In e-commerce, the marketplace is created. Whatever product/service you are looking for can be obtained almost everywhere and anytime. In traditional commerce, the marketplace is visited physically. Thanks to e- commerce people can shop everywhere!
To us international students, being able to look for airplane tickets online is great! We have the chance to buy a ticket from home and have access to different options/prices to choose from. However, as in the article below, we have to be careful!
Check out this article on CNN about buying airplane tickets online!
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/05/06/flight.insurance.mistake/index.html?iref=allsearch
I agree with Maria, the advantages of online shopping are great. Airplane tickets is an excellent example. Not only can you shop for the best deal, after you make your purchase, you can print your boarding pass and avoid waiting online at the airport. Also, like she stated, you have to be very careful and read everything before you purchase. The article she mentioned did state a possibility of being charged for something you did not want to purchase. The third-party travel sites like Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity are all intermediaries. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain by allowing other businesses to attempt to sell you something. Orbitz is already selling another companies travel products so why not attempt to sell another company's travel insurance product. Nevertheless, it is very convenient and less expensive to shop online, but it is a little more intricate then walking up to the cash register at your local store and paying with a few $20 bills.
ReplyDeleteI have been studying in the U.S. for 7 years and travel frequently to Santo Domingo. I make use of these websites to buy my tickets. Nowadays, consumers have a lot to choose from and every time the buying experience is improved. On the other hand, it is harder to make changes to your tickets once you purchase them. I've had bad experiences with this in the past.
ReplyDeleteAlso buying tickets online doesn't give you the benefit of the customer service offered by travel agencies. Hopefully with time, this perils of e-commerce will be solved.
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