Here is information on online mobile shopping and cell phone stores:
Mobile Recharge and Cellular Phone Stores
Mobile phones are now considered a necessity since they form a very essential part of daily life. We use them for conversation, fun, productivity, and many other purposes. As smartphones become even smarter and mobile internet connection is increasingly widely spread, our mobile phones have become miniature computers we have in our pockets. This has resulted into high expansion rate in the mobile phone market and mobile phone shopping over the internet. This paper seeks to briefly discuss the concept of purchasing mobile phones and related accessories on the internet as opposed to the conventional cell phone shop.
Mobile Shopping; A New Frontier of Online Shopping
Indeed, in the last decade alone, the sale of mobile phones and their accessories through the online shops has grown tremendously. This was an industry that used to be owned by the cell phone carriers and their stores, and now there are tons of new competitors online. Today, when using the Internet, we can make purchases in famous shops like Amazon, eBay, Groupon, and many others, choosing mobile devices without leaving our apartments.
Some key reasons for the massive growth in online mobile shopping include:
- - Convenience – there is no need to drive to the store and browse through the limited stock available. Select, study, and buy phones any time of the day or night from any location.
- - Pricing – Unlike big retail stores, online stores have relatively lower overhead costs and therefore are always in a position to offer much better prices. Also easier to comparison shop dozens of sites.
- - Selection - New and used devices, refurbished ones, and a wide range of accessories. Countless options that would ideally be unfeasible for smaller physical storefronts to provide.
- - Customer Reviews – Customer can read real reviews from other customers about devices before they make their buying decisions. Reviews made by experts and users improve the level of confidence and trust in products.
Thus, while the advances in mobile technology continue, consumers are sticking with their devices for shorter periods before getting a new one. This has resulted in people seeking previous generation cheap devices that normally are readily available on the internet. Delivery and return policies are usually faster with online shopping than with physical stores, and this flexibility is appreciated.
Polarized and Overlapping Responsibilities of Cell Phone Carriers and Retail Stores
Even though online shopping is fast increasing its mobile phone market share, the roles of cell phone providers and their networks of outlets remain significant. Stores like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Best Buy Mobile remain popular for several reasons:Stores like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Best Buy Mobile remain popular for several reasons:
- - Cellular Plans and Account Managers – You can find the most comprehensive range at stores when it comes to initiating new cellular phone plans or altering existing ones. Staff is well informed on the products and services offered, thus they can easily explain the cellular plans and the rates therein.
- - Device Flexibility – Existing new and older generation mobile communication devices are available in the Carrier retail stores. Although they hardly offer online price beating, flexible payment options assist in absorbing the steep initial costs of better gadgets.
- - Accessories – A decent range of normal mobile phone accessories, available at stores such as cases, cables, chargers and Bluetooth devices. Practical for routine demands in between significant equipment transitions.
- - Customer Support – Stores effectively manage return/refund/exchange/repair and most technical assistance. However, even today, online retailers are still unable to maintain such services for many of their clients.
This segment is still evident for the cell phone buying experience that carriers and national retailers continue to give, though its slice of the market is rapidly slithering away as more and more customers shop online and from discount retailers when they upgrade their devices. In adapting to the online shopping trend, these stores are shifting more of their focus away from selling the top devices and into smart homes, cellular plan consultation, and lifestyle services such as technical support and e-waste recycling.
The Effects of Showrooming in Stores
Another example of a mobile shopping trend that is indicative of the integration between online and retail store shopping is showrooming. Showrooming is a phenomenon by which a customer goes to a store and samples a particular product and buys it on the internet at a cheaper price.
Gadgets such as cell phones and tablets are some of the electronics most likely to be showcased. Despite security cabling and very rigid measures that ensure the use of gadgets is limited to time in stores, customers feel free to touch, test and examine gadgets before going home to order for them online. This allows stores to, in effect, subsidize a customer’s product discovery process and is also a valuable proposition as a ‘free store’ to online stores that have no physical presence.
It is therefore important for cell phone stores to try and fight showrooming through providing the best prices and financing. Qualified and professional salespeople who can clinch business and adapt products according to the buyer also avoids cases of lost sales. Combining essential accessories with phone sales has also come out as another effective showrooming strategy. Retailers who transition sales to the internet via BOPIS also gain by catering to consumer omnichannel purchasing behaviors.
Used and Refurbished Devices
It is also important when purchasing mobile devices that the option of a lightly used, refurbished, or an open box item is desirable. These are cheaper than brand new models as they were used in the past hence the name used products. That risk and uncertainty associated with the condition of the device might dissuade some shoppers, purchasing refurbished has become part of the norm due to lenient return policies and better quality assurance.
Before, apart from occasional listings on eBay, there was no way to purchase refurb phones and tablets for the most part. Currently, Amazon Renewed, Newegg Marketplace, and Back Market are online marketplaces that have extensive listings of professionally restored electronics from prominent manufacturers. Large retailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy now have aisles for open box deals and refurbished products with warranty.
Greater savings are available for the more risk tolerant willing to shop the used phone marketplaces. Swappa and Decluttr are reliable platforms that effectively connect buyers and sellers. To create the needed value and ensure trust, both services set rigorous device condition requirements, do not allow stolen property, demand accurate information about the device, and ensure payment safety utilizing escrow services. These protections provide a sense of security to the consumers as well as sellers.
Whether the buyer is shopping new, refurbished, or certified pre-owned gadgets, it is essential to read through the item listings, seller reviews, shipping and returns policies, and warranties to be sure of the condition of the received products. Patience in browsing the listings usually leads to better deals for cheaper items with cosmetic damage or box-damaged units. As it was pointed out, there are certain risks associated with purchasing second hand electronics through the internet, but if certain precautions are taken, one can get significant discounts on previous generation hardware.
Mobile Applications for Price Comparisons and Tracking
To ensure consumers make an informed decision when purchasing new or used mobile devices, several comparison shopping apps has been developed. Most of these apps compile product directories, reviews and the history of the price drop from affiliate shopping sites. ShopSavvy, TheFind, and BuyVia elegantly integrate comparison tasks that otherwise would demand a plethora of tabs and browser history.
Price tracking and alert have also been developed to help new searching bargain hunters. For Amazon listing tracking, CamelCamelCamel offers price decrease alerts while Honey’s Droplist is useful for general ecommerce price drop notification. It allows patient and flexible buyers to track and purchase devices and accessories at lower prices for a limited period without the need to search multiple retailers daily. providing pricing information to buyers counters this by putting the power back in the hands of the buyers.
Conclusion
It has gone well beyond mall kiosks where people are lured into signing two year contracts for the latest device that will quickly become obsolete. Supply chains moving towards quicker delivery and cheaper price structures keep on migrating more and more purchasing to other channels apart from physical carrier stores.
With the various opportunities appearing to facilitate the online mobile shopping, cell phone stores still continue to remain significant for cellular activation, customer care, and people who have not yet made a transition to buying things online. But, maintaining price competitiveness both offline and online continues to be critical to the slow moving store based retailers who would like to gear up to this new reality of mobile phone commerce shifting more through the internet. However, for the risk-takers, there are lots of cheap new generation and refurbished devices out there that offer amazing online deals.
