Disadvantages Of Online Shopping
Online shopping is a kind of electronic commerce that consumers could purchase products or services and finish the payment directly through specific websites. Taobao, an online shopping platform, is becoming more popular among teenagers in recent years. The increasing significant of online shopping arouses public concern. Some customers appreciate this form of shopping due to its convenience. While some of them concern that it might trigger negative effects on teenagers. This paper examines both the arguments for and against Hong Kong teenagers using Taobao for online shopping. Following this, a conclusion would be delivered to summarize both the advantages and disadvantages of the issue.
One of the advantages of shopping online via …show more content…
Unlike physical shopping, online shopping adopters are unable to have face-to-face communication with the shop owners. Only text message is available for consulting product information, which might be ineffective. Limayem, Khalifa and Frini (2000) observe that the online customer services are often unsatisfactory. They report that some consumers are disappointed towards the integrity of product information given by the online shops. Usually, appearance of products could only be inspected by photos. However, it is worth-concerned that the product photos on Taobao are often computerized, which indicates limited cognition of customers towards the authentic information of products. Fan (2005) highlights that the consumers might be threatened by the risk of product intangibility in online shopping. For example, Brassington and Pettitt (2006, as cited in Zhao, 2012, p.12) mention that “online consumers cannot touch or check the products in front of their faces”. Therefore, interests of consumers might be harmed when the product quality is …show more content…
Socially withdrawn teenagers has become a controversial topic for a period of time. They spend most of the time staying at home without studying, working or facing the society. They seldom interact with others. Shopping is a reason for them to leave home. Nonetheless, Taobao allows going out to purchase things become unnecessary. Some consumers still insist in physical shopping because they believe that the act of real shopping is also a kind of social activities other than just achieving the aim of buying products. Through shopping in real shops together, family and social relationships could be maintained or improved due to the communication and interactions involved (Zhao, 2012). It is worried that the increasing popularity of online shopping might lessen the willingness of teenagers to buy physically. As a result, it is possible to worsen the problem of socially withdrawn teenagers.
To be concluded, there are both advantages and disadvantages for Hong Kong teenagers using Taobao to shop online. The Taobao application might bring convenience to teenagers by shortening the purchasing time. Financial burden of teenagers might possibly be alleviated based on the tremendous scale of affordable products in Taobao and its function of “comparative shopping”. These benefits, however, should be weighed against the risk of online product quality and the social
One of the advantages of shopping online via …show more content…
Unlike physical shopping, online shopping adopters are unable to have face-to-face communication with the shop owners. Only text message is available for consulting product information, which might be ineffective. Limayem, Khalifa and Frini (2000) observe that the online customer services are often unsatisfactory. They report that some consumers are disappointed towards the integrity of product information given by the online shops. Usually, appearance of products could only be inspected by photos. However, it is worth-concerned that the product photos on Taobao are often computerized, which indicates limited cognition of customers towards the authentic information of products. Fan (2005) highlights that the consumers might be threatened by the risk of product intangibility in online shopping. For example, Brassington and Pettitt (2006, as cited in Zhao, 2012, p.12) mention that “online consumers cannot touch or check the products in front of their faces”. Therefore, interests of consumers might be harmed when the product quality is …show more content…
Socially withdrawn teenagers has become a controversial topic for a period of time. They spend most of the time staying at home without studying, working or facing the society. They seldom interact with others. Shopping is a reason for them to leave home. Nonetheless, Taobao allows going out to purchase things become unnecessary. Some consumers still insist in physical shopping because they believe that the act of real shopping is also a kind of social activities other than just achieving the aim of buying products. Through shopping in real shops together, family and social relationships could be maintained or improved due to the communication and interactions involved (Zhao, 2012). It is worried that the increasing popularity of online shopping might lessen the willingness of teenagers to buy physically. As a result, it is possible to worsen the problem of socially withdrawn teenagers.
To be concluded, there are both advantages and disadvantages for Hong Kong teenagers using Taobao to shop online. The Taobao application might bring convenience to teenagers by shortening the purchasing time. Financial burden of teenagers might possibly be alleviated based on the tremendous scale of affordable products in Taobao and its function of “comparative shopping”. These benefits, however, should be weighed against the risk of online product quality and the social