The Evolution of Online Shopping
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
Not long ago, going to the mall was seen as such a fun and exciting activity to look forward to. Even if you weren’t going to buy anything (which was very unlikely), it was still something to do. Over the years, less and less people are bombarding the mall throughout the year, especially during Christmas time. Remember when Black Friday was chaotic and you were parked in the mall lot at 2:00 a.m. waiting for the doors to open? Yeah, we don’t miss that. Once more people realized that Black Friday deals were available online as well, the late nights, long lines, and fighting over that last purse started to look a lot less appealing.
The first thing I think of when I hear the words “online shopping” is Amazon Prime. It’s safe to say that this concept of easy-to-find deals on any and everything, as well as the quickest delivery, has taken a toll on our society. Even before COVID-19, online shopping was quite popular. Personally, I was never really the biggest fan of it because I usually preferred to try clothes on before purchasing them. My friends would come to me about the best deal they got on some super cute jeans, but they were only available online. When you’re 4’10” with thicker thighs… you’d be taking a serious risk of them not fitting, and having to go through the dreaded return process.
Once quarantine hit, we were all bored. A package arriving at our doorsteps was like water in the middle of a drought, refreshing and exciting. Heck, actually, that’s me all the time. As I continued to think on this, I thought about the many companies that have gone out of business for this specific reason. Not as many people have the urge to get up off their couch and drive to the mall anymore, or put themselves at risk during this time. Some may not even be able to because they are quarantined. However, I will always love my trips to TJ Maxx or HomeGoods, simply to browse and find what I might need, well... “want”.
Online shopping has many pros besides the fact that you can easily press a button and have something delivered to your door in the next couple days. However, one of the cons of this would be how some stores’ shipping can take weeks, even a month. If you are someone like me, who orders everything last minute or is extremely impatient, then relying on online shopping might not be for you. A quick trip to the mall could be your best bet.
It’s hard to say whether or not online shopping will eventually take over the retail market completely. However, it’s likely that it will gradually happen over the years. One of the negatives of this society is that we are becoming lazier by the day. We only have to leave our house for the necessities. Everything else is immediately at our fingertips on our phones, laptops, and TV’s. We no longer have to go to the store to rent movies, we can watch them via streaming services. We have the option to attend our classes online. Clearly, we can shop online for our clothes, home decor, skincare needs, and more. The list goes on! This can be beneficial, as long as we don’t take it too far. It can be therapeutic to get out and get some fresh air, walk around, and enjoy the in-person shopping experience and be social… at least from a distance. So, if you feel comfortable, go give it a try!
Strike Out,
Writer: Aubrie Henry
Boca Raton