Greetings steemian friends. Hope this post meets you well. Thank you @sahmie for organising this debate. I stand with the opinion that in-store shopping is better than online shopping with these few points of mine.

Introduction

Shopping is the act of purchasing desired goods or products. It can be done online or through physical shopping. Shopping could be to get needed products others shop for fun and to make themselves happy. Whatever the reason, shopping involves exchange.

What are the advantages of online shopping compared to in-store shopping?

Freepik

While all shopping choice has its own advantages and disadvantages, I'll highlight few advantages of online shopping compared to in-store shopping.

1. Convenience: Online shopping allows the shopper to shop from the comfort of his home.
2. More options: The shopper has the liberty to find more products and compare prices.
3. Time Saving: It's saves the time and stress of going to the store and searching for what to purchase.
4. It provides an avenue to easily find what is not readily available in the market.
5. It helps stick to budget and prevent impulse buying
6. Makes window shopping easier.

How do returns and exchanges differ between online and in-store purchases?

Online purchase

• Since online shopping doesn't require in person shopping, delivery may take days and sometimes you hear stories of what I got versus what I ordered.
• If there's need to return a purchase, this may take more days or sometimes unacceptable.
• Online shopping incurs more cost for shipping and delivery.

In-store purchase

• It's is easy to change mind and purchase something else immediately.
• No additional cost incurred as there's no need for shipment and delivery
• Shorter days for returns.

In what ways does in-store shopping provide a different experience compared to online shopping?

Freepik

• In-store shopping allows interaction with other buyers including the seller.
• There are wider range of options which could lead to buying more/better than planned for.
• Connection with what is to be purchased buy touching and getting your product immediately.
• It allows customers to try on what they want to purchase to know if it fits.
• The experience of a new environment, decor, people, technology.

Which shopping method do you prefer and why?

I prefer in-store shopping.
I like to explore more options, get suggestions from people and not have to worry about scam or delay in delivery or displacement of goods.
I get to experience the ambience of the environment and get my desired product immediately.

Have you ever had any memorable experiences, positive or negative, while shopping online or in-store?

Never really shopped online I could use it to compare price or find a product, but I rather go to the store to get it.
Experience? Yes, positive!
Recently I wanted to purchase a pair of sandals online but I couldn't do so as the cost of delivery was high so I went to a store at our local market instead. At the store I saw other sandals of same and even better quality compare to what I wanted to purchase. I had to settle for another that caught my fancy and I can say I prefer the sandals I bought to the one I wanted to get. I even got the privilege of bargaining price.
Not personally but other people gets to connect and make friends.

^{What I got instead. Can't find imagine of what I wanted to purchase but it's called H2O sandals}

Thank you for reading.
I'll like to invite @manuelhooks, @goodybest and @jovita30 to the contest.