Hello everyone! How’s Life? This is Fina ☺
As stated in the title, in this article I will discuss about Online Shopping. Shopping? Yes! Who doesn’t like online shopping? The phenomenon that continues to develop in society in the past decade is getting more and more interested than buying goods directly from the store (offline).
In the past, before the existence of the internet, people in economic activities carried out their activities starting from trading, shopping, and even auction activities were carried out face to face. Consumers who want to buy goods must come to shops or see them physically so that there is a transaction between traders and buyers. The transaction process, bargaining, and merchant strategies in attracting consumers are also evident. However, thanks to the internet, online trading technology is created that is integrated with a system commonly called an online shop. Moreover, the internet world is getting more and more popular with various online shops that offer interesting products for you. Of course, the products offered are unique and sometimes you don’t find them around you. Therefore, you may be interested in buying a product.
It must be admitted that the popularity of online shops in this country is an indicator of increasing people’s purchasing power. Not only people with upper-middle economic but those belonging to the middle and lower-middle society are also affected by this trend. Even so, this turned out to have some positive and negative impacts on society.
Therefore, let’s see directly what are the positive and negative impacts of online shopping. First, let’s get to know the positive impact of shopping online. To shop online, you will find several benefits such as the following:
You can shop without leaving home, usually the price of goods in online stores is cheaper than in offline stores, you can choose the items you like without the hassle of going around the store looking for the right item, you can save the cost of going to the market or mall because once you order, then the goods will be sent directly to your home and you can find many unique items that you may have never met.
In addition to the points above, do you also feel other positive impacts?
For me, I would say Yes, so many conveniences are offered by shopping online. You only need to move and scroll your finger on your smartphone, or you just need to stare at your laptop screen. You can search for the items you like, and choose the online shop you like too. We recommend choosing an online store, you choose a place close to your city so that you are not charged expensive shipping costs.
It will be even easier if you use internet banking services (you know shopee pay, dana, gopay, DANA hehehe). In the payment method, consumers usually transfer the cost of the goods plus postage at the beginning, or before the goods are sent. Therefore, with internet banking, you can make bank transfers easily without leaving the house. This certainly makes it easier for you to shop online. You simply order the items you like, then you order, transfer, and after a few days, you will find the items you bought.
However, of the many positive impacts you will experience, there are also negative impacts that you will feel, including:
You will be charged expensive shipping costs if the goods you order are large and heavy, and also the location of the online store you choose is very far from your city or province. You may find defective or damaged goods when the goods sent have arrived at your home, it is possible that the specifications of the goods you receive are not the same as the specifications of the goods in the photos or descriptions at the online store, many online stores are scattered in cyberspace, and you may choose the wrong online store so that after transferring a certain amount of money, your goods are never sent. Lastly, online shopping makes consumptive behavior.
Jean Baudrillard in his book entitled “Masyarakat Konsumsi” argues for the Consumptive Society Theory which explains that current consumptive behavior is not influenced by purely economic factors and is based on rational needs only, but cultural systems and social meaning systems that play a role in directing individual choices.
Online shopping provides convenience and practicality but can also create bad habits for people. With this phenomenon, we should be more able to control online shopping behavior and be selective in determining the products we will buy according to our needs, not just according to our wishes. By learning money management we can avoid consumptive behavior and are not easily influenced by things that cause waste.
However, in my opinion, those negative things can be anticipated by being a smart and always vigilant buyer. Research before buying, look for information about the online shop, and choose the safest way to pay. You no longer have to worry about sending some fees because now you can use a virtual account. You can also learn what are the characteristics of a fake online store. To anticipate defects or damage to goods, you can make an agreement in advance with the online store owner that the goods you ordered will be replaced if they are defective when shipped. After all, it all depends on how you can be a smart buyer and always be aware. So, we can avoid things that are unwanted during online shopping.
And just for a reminder, buy something according to life’s needs not a lifestyle. Because actually the cost of living is cheap, the expensive thing is the cost of showing off.
Balancing your money is the key to having enough.” – Elizabeth Warren
Thanks and have a nice day Everyone ☺
Author : Safina
