Online stores are not burdened by the cost of running a physical store, such as the rent of the physical premises and operating costs such as the wages of sales staff. The cost savings by online stores lead to lower pricing on the Internet, which passes on cost savings to shoppers. According to New Media, "In the past few weeks there has been a flurry of reports on Internet Shopping, all suggesting the online retail market is booming doing much better than high [conventional] street stores"(3). The Internet encourages online consumers to compete amongst one another for desired products. Ebay.com is one of the most prominent websites where consumers bid on low cost products in a simulated auction type environment. Shoppers are able to buy directly from a manufacturer's or wholesaler's website using the Internet. "The Office of National Statistics says Internet shopping now accounts for six per cent of all retail sales, and 47 percent of Internet users now buy online" (1). While shopping online, consumers should first obtain product information and explore all purchasing avenues when looking for the most reasonably priced product. As a result of low-product cost internet revenues skyrocketed from the late 1990's to Fall 2002. Consumers, before they worry about product information, are more likely to search for the most economical price. .
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A third advantage of Internet Shopping is product availability. The Internet operates 24 hours a week, seven days a week, and can be accessed anywhere in the connected world. Shoppers can expect to browse and purchase goods on the Internet anytime, unlike conventional storefronts that have fixed hours of operation. "To the e-retailer or e-tailer, a company that sells retail products online, physical location does not matter, because the Internet allows any Web site to link to any other Web site, no matter where in the world those sites might be" (Davis & Benamati 131).
