The Emerging Digital Economy - Chapter 6.
Consumers shop on the Internet because they find their choices dramatically increased.
They have access to much more information when making purchasing decisions. Busy consumers can save time and find shopping more convenient as merchants serve their needs individually. Better information and greater selection, combined with lower operating costs for many Internet business may, in turn, drive reductions in prices or improvements in quality. No longer do customers find their shopping limited to the stores within a reasonable driving or walking distance or to the catalogues they receive in the mail. Online, customers can shop at stores in other states, in other countries, and at stores that do not exist in traditional formats.