Online Shopping, is it Good or Bad? by Alice Alampi, Notre Dame School

Why? Well, this is because online shopping allows you to spend at least £100 in just a click. People believe it is better because it is easier, quicker and less energy and time is wasted. But that is just what makes it worse. By being easier and quicker people are more prone to shop for longer and therefore buy more. Moreover, because less energy and time is wasted people will obviously enjoy it more causing them to buy and pay for more. But moving on from these 3 main reasons, what about this: with online shopping there is no way you can try something on. That is a definite disadvantage which makes online shopping less fun. When you go to a shop and see something you like, you can see it, feel it, and try it on see if it fits. However, with online shopping there is no practical way of being sure if something fits so it is more likely to cost you the time and money for something you cannot even wear. That takes me to the next point. Refunds. While in a shop you can take something back if broken or if it does not fit, in online shopping the chance of a refund or replacement is quite low meaning the probability of getting money back for something bought online is also quite low. Furthermore, with online shopping there is a higher risk of the product not being trustworthy. An online shopper can never be too sure if the website is fake. They can never be too sure if their product will arrive while someone going to the shop in person can be sure that they will leave with their product. Because of this it is often much less stress to go out and do some shopping rather than waiting for something to arrive with the fear that it might never arrive or that it will come broken. This therefore makes online shopping worse than normal shopping. 

Although typing in the numbers of your credit card is much easier than paying at the shop, though you are still using the credit card, it is much easier to just accept to pay £100-£200 online than at the shop. This is because you are made to realise how much money you are spending when at the cashier and when walking around checking prices. Hence, people are more aware of the ‘dangers’ of spending and will therefore spend less in the shop than online. But it is not just the financial disadvantages that come with online shopping, it is the social ones which grew more specifically during the pandemic. Because of the virus circling the streets, shopping was one of those things that was banned during the pandemic. Thus, many took to online shopping as there was no other choice. However, even now when we have the freedom to roam the streets with no masks, many tend to shop online. The social disadvantage to this is that an increased number of people stay inside, alone instead of going out with friends or family. This causes a higher population of people to prefer staying inside to getting some fresh air and shopping or walking around a shopping mall with a group of friends. It has been studied that not socializing causes isolation, which can lead to decreased self-esteem and a shorter lifespan. 

Lastly, online shopping obviously causes less people to go outside which in turn causes local shops to lose customers. Many big companies have set up online websites so do not have this problem but the small local shops such as high street vendors and family businesses easily lose their customers due to the online business. But why does the fact that local businesses lose its customers matter? It is because as well as providing the shopkeeper with an income, most independent retailers have locally recruited employees and support the community suppliers. This means that these small businesses are essential for the local economy. They are also portraying the heritage of the town or place they are in. By neglecting them the quintessential products of the place will be lost and replaced with modern clothing and such stuff. Losing those products would mean the demise of years of ability and service of the place. The environment is also affected because of online shopping. The environmental impact of fast fashion includes the reduction of non-renewable sources, emission of greenhouse gases and the use of massive amounts of water and energy. Moreover, those who choose to buy their products online with a quick delivery or buy single items from various places contribute to increasing the carbon footprint.  

 Thus, although it may be easier, Online Shopping is worse than normal shopping as it affects the shopper, the businesses, and the environment. So, short term convenience or long-term benefits? Or should I say online shopping or normal shopping?...