It is possible that all shops in rural and urban areas will be obsolete, because of the growth of online shopping one day. Although, the majority number of people may start to purchase products online, I believe that some of the consumers will be still buying from traditional shops at that time, because sometimes shoppers may need personalized recommendations, or assistance, and some people may want to try clothes on or check the quality of them, which online shopping cannot provide.
Even though, online markets can suggest diverse range of products that do not available in traditional shops, they cannot offer sensory touch. They do not allow customers physically touches, try on clothes or test out products before making purchase that can lead to dissatisfaction if original items do not match their expectations such as quality, color or size. Secondly, most of the products in online boutiques are low-prices or usually at a discount, however cargo and deliveries for heavy or bulky items can add a significant amount to the total cost, which is more expensive than buying from street markets or simple stores. For example, Uzum market, most popular online market in my country has a wide range of products, usually at low costs, however when individuals purchase the item from it, delivery usually be significantly high and people should pay extra for the product and it would be cheaper if they purchase them from street markets.
Furthermore, as we are human being, we usually rely on people’s advice and recommendations. It is true that there are instructions and information about each product in online stores, but they cannot provide with personalized opinion about products such as cloths, furniture when recommendations and advice is extremely crucial for customers especially for women in today’s society. Moreover, some online retailers may not supply with enough transparency about their products or illustrate other products photos to improve the benefit. They can lead to misunderstandings, arguments or disappointments when the product arrives.
In conclusion, even though online stores offer diverse range of opportunities for consumers, such as lower costs or various products, they cannot take place of traditional shops, because they have limited sensory touch and high cargo and delivery costs.