The Balance Menu Search GO Ad The Pros and Cons of Online Shopping 6 Benefits and Drawbacks To Keep in Mind When You Shop Online BY ANNA BALUCH Updated June 13, 2022 REVIEWED BY PAMELA RODRIGUEZ FACT CHECKED BY ROBYN CONTI The Balance / Jiaqi Zhou Online shopping is more popular today than ever before. A report from the U.S. Census Bureau found that in the first quarter of 2022, an estimated $250 billion was spent in retail e-commerce sales. 1 In the second quarter of 2011, for comparison, retail e-commerce sales were $47.5 billion. 2 Due in part to new and growing technology, online shopping has become incredibly easy and convenient. It also offers a greater selection than one storefront, opening the doors to products and services that may not be available at a nearby brick-and-mortar store . While online shopping comes with a number of benefits, there are drawbacks to know about, too. Let's dive deeper into the pros and cons of sho...