bern, Switzerland
16 Oct 16
I shop both online and offline.you should read reviews when shopping online, a product may have the same name, but even different manufacturing country may make a difference in quality.
3 people like this
16 Oct 16
There are all types of reviews for one product- one star, two star, three star , also four and five!!What can we rely on?
1 person likes this
@miniam (9154)
• Bern, Switzerland
16 Oct 16
@Devyanii you can always compare the reviews,more positive or negative
1 person likes this
16 Oct 16
@miniam My apprehension is about general quality of online products.As we have no physical access to them before buying, so they are more prone to quality threats.
1 person likes this
@jennyjoy (1957)
• Bangalore, India
16 Oct 16
There is a big difference in quality .The online ones aren't so good and will wear out faster. They have to cover additional costs so quality will differ.
3 people like this
@tipay26 (867)
• Philippines
16 Oct 16
I must say that there is a big difference between the two.I have been hooked in online shopping for quite some time one of the advantage in online shopping is that it is hassle free.if you are a busy person online shopping is best for you but there is some downside to online shopping .You cant check if there is a defect on the product.You can the products picture which is posted on the online shop web site but you cant examine it so that if there is a defect on the product you can ask for a replacement.second down side since it is online shopping some online sellers puts too much amount on shipping fee and it will be shouldered by the customer.Third you will have to wait for your product to be delivered so patience here is tested.That's why if I want to have a best buy on anything I get to a point where in I will just go offline shopping or I will go personally to that store just to be sure .
2 people like this
@tipay26 (867)
• Philippines
16 Oct 16
@Devyanii really? what makes then different from products sold offline?
16 Oct 16
@tipay26 I mean to say ,perhaps cheaper products are knowingly manufactured for online shopping with originality tag and batch no.
1 person likes this
16 Oct 16
Defect is a different thing. But i found a big difference in the quality of these two types of products of a famous brand. It indicates that products for online shopping are being manufactured separately.
1 person likes this
@swissheart (6482)
• Romania
16 Oct 16
for me offline shopping is better. first of all I can try on things. and shopping is like therapy. it instantly gives me a better mood
3 people like this
@CoolPeace (1566)
• Miami, Florida
16 Oct 16
I found out that online shopping has more sales and discounts and things you don't see offline. I bought something online and it didn't work the second time I use. Sometimes it can be a good experiences in buying things online or sometimes it is not.
2 people like this
• India
16 Oct 16
Yeah i too experienced this.. Buying online doesnt give the same product all the time.. Even from the same site..
2 people like this
• India
16 Oct 16
@CoolPeace but i meant about the quality.. I ordered some cosmetic products for my mom twice..and i dint get same quality the second time.
2 people like this
@CoolPeace (1566)
• Miami, Florida
16 Oct 16
@SravanthiM The products can come in the mail damage due to shipping and handling.
1 person likes this
@shaynas (5487)
• India
16 Oct 16
I am a very frequent online shopper and most of the times, my experience is satisfying. I choose it for the ease of buying from home. Though there are evidences that sellers send fake products to the customers. If you are choosing any particular brand, you can go on its website to check how to identify the original. This will help. Here i think the seller sent you a fake product. The things are not made separately for online and offline sale.
2 people like this
@shaynas (5487)
• India
16 Oct 16
@Devyanii ohh... then that is sad !
1 person likes this
16 Oct 16
This is the problem what i am talking about.I enquired about the delivered product at that particular brand's call center.They asked different things such as batch no. and assured me about the originality of the product.Fact is that product is original but the quality is very poor..
16 Oct 16
@shaynas Actually, one specific incident doesn't matter so much.But we should be watchful consumers.
1 person likes this
@hoong143 (1397)
• Malaysia
18 Oct 16
Is it same model? Maybe it is same brand but different model.
1 person likes this
@hoong143 (1397)
• Malaysia
24 Oct 16
@Devyanii If it is same, quality should be same.
18 Oct 16
No!! It's same..
1 person likes this
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
24 Oct 16
Perhaps you bought the fake products. I like shopping online and of course I shall be careful to what I am going to buy online. And this is why usually I will not buy the cheapest price because it is not reasonable. Of course the online and offline products will have a different price but should not have a big gap.
@Judy890 (1644)
• United States
16 Oct 16
Although online shopping might be expensive because of the shipping cost I prefer to shop online rather than going out to shop, because sometimes you can't find what you're looking for in stores outside. Online you have the option to choose colors, brands and etc
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (31962)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
16 Oct 16
I do both online and offline shopping. Amazon is my favorite site online
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (31962)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
18 Oct 16
@AndyLove Same here. Amazon is my best friend lol
@AndyLove (126)
• Hong Kong
17 Oct 16
Yes, so do I. I bought most of stuff from Amazon. It is really convenient.
1 person likes this
@rina110383 (24492)
16 Oct 16
I never bought anything online. I prefer buying things at physical stores.
2 people like this
16 Oct 16
Now I also decided to do so!!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
7 Jun 18
@Devyanii I am not big on online shopping. I bought something myself online and it did not work for me so threw it away. I know I could have returned it but I decided to just throw it away. I prefer to see things in front of me and find out how they work so I am an off line shopper.
@dramagirl26 (3259)
• Ringgold, Virginia
18 Oct 16
I do both online and offline shopping. However, there are only certain items I'll buy online and that's usually books for jewelry.
1 person likes this
@renicemae (4883)
• Philippines
28 Oct 16
Never experienced buying the same item online and offline bit I could only say that one bad experience online does not generally conclude that online items are poor. Of course there will always be doubt but that's life. Sometimes you received good, sometimes bad. It just so happens that the seller you choose is more concern of the money/business and not quality and customer satisfaction.
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
17 Oct 16
Of course it isn't fair and you have every right to return the product that you purchased and ask for a refund.
@Deepizzaguy (102072)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 Oct 16
Ebay has been testing my patience lately when I buy HP 61 print cartridges that are of poor quality.
@polyxena (2628)
• Sturgis, Michigan
16 Oct 16
If the product is something like a cream, shampoo or whatever it may be, online or offline the batches can slightly differ.
@ms1864 (6885)
• Bangalore, India
16 Oct 16
I buy thing online all the time...i have never faced this problem....
@honeywel (24)
• Hyderabad, India
17 Oct 16
I prefer offine shopping to online. because it gives me self satisfaction