In recent years, the global expansion of the Internet access has led to an increase of e-commerce sales. Furthermore, the current pandemic lockdown has boosted this trend dramatically. The advantages of online shopping are numerous, but is it all that glitters gold?
On the one hand, online shopping can be an excellent resource for those looking to expand their buying options: all sorts of items are available for purchase, no matter how specific or strange they may seem. In addition, a great deal of time and money can be saved, as no transport or queuing in shops is needed and prices can easily be compared among the different websites, making the most of one’s budget. Besides, the Internet provides a 24-hour 7 days per week marketplace, in contrast with traditional shops’ opening hours, which comes in very handy in today’s stressful and hectic lifestyle.
But on the other hand, the downsides of this modern way of acquiring goods are not to be ignored. For instance, when it comes to consumer satisfaction, many buyers agree that not having the opportunity to try the products in advance is an important drawback, as they often do not come up to their expectations. Moreover, it is important to highlight the environmental damage that this worldwide trading system implies, as merchandise is being delivered from one end of the world to another. But perhaps the most worrying consequence of buying online is the devastation of small local businesses, which fail to compete with the omnipresent e-commerce giants -namely Amazon and Aliexpress.
On the whole, it seems that 21st century consumers will increasingly use these online stores, as they value convenience above all. However, it will be crucial to promote social and environmental awareness, in order to reduce the worst side effects of current consumerism.
In recent years, the global expansion of the Internet access has led to an increase of e-commerce sales.
Furthermore
, the
current
pandemic lockdown has boosted this trend
dramatically
. The advantages of
online
shopping are numerous,
but
is it all that glitters gold?
On the one hand,
online
shopping can be an excellent resource for those looking to expand their buying options: all sorts of items are available for
purchase
, no matter how specific or strange they may seem.
In addition
, a great deal of time and money can
be saved
, as no transport or queuing in shops
is needed
and prices can
easily
be compared
among the
different
websites, making the most of one’s budget.
Besides
, the Internet provides a 24-hour 7 days per week marketplace,
in contrast
with traditional shops’ opening hours, which
comes
in
very
handy in
today
’s stressful and hectic lifestyle.
But
on the other hand
, the downsides of this modern way of acquiring
goods
are not to be
ignored
.
For instance
, when it
comes
to consumer satisfaction,
many
buyers
agree
that not having the opportunity to try the products in advance is an
important
drawback, as they
often
do not
come
up to their expectations.
Moreover
, it is
important
to highlight the environmental damage that this worldwide trading system implies, as merchandise is
being delivered
from one
end
of the world to another.
But
perhaps the most worrying consequence of buying
online
is the devastation of
small
local businesses, which fail to compete with the omnipresent e-commerce giants -
namely
Amazon and Aliexpress.
On the whole
, it seems that 21st century consumers will
increasingly
use
these
online
stores, as they value convenience
above all
.
However
, it will be crucial to promote social and environmental awareness, in order to
reduce
the worst side effects of
current
consumerism.
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