What’s in a click? All about
MALL IN CYBERSPACE ‘You have successfully placed an order!’ Many a time, automatically generated messages elicit more excitement than personal ones
NEW DELHI: In a less fortunate era, individuals hoping to get their hands on something new would have had to wait for a trip to the weekly bazaar for daily wares, or the occasional town fair, with its medley of rare treats and sights, put together for the commoners. Even for aristocrats, acquiring something new for themselves must have been an elaborate ordeal involving at least one farm animal, trusted servants and a lot of goodwill. And all of this when the world was a lot less connected, when common desires had to be confined to indigenous creations. It was a world of few pleasures and less chaos, at a time when the term ‘market’ denoted a particular place and time instead of a globalised hyper real concept.
In present scenario, an incredible cultural explosion has broadened the scope and extent of choices available. From the inexplicable popularity of Korean drama series among present-day youngsters to the import of delectable cuisines onto our plates, we have come a long way from weekly haats and token carnivals. The most recent rave that has infiltrated our lives and has cast an enchanting spell on our senses is the phenomena of online shopping. It all began with the establishment of arcades and malls, that sought to serve as permanent utopian illusions of grandeur and luxury, set in stone in the hearts of urban cityscape. Somewhere down the line, it became implausible for sellers to physically conduct business with their buyers. In an innovative solution to the problem of effectively reaching out to a lot many customers in a short while, over and above reducing production costs, internet users very soon grew accustomed to the concept of e-commerce. Today, we have reached a point where collective hysteria over yearend and clearance sales has become a national hobby.
‘You have successfully placed your order!’, ‘Your delivery is on its way!’, automatically generated messages elicit more excitement than personal messages for many who claim to be shopaholics, people who feel a compulsive need to shop, a social effect, engendered and encouraged by capitalism. The phenomena of online shopping has gained ground across generations, more so among the young millennials who find shopping online far more interesting, not to mention, convenient. Online e-commerce portals have gone all out creating an enjoyable user experience. Buyers are able to browse through a range of options, opt for anything that suits their fancy, purchase for themselves or schedule gifts to loved ones, all at the flick of a finger.
School students are pretty enthusiastic about online shopping, which bodes well for average digital literacy levels of the country. For most it seems like a wish fulfilling treasure trove. At the slightest command, the desired object is conjured up from the depths of the World Wide Web, hopefully in a variety of colours. “I can order for the latest novel at the drop of a hat. It is a lot more hassle free.” said Riya Arora, Class 10, GD Goenka Public School, Sector-9, Rohini.
Most school students order books, stationery or clothing online. As Himadri Seth of Class 11 at Amity International School, Saket, puts it, “online shopping helps save time. Most kids aim at enhancing their cool quotient by pocketing the newest fixation on the block.”
It is not just about finding a specific item online, it is also about the extra bit of work technology does for you. It diligently records your preferences and every time you log in to buy something, it entices with a collated choice of other
Online shopping is for lazy people...hence I love it. I dont need to go out, I can just buy whatever I want while enjoying the comfort of my home. I buy a lot of things online.
HIMADRI SETH, Class 10, Amity Int’l School, Saket
Online shopping is slowly evolving to be the smarter way to shop. Availability of customer reviews helps in ensuring credibility of the products.
AISHWARYA KAUSHAL, Class 10, Delhi Public School, Sushant Lok, Gurugram
My parents usually supervise what I buy online. At times the barrage of options can get a little confusing. I buy what I can’t find in local stores.
RASHI SHARMA, Class 10, Mayo Int’l School, IP Extn