Online shops

In recent years , in many countries, merchants have opened their online stores where buyers are able to see all the products offered by the merchant and place an order online. It very convenient for the buyer because he or she can compare the prices and features offered by different merchants and then select the most suitable products available. After the order is placed, the products are shipped to the buyer at the address specified.

An online shop is especially convenient for slow moving consumer products as most retailers hesitate to stock these items as they take up valuable shelf space. However, there are some customers who would like to buy these products and are willing to pay the additional shipping charges.

Since merchants save a lot of money when they sell goods online, they usually offer some discount to customers. One of the most popular method used to give a discount is through coupons. Before the buyer makes a final payment, he or she applies the coupon which reduces the total amount to be paid.
The merchant also benefits as he is able to track sales and find out the effectiveness of the different marketing methods used.