shopping spree

Yesterday at my retail job, a mother came in looking for clothes to give to her daughter for her upcoming 14th birthday. She was unsure what she wanted and seemed a bit intimidated by the various options, and was thus willing to hand over the reins and let me put together a couple of outfit options. Unfortunately, her daughter's size was the most common at our store and was pretty much picked over. Every time we found an item she liked, the size wasn't available. After about 20 minutes, we ended up with enough pants and jeans to last her daughter until her 21st birthday, but only a few top options. A bit irritated, the mother suggested buying the rest online at the company's website. I agreed that would be a great idea, and even offered to write down the names of all the items she liked to make the ordering process easier, but was quickly cut off by her question: "Don't you have internet access in your store so I could just order here with your help?"
Her question surprised me at first, but then again, this is the Internet age. Everything that people were once actively "forced" to shop for- from purchases as major as buying a car to minor purchases such as a new handbag or pair of shoes- can now be done with a click of a mouse. Many people actually prefer the ease and simplicity of shopping online because items are divided into categories, all items can be viewed at once, and the mall parking lot can be avoided completely. The Internet allows a customer to compare prices between different retailers and receive Internet discounts. Even better, the Internet never closes- it's a 24-hour business. With sufficient shipping prices and overnight express, shopping on the Internet can be just as efficient as physically going to the store itself. Consumers are so fond of Internet shopping that they now expect to have that option when they are in the store, and with good reason.
Although initially dumbfounded, in this day and age, the mother's request now seems pretty reasonable. The mother saw what she liked and wanted it right away: had she been shopping online, with just a click of a mouse the items could be added to her cart and purchased in no time flat, a service the store couldn't provide her with. Similarly, several smaller stores like boutiques, where physical space and sizes are limited, provide the Internet for their customers. Personally, I believe larger companies that are both accessible in person and online should keep each option independent of one another. If customers make the trip out to the mall but cannot find what they are looking for, then they should count their losses and either settle for something else or wait until they get home and buy it online. In my opinion, that's the whole thrill and excitement of shopping: making the trip, being able to physically touch or try on items, and most importantly, continuing human contact with retailers who provide a friendly staff and fun atmosphere. Plus, you don't have to deal with Internet returns, which can be just as painful as finding a place to park at the mall.