Natalie Barletta – Opinions Editor
We’ve all been there. Whether it’s idly searching on Amazon for a personalized phone case or on Etsy where you can find just about anything that you want, we all have those shopping websites that we can spend multiple hours, and dollars on.
As more and more items become available online, online shopping is fast becoming the way that we’re getting our clothes, jewelry, books, and even movies and music.
Online shopping has many benefits. It seems nowadays every brand has a website.
Whether it’s Barnes and Noble or Vera Bradley, all of our favorite brands are online. Since most of us have Internet access at all times, it’s easy to go onto there and browse. Many of the websites are often cheaper than if you went into the store because they sometimes have ‘online only sales.’
That combined with coupon codes from various websites, you’re able to score yourself a deal better than going into a store and purchasing something.
In addition to the price, you’re also able to get whatever you want. How many times have you’ve fallen in love with a sweater at a store, and it wasn’t your size? I’ve had that happen to me more times than I could count.
With that being said, online shopping virtually erases that problem. As long as the item is in stock, then you’re able to get that size to ship to you as soon as you click ‘add item to my cart.’ You’ll be able to get those purple shoes right in your size.
Online shopping can also be really convenient. Since I don’t have a car, it’s not easy to get to all of my favorite stores. Since most of them have a website, it makes getting to them much easier. It’s perfect for the college student who doesn’t have their license or for someone that just doesn’t have the time to go shopping.
The last benefit of shopping online is that you’ll never have to be closed into store’s hours. How many times have you wanted to go to a store that closed early or wasn’t open on Sunday? If Sunday were your only day off, then you’d normally be out of luck. However, if that store has a website then you can log into it whenever you want.
As much as online shopping has its benefits, it does have its downfalls. For starters, it can be very addicting. Since it’s so easy to get online, you can often spend a lot of time on websites looking at what you want to buy. This often causes end up buying something that you don’t need, or can’t afford.
Since it’s so easy, you’ll buy something on impulse. Or whenever you’re upset, or having a bad day, you’ll be going online and buying with your emotions, and not your head.
Both of these things aren’t good reasons to go shopping.
In addition to that, shipping can be extremely expensive. Most companies charge between $3.99-10.99 for shipping alone. That can be extremely expensive, especially for the broke college student.
With that being said, when you go to buy something in the store you don’t have to pay for shipping. That can probably save you quite a bit of money, depending on what you were in the market of buying.
Overall, I think that online shopping is mostly a good thing. It’s convenient, easy, and I’m always able to get whatever size or color that I want.
However, there is an addictive component to online shopping which can cause a big problem for those who have no self control while shopping. But, if you’re able to limit yourself, online shopping is the way for you.
Photo Credit: Tim Reckmann
