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A home is everybody’s private hideout; therefore, it is necessary to make it look in a way that suits your needs and lifestyle. Home decor is one of the most beautiful works of art in modern times. If you want to buy home decor items, you can either visit a store (offline) or search for them on the internet. According to IPSOS multinational market research, 22% of people prefer online shopping, while 39% prefer offline shopping.
So, are you confused about which option is better, online or offline?
Gharpedia has shared with you the advantages and disadvantages of buying home decor items both online and offline.
Advantages of Buying Home Decor Items Offline
1. No Need to Wait for Delivery
You can directly visit your nearest home decor store and purchase items from there. There’s no need to wait for 3 to 5 days to receive your decor items, which is often the case when buying online.
For instance, if you want to purchase artefacts for your house, you can visit local home decor stores and select from a variety of options after seeing and touching them in person. If you choose to shop online, this won’t be possible.
2. Physical Touch and Feel of Decor Items
When shopping offline, you enjoy a personalised experience. You can touch and feel the décor items, assess their quality firsthand, and then decide whether to buy them. Online decor stores do not offer this tactile experience.
3. Sizes
You can choose decor items that perfectly match the size and space available in your home. In some cases, stores even offer trials or demonstrations to ensure the product fits your needs before purchase.
4. Safety
In online payments, there is a risk of payment delays or transaction failures. Offline shopping follows a simple and transparent give-and-take policy, making transactions safer and straightforward.
5. No Waiting Period in Case of Emergencies
One major advantage of offline shopping for decor items is immediate availability. For example, if you suddenly need decorations for a birthday party, you can quickly visit a store and buy everything you need without waiting.
6. Quick Return
Returning items is always easier when you purchase offline. You simply revisit the store where you bought the item and can immediately return or exchange it.
7. Accessible to Those Unfamiliar with Digital Platforms
There are many people, especially those in rural areas, without proper internal access, smartphones or familiarity with digital platforms; for them, shopping offline is a simple and convenient way to buy decor items from nearby stores without facing any technological barriers.
Disadvantages of Buying Home Decor Items Offline
1. Spend a Lot of Time
Purchasing decor items from a store can be tiresome, as you often need to visit multiple shops. It takes a lot of time, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for may have to return home empty-handed, after spending hours in the market, which is frustrating.
2. Fewer Choices Available in Offline Shopping
Offline shopping usually offers limited choices. In a day, you may be able to visit only four to five stores, which restricts your options. In contrast, online shopping lets you explore hundreds of stores from the comfort of your home.
3. Limited Store Hours
If you want to buy decor items from stores, then they are available for limited hours during the day, which limits your flexibility to shop at your convenience.
4. Pressure to Buy Decor Products
Sometimes, store staff may force you to buy products, making you feel uncomfortable. To avoid leaving without purchasing anything, you might make an impulsive decision that you may later regret.
5. Travel for Longer Distance to Shop
If décor stores are not available near your locality, you may need to travel a longer distance to buy products. This may increase your travel time and transportation costs.
6. Hard to Compare Prices of Decor Items
Unlike online platforms like Amazon or Flipkart, where you can compare prices quickly, comparing prices offline requires visiting multiple stores physically, which is time-consuming and inconvenient.
Advantages of Buying Home Decor Items Online
1. Purchase from Anywhere
Without visiting a physical store, you can buy your favourite decor items from anywhere and at any time. This is one of the biggest advantages of shopping for home decor online.
2. Online Home Decor Shopping Saves Money
Online decor stores often offer exciting deals such as promo codes, festival offers, coupons, gift cards, vouchers, summer offers, winter offers, monsoon sales, etc. Using these offers can help you save a significant amount of money.
3. More and Similar Options Available
You can navigate different web pages of shopping websites that sell home decor items. Read reviews and ratings to choose wisely from a wide variety of similar items.
4. Easy Comparison of Items on Online Decor Stores
Courtesy - amazon.in
This is the best option available in online home decor shopping because it allows you to open multiple product pages simultaneously and compare items based on price, reviews, size, features, and more. This helps in making informed decisions quickly.
5. No Pressure to Buy
Unlike physical stores, buying online decor items comes with no pressure to buy. You can explore as many items as you want without any influence from sales staff or store owners.
6. Time-Saving
With a proper internet connection, you can shop for decor items anytime and from anywhere, saving the time spent traveling and browsing through multiple offline stores.
7. Check User Reviews Before Buying
One major benefit of buying home decor items online is that you can check other customers’ reviews and user-uploaded photos or videos of decor items once they receive them. This gives you a more realistic idea of the product before buying.
8. Multiple Payment Options
Online stores offer a variety of payment methods such as Debit/Credit Cards, UPI, QR codes, Internet Banking, and even Cash on Delivery if you’re not comfortable with digital transactions.
9. Track your Home Decor Product’s Delivery
You can easily track your home decor product using the tracking option provided by online stores. It helps you know the exact status and estimated delivery time.
10. Low Transportation Cost
For large decor items like big frames, statues, pots, etc., online shopping saves you the hassle and cost of transporting them yourself. These items are delivered directly to your doorstep.
11. Easy Returns and Cancellations
If you are not satisfied with the decor items after receiving them, you can easily cancel or return them. If you have made a payment, the refund is usually processed within a few days.
Disadvantages of Buying Home Decor Items Online
1. Issues with Size of Decor Items
Do your decor items not fit your space as you had imagined? This is one of the most disappointing aspects of online shopping. Even if you measure the space before ordering, sometimes the shape or proportions of decor items just don’t suit the room when they arrive.
2. Lack of Physical Touch
You cannot touch or feel the decor items while buying online. You can only rely on images and descriptions. This makes it unsuitable for people who prefer to examine items physically before making a purchase.
3. Colour Difference
Sometimes, the colour you see in the picture is different from what you receive. Even a slight variation in shade, either lighter or darker, can make a vast difference in how the item looks in your space.
Also Read: Hues-Tints-Shades-Tones: What is a Difference?
4. Sometimes Delivery Take Long Times
Sometimes, the delivery of the decor item takes longer than expected. This is frustrating, especially if you need the product for a specific event or occasion.
5. Hidden Charges
When you first see decor items on a website, they usually appear cheaper. But as you proceed to checkout, additional charges such as shipping charges, tax, and other costs are often added.
6. Home Decor Return Policy
Many websites offer a return option if you don’t like decor items. However, the process can be a major hassle. Return policies vary from company to company. In some cases, you may have to bear the cost of returning the items. Additionally, the shipping charges you paid initially are often non-refundable.
7. Frauds in Online Home Decor Shopping
Frauds are one of the biggest disadvantages of buying home decor online. Most of the time, you might get attracted by great offers that seem too good to be true. However, there are many cases of cybercrime where debit or credit card details are misused to carry out fraudulent transactions.
Conclusion
Although both modes, buying home décor items online and offline have their own advantages and disadvantages, there is an inter-relation between the two. Both play unique roles in providing services to you. You can use either option based on your convince and preferences. So, make the right choice according to your requirements.
Also Read: 16 Ideas, Hacks, And Tips For Home Decor With Antiques