---
title: 4 Reasons to Prove eCommerce Can't Replace Brick and Mortars
date: 2015-01-21T03:38:13Z
modified: 2024-05-21T09:44:22Z
permalink: "https://www.tmogroup.asia/insights/ecommerce-replace-brick-mortars/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 82190
categories:
  - eMarketing
  - Industry Insights
  - Omni channel (O2O)
  - Other
featured_image: "https://www.tmogroup.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/user-experience-in-brick-and-mortar.jpg"
author: TMO Group
timestamp: 2024-05-21T09:44:22Z
tags:
  - eMarketing
  - Industry Insights
  - Omni channel (O2O)
  - Other
---

Internet has led to the explosion of eCommerce. Competition becomes more can more fierce between eCommerce owners and the big cake of the whole market is nearly eaten up. As a result, is there any significance for [brick and mortar stores](https://www.tmogroup.asia/strategies-ecommerce-learn/ "brick and mortar stores") to exist? In fact, the following 5 reasons will prove that eCommerce can never replace brick and mortars.

## 1. User experience can not be replaced

Take group buying alone, a statistic from [Tuan 800](http://www.tuan800.com/homepage) shows that in the first half of 2014, though the trading volume reached 29.4 billion which is better than all the years before, the quantity of businesses decreased to 176, which is only 3.7% of the amount of 2011.

The main reason is user experience. Group buying causes many issues such as fake deal, refund issue, cheat or imparity clause.

![user experience in brick and mortar](https://www.tmogroup.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/user-experience-in-brick-and-mortar.jpg)

## 2. Big data closed-loop can be created only through offline

![Close loop O2O](https://www.tmogroup.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Close-loop-O2O.png)

There is always a word called closed-loop while we are talking about [O2O](https://www.tmogroup.asia/china-online-to-offline/ "O2O"). Many users would not like to provide their personal information to online shops. But through offline, it will be easier to get them. After that, consumers data can be analysed online and then we can provide a better user experience.

## 3. Its difficult to identify products only through online

We all know that "made in China" is deeply ingrained. Consumers need to take the risk of overseas shopping. There are many factory for fakes in Yiwu and Guangzhou. They produce a large amount of fake products and sell them abroad. The way they use cou

## 4. eCommerce in FTA also need brick and mortars

After the free trade zone (FTA) was opened in Shanghai, [cross border eCommerce](https://www.tmogroup.asia/ecoss-globe/ "cross border eCommerce") became an important battleground. Online and offline model has been received by many eCommerce giants. Selling only through online cannot meet customers need any more.

![FTA Shanghai](https://www.tmogroup.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/FTA-Shanghai.jpg)

The user experience in brick and mortar shops will never be replaced. Combining Offline market has become more and more important part of O2O. Furthermore, offline consumption still dominate the psychological need of consumers.

## Topics

**Categories:** [eMarketing](https://www.tmogroup.asia/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/taxonomy/category/emarketing.md), [Industry Insights](https://www.tmogroup.asia/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/taxonomy/category/industry-insights.md), [Omni channel (O2O)](https://www.tmogroup.asia/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/taxonomy/category/omni-channel-o2o.md), [Other](https://www.tmogroup.asia/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/taxonomy/category/other.md)