Internet shopping is a new way of shopping. You no longer need to walk round hundreds of shops looking for the items you need. Nowadays, you can shop for just almost anything from your armchair. All you need is a computer which is linked to the Internet. Shopping on the Internet is becoming increasingly popular. In the United States, 50 percent of families have computers at home and almost one third is linked to the Internet. Americans spent over US $2.5 billion on Internet shopping in 1998. This figure is expected to increase.
People can shop for a variety of products on the Internet, such as books, CDs, clothes and food. These types of products are the most common purchases (购入品) through the Internet. Services such as booking airline tickets, reserving hotels or renting cars are also available on the Internet. You can also go shopping on the Internet for entertainment services and take part in on-line games or e-mail “chats”.
To find something on the Internet, people often use powerful computer tools called "search engines". You can search for a type of product such as sports shoes, or a brand name, such as Nike. The search engine will give you a list of websites where you can find these products. These websites may be specialist shops such as a Nike shop, or they may be general stores, called malls, which sell a variety of goods.
Internet shopping offers a number of benefits for the shopper. The most important advantage is convenience. You can shop when you like as the online shops are open 24 hours a day, and you do not have to queue with other shoppers at the check-out counters. Secondly, it is easy to find what you are looking for in the Internet. Even our-of-print books may be ordered on line. Finally, it’ is often cheaper to buy goods through the Internet, and you can tell the shop exactly what you want.
The main disadvantage of Internet is that you can’t actually see the products you are buying or check their quality. Also, many people enjoy shopping in the city and miss the chance to talk to friends. Some people are worried about paying for goods using credit cards, so Internet companies are now finding ways to make on-line payment safe.
Internet shopping is sure to become more and more popular in the years ahead. It promises to change the way we buy all kinds of things-from tonight’s dinner to a new car.