Cyber-shopping and the Consumer
             Christmas holidays are synonymous with laughter, carols and family gatherings. Along with these pleasurable holiday experiences, another more frustrating task must be confronted: the long and arduous task of shopping for gifts for friends and loved ones. In recent years, the use of online Internet shopping has helped to transform this chore and the drudgery of everyday shopping. No longer must shoppers trudge store-to-store seeking the best bargain or finding that elusive item because the use of the Internet as a shopping medium has empowered shoppers with advantages over traditional storefront shopping.
             One of the primary advantages shoppers have discovered with Internet shopping is an increase in the time available for shopping. Unlike traditional stores which have fixed shopping hours, online stores are open for business twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week allowing shoppers to browse and purchase goods online around the clock without ever having to leave the comfort of home. These online stores can not only be accessed anytime a shopper has a free moment; but also provide the shopper with the benefits of avoiding traditional shopping hassles like crowded stores, long checkout lines, and congested parking lots. This increase in convenience and access has led many consumers to use the Internet for day-to-day shopping needs. Consumers who have difficulty walking or limited transportation are able to choose and purchase needed items without depending or the assistance of others to drive them to town or purchase items for them when they are unable to make the trip to the traditional stores. With the convenience of shipping offered by these online stores, purchased items are delivered to the buyer's front door which limits concerns over struggling with bulky packages.
             Internet shoppers find that being able to shop at any hour is only one of many conveniences that onl...