You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic.

Buying things on the Internet, such as books, air tickets and groceries, is becoming more and more
popular.

Do the advantages of shopping in this way outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

You should write at least 250 words.

Answer
Due to the development of modern technology, online shopping has become more popular for people.
Buying things on the Internet is preferred by office workers and students as they do not have adequate
time to go to shopping malls. There are some disadvantages and advantages of shopping in this way, with
the disadvantages outweighing the advantages, which requires customers to consider carefully before they
make a decision.
As more and more people are using technology, online shopping can help them save time. More
specifically, they can have a look at the things they need while they are taking public transports, at home
or at work. Going to supermarkets might be time consuming if people live in remote areas and have to
travel a long distance to shopping malls. Moreover, buying things on the Internet allows people to have
more choices as they can obtain feedback and reviews from other customers and make the best choice.
For instance, I usually look for feedback from others when I plan to make a purchase, as reviews provide
a more realistic insight into the quality of the products. Shopping online also permits customers to
purchase in bundles, as they will be delivered so people do not have to worry about carrying heavy
objects. On internet, people can also have a look at various websites that sell similar products but
different prices, to choose the most affordable ones.
Despite the advantages of online shopping, there are also some negative sides of this shopping. For
people who do not favour waiting, this might not be an appopriate shopping style for them as they will
have to wait for their orders to be delivered. Delivering time depends on how far customers live from the
store, which might take a large amount of time if it is an international delivery. As a result, it might cause
troubles if the customer is not satisfied with the order and requests for a return. Refunding will take as
much time as delivering, which might frustrate the impatient customers. A reason why customers request
for a return, which is also a disadvantage of online shopping, is that sometimes the product looks far
different in real life than online. There have been several situations when I see customers complaining
about the quality or colour dissimilarity. The return can also result from customers not having a chance to
try on the product, especially for clothes. Sizes of clothes and shoes vary between stores, which lead to
the disappointment of customers if the objects do not fit them in reality. This also applies to groceries, as
people do not have an opportunity to taste the groceries so their freshness is questionable
In conclusion, as a high-tech person, I prefer shopping online as it saves my time and I can search up for
anything online. However, I think that some products should not be purchased on the Internet, such as
groceries, as the quality is not guaranteed so it might be a better option to buy them at supermarkets. I am
also not a patient person so the delivering time might be an element to be considered if I plan to make a
purchase online.