Online Shopping: Comparison Assignment

ITEM: Toronto Maple Leafs CCM Home 2001 Jersey


 Link to the retail itemLink to the online item


IN STORES/RETAIL
eBay
Price
$99.99
$66.95
Taxes
$15.00
 ------- 
Shipping Fees
 ------- 
$13.38
TOTAL
$114.99
$80.33
                                                               *all prices are listed in Canadian dollars
 
Difference:
Difference in Cost = Cost of item purchased Retail Value - Cost of item purchased online (eBay)
Therefore there is a difference of: ($114.99 - $80.33) = $34.66

The percent different between the items is: ($34.66 / $114.99) x 100% = 30.1%
 

Thus, the exact same item (Toronto Maple Leafs CCM Home 2001 Jersey) on eBay is $34.66 cheaper, or 30.1% cheaper, than the item in retail stores.

The customer of any item purchased online (e.g. from eBay) should realize that they will always be changed a shipping fee and that they will not receive the purchased item right away, as opposed to retail items.  This is because it takes time for transactions (whether using PayPal, credit cards, or money orders) to take place as well as for shipping to occur.  Therefore, although items purchased online are sometimes a lot cheaper than retail, this inconvenience may be a downside to online shopping.  If a consumer plans ahead of time to make a purchase online, and searches for the best deals, online shopping can save a lot of money.

Another thing to note is that when items are purchased online, consumers must put their trust in the seller of the item.  This is because consumers are unable to check the quality of the item firsthand as opposed to in a store where one can examine the product before the purchase is made.  Thus, customers must trust that the seller of the item is not lying about the quality of the item and that they will send it to you after payment is made.  One must also be wary of the currency of the prices listed online (often times prices are in U.S. dollars).

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