Have you ever tried shopping with a screaming baby, a tantrum-ing toddler or in the rain? Don't have a car? Don't have the energy to try to tackle an overcrowded or understaffed shop? Tired of running to the shops every day for a couple of items or having to schlep bags and bags of groceries in from the car? Online shopping could be the answer to all your worries.

Online shopping involves purchasing products or services over the Internet. Online shopping is done through an online shop, e-shop, e-store, virtual store, webshop, Internet shop or online store. All the products in online stores are described through text, with photos and with multimedia files. Many online stores will provide links for extra information about their products. They often make available, safety procedures, instructions, manufacture specification and demonstrations. Some will provide advice or how-to guides. As you are already on the Internet, you can search for product reviews that other consumers may have posted. Some online stores have place for these reviews on their own sites. Many allow users to rate their products. Advice such as this from other consumers, about a product, would be unavailable in a conventional store.

There are many advantages involved with online shopping, the most obvious of which is convenience. As long as you have a computer, online shopping can be done from home or from work. There is no need to take the time to travel to a conventional store. Also, online shops typically operate 24 hours a day so you don't need to rush to get there during business hours. Particularly if you have a broadband Internet connection, browsing online can be done very quickly - in fact, it can be quicker than browsing up and down the aisles of a physical shop.

With online shopping, there is no need to wait in queues at the check-out once you have your items. You are not required to lift any heavy or awkward-sized and shaped packages. Your shopping is collected with the click of a button and "deposited" into your shopping trolley by no physical effort on your part.

You will often be given a choice as to how to receive the merchandise you have bought - either it can be delivered to you or you can go to the store to collect it. This flexibility can be very useful depending on how soon you need the item or when you will be home.

Search engines and online price comparison services are useful for finding sellers of a specific product. You can also, very quickly, find good deals on various items. Some items will generally be cheaper if bought over the Internet due to the smaller size of the "brick-and-mortar" store, reduced stocking costs for the seller and significantly lower staffing overhead. On large orders (as determined by the retailer), shipping costs may be waved. There are also many websites that compile information on coupons and discounts.

With the takeover of the market by big retail chain; variety of specialised items continue to diminish; goes with that is also the choices from a consumer perspective. However, Internet shops have taken over this niche as many are operated by small retailers who understand this need. This means you can search on the Internet and it is very likely that someone is selling that specialised item that you have been looking and more importantly without the need to run around the town or ring anyone.

Online shopping is becoming more and more widespread and accepted due to these many conveniences.