REUTERS/via SNO Sites/Shannon Stapleton

An employee folds clothes at a Macy’s department store during Black Friday deals, a post Thanksgiving shopping frenzy that attracts throngs of bargain hunters to stores, at the Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City, New York, U.S., November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

With the holidays, shopping is a big hit. Everyone is crowding stores, looking high and low for gifts for loved ones. The topic of in-person shopping and online shopping is a debatable one. Both shopping options have their pros and cons.

Ordering online doesn’t always come with the best results. Online shopping has its pros, such as lower prices you don’t get in person, coupons, and faster, more reliable delivery. If you are picky about the fabric or material of your items, there are always reviews and descriptions that can help you get someone else’s input and opinion on the merchandise. When shopping online, you can quickly browse items on your phone, but in person, your item may not be the right size, and it would take twice as long. But online, you get everything all in one go, you can also do your holiday shopping within one sitting, in two hours at most, it’s a game-changer! The cons of online shopping are losing your package or having your merchandise damaged, both of which are not very common, or just having to wait 2-6 business days for your package to arrive at your doorstep. 

When shopping in person, there are many benefits. In person, you can see and feel the items before purchasing, so you can know if this is what you really want. When shopping in person, you truly see the colors, size, and quality of the merchandise you purchase. With in-person shopping, you can buy it and go with no waiting, no delays, no shipping costs, and you go home satisfied. You can always have a fun time shopping with friends and family as well.

While most people really do like taking the time to shop in person and spend quality time doing so, there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone has their preferences.

So what do you prefer, online or in-person shopping during the holidays?