E-commerce: delivering the goods?

Many of the goods that at first glance appear attractive to sell to consumers online may present e-tailers with a range of problems. In some cases, like food, these problems relate to issues of delivery of goods. In other cases, like white goods, it may not be possible for e-tailers to substitute `online' the tacit practices that surround the process of consumption. Furthermore, the jury is still out on whether e-shopping can live up to its promise of greater access, convenience and lower prices.