Physical brick-and-mortar bookstores are limited by space and budget in the books they offer, but online bookstores face none of these restrictions. An online bookstore offers not only the most popular authors and titles, it sells esoteric titles in every possible genre. Unusual hobbies, foreign-language titles and small-run fiction receive the same space as the latest bestseller on a bookstore's website. While a customer may be able to order a seldom-requested, out-of-stock title at the local bookstore, it could take days or weeks for it to arrive, plus additional time for customer notification and travel to the store for pickup. Order the same book online and it is delivered to the customer's door in the same amount of time as any popular selection.
The convenience of an online bookstore is a major consideration for people living in rural areas where the drive to a large chain bookstore can take an hour or more. Online bookstores require no driving or circling for a parking space; these businesses are also open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be accessed from the comfort of a shopper's living room. In the winter months, shopping online can also keep people healthier, reducing their exposure to cold and flu germs by avoiding large crowds.
Since there are several major online bookstores, these businesses are aware of the customer's ability to comparison-shop online, and are therefore competitive in pricing books. Some offer deep discounts for new releases while others offer free shipping if a customer's order totals over a certain dollar amount. This benefits the consumer, who can find the best deal for his needs with a few clicks on the Web, rather than driving from bookstore to bookstore to compare prices.
Many online bookstores allow shoppers to post comments, reviews and feedback about titles. This allows new customers to research books and consider reviews before making a purchase. This process also helps the online bookstore as well, since the feedback affects online sales ratings for books and makes shopping an interactive experience.
With the rising popularity of electronic book readers, e-books are a natural fit for online bookstores. A customer can purchase an e-book and have it delivered immediately to his reading device or computer. At this time, e-books are sold only online, since there's no physical book to stock or scan in a traditional store, and a suitable sales-and-delivery system has yet to be widely implemented among brick-and-mortar bookstores.