In some countries, online shopping is replacing shopping in stores.

Do you think it is a
positive or negative development?
In many parts of the world, brick-and-mortar businesses have been replaced by online
purchasing. From my perspective, although this trend can be disadvantageous to some
extent, it should be considered a positive development because it offers customers
pleasant shopping experiences.
To begin with, there are some disadvantages of e-commerce due to false product
impressions and the risk of fraud. First and foremost, when customers rely solely on
edited or exaggerated images and descriptions to learn about a product, their expectations
may not align with the actual item. In fact, because of the inability to touch the product,
customers are more likely to feel disappointed if the order they receive does not match
their expectations. Additionally, customers have to deal with the risk of fraud when they
purchase on e-commerce platforms. As consumers may not be able to physically inspect
the product or verify the seller's authenticity, they might inadvertently buy counterfeit
goods or purchase from fraudulent online storefronts.
However, these weaknesses are insignificant compared to the strengths when people opt
for e-commerce. Firstly, online shopping offers great experiences for buyers due to its
convenience. Shopping online allows people to shop from the comfort of their own
homes, without having to physically visit a store. Consequently, it is accessible to people
who may have difficulty physically going to stores, such as those with disabilities or
those living in remote areas. From customers’ perspective, shopping online can offer
them a wider choice of items without wasting time and energy moving. They no longer
need to travel from store to store when purchasing items readily available on platforms
like Shopee, for example.
In conclusion, considering the aforementioned reasons, while it is clear that there will be
both pros and cons when online shopping overtakes physical stores, I firmly believe that
it is advantageous for customers’ experiences.