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A few short years ago, many people were afraid to shop on-line. With the internet explosion that has been witnessed since then, things have changed dramatically. Consumers now have many more choices. With this increase in choices have come major shifts in spending patterns.

A Bookstore Example

Taking bookstores as an example, even the largest 'brick and mortar' (B & M) stores have limited space from which to sell their books. Each book takes up space which has to pay the rent for that space. The B & M vendors therefore carefully screen the available products and choose only those which they feel will sell quickly. If your interest is in a subject that is of interest to only a small minority, chances are that you will not find a book on your subject.

The on-line vendors on the other hand can provide you with even the most obscure topics because they have no 'rent' to pay. They therefore are not limited to the numbers of volumes or titles available for sale.

Not only that, but there may be dozens of people world-wide that have the same interests as you. The on-line merchants are not restricted by geographic barriers as are the B & M merchants. If you happen to be 100 miles or half way around the world, you can just as easily make your purchase on-line.

Now lets add another scenario ' Clothing

You are shopping for a particular piece of resort wear made by a particular manufacturer. Your local area B & M merchants may not stock that item because there is little call for it in your area. You can drive for miles ' from store to store and mall to mall ' or you can check out the offers on-line and get just what you were looking for.

Perhaps you can't find the fashions you like in your size because ' again ' there are few requests for that size. On-line merchants have small sizes, larger sizes, short sizes and tall sizes. They are not restricted by what they can sell each and every day.

Perhaps you like Australian boots or a particular Italian shoe. Can you find it locally? Perhaps. Perhaps not. You can certainly find each on-line.

Price then becomes the only obstacle ' or is it? Because the on-line merchants have no 'rent' to pay for and inventory to manage cash-flow on, prices are often LOWER than the B & M merchants. Many on-line vendors offer free shipping for certain purchase amounts. Sales abound on the internet. Many of the on-line merchants have a new sales campaign each and every month!

So' what's it to be? Take only what's available at the B & M merchant's price or shop and compare for what you really want on-line? I guess that's another one of the consumer's choices.