Online shopping differs from retail shopping because a larger percentage of it happens during the:

• A. final payment and checkout process
• B. post-purchase satisfaction period
• C. physical inspection of goods
• D. consumer's search and evaluation phase

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the consumer decision-making process, which typically includes the following phases: problem recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision, and post-purchase behavior.
2. Step 2: Recognize that in traditional retail shopping, consumers often rely heavily on physical inspection of goods and in-store evaluation before making a purchase.
3. Step 3: In online shopping, the physical inspection is limited or absent, so consumers spend more time and effort in the search and evaluation phase, using online reviews, product descriptions, and comparisons.
4. Step 4: Identify that the key difference highlighted is that a larger percentage of online shopping activity occurs during the consumer's search and evaluation phase, as they gather information and compare options before buying.
5. Step 5: Conclude that this phase is more prominent in online shopping compared to the final payment, checkout, or post-purchase satisfaction phases, which are less distinctive between online and retail shopping.