Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Red Tags - Top 10 Drawbacks of Online Shopping





Single, working and tired at the end of the day I always have the reason to run to the mall.

I have all the reasons from catching up with the girls to dinner cravings – except shopping. I dread the thought of going to the mall and purposely getting something. The process of having to go visit several shops and get specifically what I have in mind – it just takes too much of my time. Then getting disappointed Size 6 shoe is out of stock or that Size 6 is not standard. The long queue is another thing (impatient eh!). With my 5-ft frame I get swept by throngs of eager shoppers and their shopping bags during Dubai shopping seasons.

On most occasions, I end up empty handed with what I need to buy and excessively spend on my favourite shops. It’s too late before I realize I overstocked of body butters and shower gels. And every so often, I end up purchasing something that I will regret before the train gets to the first stop - it’s just that I get so weak in the knees with the sight of oh so tempting 'blings' dangling in front of me and all reasons are rolling in my mind why I deserve another reward then feel guilty.

With that established, it’s easy to explain why I got hooked with online shopping. Well, if not entirely hooked like a bratty shopaholic, at least lured into shopping unplanned and on a regular basis while wriggling my toes underneath my office table. The greatest convenience is I just can do it anytime of the day in between and while taking calls and sipping my green tea. Strategically-sized discount tags popping up in my inbox in the middle of important mails. Discount marks that psyche one into thinking he/she is saving instead of spending – tsk! tsk!

Who would have predicted online shopping will be as common thing as Facebook readily accessible as long as you have an e-mail ID? But there are also drawbacks to the convenience of shopping on a click.


1)       The Facebook Profile Pic Shock – you fell in love, you clicked ‘buy’, when the package arrived, the actual is a far cry of what is advertised. #sobs

2)      The morning after regret – you gave in, probably because of the hormones raging, when everything else subsided, you received the sms and the amount is deducted from your available limit. You ask yourself: 'Oh boy! Did I really make that unnecessary purchase again?' Then it’s too late.

3)      ‘Til death do us part – if he snores, you have to live with that for the rest of your lives, annulment is more expensive at this stage. Somewhere in the links you are too lazy to click says refund will just be a headache, they will be ‘glad’ to give you that as store credits instead. Fine print: you’re stuck with your purchase.

4)       Along came Mr. Wrong – and you’re just too excited dear Mr. Aramex finally came knocking at your doorstep and surprise!!! It’s 2 left shoe in the box or not the item you paid for. If it’s their mistake, they can exchange, you just have to wait for another day. However if the item has to be shipped from somewhere, you have to wait for another 3 weeks. #goodluck!

5)      Long engagement – you stare at your ring and the stone stares back, sometimes you ask: will my order ever come?

6)      Online shopping is to online dating as actual shopping is to actual dating, to real shopaholics nothing substitutes the joy of the real thing.

7)      Authenticity check – what an extravagant savings even mom is impressed. But as you cannot feel or sniff, authenticity cannot be guaranteed. #megawatt doubt

8)      The lies, the scams – they lurk in legit sites, sweet ramblings, roses at hand, they get you into thinking the business exists and after you send your money they’re gone as fast.

9)      Communication – the lack there of and you feel hurt and ignored. 1) line always busy, 2) you were kept hanging, 3) can’t give the real stat, 4) the standard dialogue and lies, 5) etc… etc... - and you are raised to a full scale war.

10)  Hit and miss – you’ll only find out how it fits on first date.



18 comments:

  1. :) relate ako jan sis but so far never ko pa natry to shop on FB, sa SUKAR.com ako lagi napapanili and so far wala pa naman akong bad experience. But I bought one bag sa eBay and I was a bit disappointed kasi di ganong quality ang ineexpect ko.
    helpful itong post na ito for those who loves to shop online...
    can i post it using your link? dami kasi online shoppers dito sa office ..hehehe

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    1. Sure jen... :) mine sprung from my Sukar experience... hihihi I find Marka VIP's Customer Service satisfying though... :)

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  2. omg! so relate to this though i am married already. and eveyrhting changes when you already have a family of your own. you think like million time before your getting something at the store. be sure it is need and not wants. unless you did great something this month and thats yur prise. hehe xx

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  3. There are indeed several drawbacks on online shopping so it is important to be sure of your purchases and also purchase from a reliable online shop.

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  4. Hndi ko pa naman natatry mag-OL shopping. Pero marami nga ako nababasang revs na if you're going to buy something, wag na online.may mga sites kasi ngayon na hindi na legit. Balak ko pa naman sanang bumili ng panggift ko kay hubby ng watch online. Any rev about Amazon, okay ba sya?

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  5. scams can be avoided by fully researching about the store before buying... for example, I did a test buy in Deal Extreme before buying more items from them..

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  6. This list is well put and quite funny too. So far I've experienced 1,3,5,7,9,10. Shopping online helped me as online seller as well. While thinking of activities to help build financial literacy for kids I looked at online selling and shopping as a tool. The current platforms are not child-friendly though but its a good practice ground to explain simple business concepts.

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  7. I hate to say this, but hindi ako at ease sa online shopping. Yes, ang main reason ko, baka iba yung nai=promote sa actual item.

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  8. Right now the trust rating in online shopping in our country is very low because of scammers. But I hope that things change because online shopping is cheaper and comfortable.

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  9. Looking at your list, I can safely make an assumption :P You aren't shopping via trusted online e-commerce sites :) I've been using Amazon for a couple of years now and their customer service is excellent with a Capital E plus the products are exactly what you need, arrives on time, and are in great condition :)

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    1. e-commerce is the lifestyle in this side and everything is just so automated. Even for a simple as 2 pcs capsicum you place it over the phone and it will be delivered on your doorstep. as I am in GCC, online shop players could be here or within the region. it is so big and a common thing that transactions are in a fast pace, even as a consumer i sometimes forget to read the fine print. So far Amazon is good experience however: 1) my online purchases are unplanned - thus it is not something that I would go visit several sites or compare with Amazon rates; 2) whatever is offered in Amazon, they offer in sites based here; 3) Customs randomly check and filters parcels and a little strict for personal packages coming outside GCC and Europe :)

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  10. I love to shop both in stores and online! .. and as for online items, I make sure to read the fine print in RETURNS! Lol!

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  11. Probably, I would prefer meeting the person behind that "online shop" before making a purchase. Its like more of a meet-up set-up.

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  12. Great list about the CONS of online shopping and such. I learned something new in here, for real.

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  13. We just started to shop online and so far I haven't experience any of these and I hope I won't.

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  14. Nakakatawa naman :) Nakaka-realate ako :D

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  15. just do online shopping on something you don't need to fit and those with standard specifications... as to others, goodluck... hahaha. Yahweh bless.

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