BUYER BEHAVIOR: BUYING FROM PHYSICAL STORES VERSUS BUYING FROM ONLINE STORES

The purchasing behavior of the individual is a complex one and includes several aspects. Buying from physical stores and buying online are two options to make the purchase in all countries; one older, one newer. Obviously, online shopping is related to the advent of the Internet.There are differences between online buying behavior and buying behavior in physical stores. Buying from online stores means quite a few different details than buying from physical stores.There are also common points between the two types of buying behavior. There is sometimes also the middle way (i.e. to combine online purchases with those in physical stores), with several possible forms. One of these is searching for information online by shoppers, followed by buying from the physical store. Before the global coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), with its peak in the period 2020-2022, most shoppers around the Globe did not shop online. The global Coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of those who have resorted to online shopping, out of necessity. After the global Coronavirus pandemic, the trend is to return to buying mainly from physical stores. It remains to be seen what the future will hold for us, in terms of the relationship between the two purchase options, which have both advantages and disadvantages. It is not very easy to predict what will be, related to the two buying behaviors.