09

In the first instalment, we looked at how online shopping can be an exciting experience. However, it is important to also highlight the downsides to online shopping. This time, we’ll run through some of the frustrations that online shoppers may experience.

You can shop regardless of your physical state
By right, nobody would care what you look like when it comes to online shopping. But, what happens when you’re high, for example? What are the implications? I’ve never thought of it from that angle!

Your privacy and confidentiality can be a challenge to manage
When it comes to online shopping, you’d be requested to fill in your personal details like your address and credit card details, for example. This means you’re indirectly giving your personal details to your (favourite) retailer. Even if there are disclaimers, privacy policies and terms and conditions, who knows where your personal information might end up with? However, if you’re shopping at a physical retail store, you don’t necessarily have to share your address and credit card details with the cashiers.

You’d have to deal with countless ‘junk’ and spam emails
If you think you’d have to spend hours peering through your screens for your favourite dress, you’d also have to spend time dealing with an ungodly number of ‘junk’ and spam emails. Irritating, right?

You have to put up with incessant e-newsletters and promotions
There are times when I like them because sometimes, they come up with certain offers or free vouchers that are from my favourite fast food chains, for instance. However, other times, I just click ‘Delete’. If it really gets on my nerves, what else? Just unsubscribe!

You won’t have physical contact with items/can’t try out until they arrive
One of the things about online shopping is that you won’t have physical contact with items until they arrive at your front door. For example, I often shop for ink cartridges and I’ll have to wait patiently for them to arrive. However, if you’re shopping for it at a physical IT store, you can have the most physical contact to see if it’s the right one for your printer. If you’re shopping for clothes, you will have to wait until they arrive to see if they’re the right size. You also have to take into account factors that delay delivery like weather and if the product is in stock.

You may end up buying unnecessary items
Sometimes, regardless of how tech-savvy you are, you may end up purchasing something unnecessary from the web. When you suddenly decide that you can live without the item, you then send it back to the retailer. Oh, boy!

There may be a cap in place in terms of how much you can order
The downside to online shopping is that there are certain terms and conditions like a cap in terms of the quantity or how much you can order for you to get your item delivered. So, it’s best to think of your purchasing power. Otherwise, you might just dislike online shopping.