4 things everyone hates about online shopping
Online shopping is, in many ways, a dream come true. It's an easy way to scour your favorite stores without leaving the couch.
While it may be preferable to fighting crowds at the mall, online shopping also has its drawbacks — website glitches, expensive fees, and having to reenter all your credentials at checkout for what seems like the millionth time.
Thankfully, there are ways to make it better. Check out these common online shopping woes, and how you can fix them.
1. The shipping fees make your jaw ｄrop.
You found an amazing deal for a cashmere sweater online, but the shipping cost makes you wonder if you would be better off buying it from the actual store.
Fortunately, many retailers offer free shipping at certain times or promotional codes, especially around the holidays. Keep an eye out for these deals, whether it's by signing up for the brand's newsletter or by checking sites. You may also want to consider ordering several items from a single retailer to lump purchases into one package, which makes shipping so much more worth it.
2. You have to reenter the same information ... over and over again.
There's nothing more annoying than having to enter your billing, shipping, and payment information for each and every site. Sometimes it feels like you've lost hours of your life doing just that.
3. You can't guarantee how something will look or fit.
Whether it's buying shoes, clothing, or jewelry, online shopping can sometimes feel like a gamble. Despite your best efforts, you may end up opening a package to find that the dress you bought for your sister is way too baggy — or that red sweater you bought for yourself is more cherry than burgundy.
To be safe, you should always browse product reviews on the site, and check the sizing charts before you buy. It's also helpful to have people's measurements on hand. You can also look on different blogs and YouTube channels to get a better look at clothes in a different light.
4. The package doesn't arrive in time — or doesn't show up at all.
Sometimes you need to wait days, or even weeks, before an item will make its way to you. If you're strapped for time, you may want to spend a bit more on priority shipping to ensure you won't be empty-handed during the gift exchange. Alternatively, give yourself ample time to buy gifts — at least two to three weeks — so you can ease your anxiety.
Article Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/sc/online-shopping-solutions-2015-12
Image Source: http://isopixel.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ebay_shopping.jpg
VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Drawback (n.) ~ a feature that renders something less acceptable a disadvantage or problem
2. Glitch (n.) ~ a sudden, usually temporary malfunction or irregularity of equipment
3. Make jaw ｄrop (idiom) ~ to show great surprise
4. Empty-handed (adj.) ~ having failed to obtain or achieve what one wanted
5. Ample (adj.) ~ enough or more than enough plentiful
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. Which do you prefer, online shopping or department store shopping? Why?
2. What are the advantages of online shopping?
3. According to the article, what are the disadvantages of online shopping?
4. How do you make sure that the personal and financial information that you provide a certain website will remain confidential?
5. Have you ever enｃountered a shipping problem when you ordered online? If so, what did you do about it?
