Brick and Mortar Vs Internet Retailing

There have been a couple of questions at LinkedIn on Brick and Mortar retailing Vs Internet retailing; so I thought of posting my thoughts on the same.

Both Internet Retailing and Brick and Mortar Retailing have their own sets of advantages. The advantages of Internet retailing are saves time, home delivery, depth and width of assortment, convenience, complete information of products,etc.
Whereas Brick and Mortar Retailing benefits are touch and feel, immediate gratification, cash payment, social experience, etc.

But the most important element which differentiates Internet retailing from Brick and Mortar retailing is overall experience, rather social experience. As, Paco Underhill, author of 'How We Shop', points out, “Stores are a social experience. I don't care how many chat rooms there are on a site, they will never provide what the experience of brick-and-mortar shopping provides for all five senses, if not six or seven.”

Shopping does not mean just buying products, we shop for numerous reasons such as feeling depressed/good, celebrating festival, need to be with family or friends, time pass, etc. We go shopping even if we don't have to shop; it may be your friend who would like to shop for himself/herself or for his/her family or friends.

Every purchase whether small or big has an experience associated with it. For example sometimes shopping for a colored pen or pencil makes me happy because I love colors. When I feel depressed, I go for color shopping. Also it doesn't cost your pocket. :-)

Big purchase could be shopping for furniture for your home or office, where again you would like to go and feel the furniture, sit on it before buying it. Or could be buying a car, which would require a test drive. Another example of big shopping could be marriage. Have you ever noticed a bride shopping for her wedding, she is so particular even for a saree pin she purchase!

I believe it is emotions which are connected to every purchase. For me shopping is a way out of my laptop, so I don't shop online, to me it seems too mechanical to shop online.

But surely there is both a market and potential for online retailers, the only point I'll like to make is that traditional brick and mortar stores have no threat from online retailers in Indian context.

Also feel free to describe your shopping behavior here.