Disadvantages of Buying Gifts on Amazon
(423 Words)
Buying presents on www.amazon.com has many advantages however there are disadvantages as well. Be aware of the following drawbacks so that you can decide whether purchasing gifts from them is right for you.
You cannot see the gift in person
Not every product looks the same when you get it as it does on the screen. When they make a picture to sell something, then they are going to try to make it look as great as possible. The product description is often a sales pitch. You will not be able to see it with your own eyes and feel it. You are likely to be sending it straight to your loved one so it will be too late to change your mind if you later realize that you wanted to get something else.
You will also not be able to doublecheck the state of the product if you are shipping it right to your gift recipient. If it gets broken in shipment, for instance, then you will not be able to remedy this and they will open up a broken present. Amazon is pretty good about this, and it does not happen often, but of course it can happen.
You may have to pay for shipping
Although a lot of things on amazon offer free shipping, a lot does not. This will be especially true if you purchase from the marketplace. Shipping can be expensive, especially on heavier items. You may be able to get it for a lot cheaper if you buy it from a store. Evaluate what the shipping costs are and include this when considering the price of the item.
Not everything is in stock
Things go in and out of stock very rapidly on amazon. Something may give an estimated ship date but then the product may never come in. There is no way to know for sure until it has shipped. If suddenly the product is not available, you may end up having to pay for expedited shopping somewhere else or having a present arrive late.
You have to wait for shipping
When you purchase a gift at the store it is obviously in your hands right away. You will otherwise have to wait for amazon to ship the products to you. Depending on the type of shipping you select (and pay for) it could be a little while.
Amazon is not the perfect place from which to buy gifts. Make sure that you are aware of the disadvantages above before deciding to buy presents from them.