It's two in the morning and the yen to shop has hit. Visions of sweaters, CD's, and collectibles dance in your head. The mall may be closed, but the stores are all open in cyberspace.
The phenomenon of online shopping has consumed the lives of many students, including those at Tufts. And with the busiest shopping season of the year quickly approaching, many students are turning to the Internet to find the perfect presents.
Online shopping definitely has perks: spending money without the hassles of waiting in line, getting stuck in traffic, and having to carry tons of bags through the mall. Some brands offer more of a selection, size-wise and style-wise, on their websites than in their retail stores. And on a cold Boston afternoon, hitting Newbury Street may sound less appealing than simply hitting the keyboard.
Junior Michael Torsiello loves online shopping both for himself and for friends and has explored websites ranging from J. Crew and Banana Republic to eBay and Pottery Barn.
"It's always been a pleasure; you order something, forget about it, and then a few days later you receive a package," he said.
Some students say that online shopping requires less time and effort - two things that students are already lacking. All one has to do is get to the desired website, choose "online shop," click on the styles, colors and sizes wanted, and hit checkout. Once the credit card number has been submitted, all the shopper has to do is wait for the goods to arrive. A confirmation e-mail is sent immediately and the items can be received whenever you want - depending on what you're willing to pay for shipping.
"It's easy and practical, and takes no time at all," freshman Trina Spear said. "Online shopping is simple and fun. Everything I've bought online has been satisfactory."
But some say that online shopping has its share of disadvantages. Sizing can be tricky because one cannot try on the items, and computer screen can be inaccurate What may look like a blue sweater on a website could arrive unquestionably purple.
Return policies can be challenging. Having to fill out paperwork and put the unwanted items in a large envelope and ship them back to the company requires time, effort, and money. In the end, shopping online may lead to a hassle that could have been avoided at an actual store.
Sophomore Kerry Strapazon can vouch for the inconsistencies of online shopping.
"I once ordered a pair of shoes from J. Crew and when I got them, I realized that they weren't close to what I had expected," she said. "Having to ship them back was such an ordeal because the customer service people were not helpful at all."
Another problem is that many people do not feel comfortable entering their credit card numbers online. While many sites say that their connections are secure and safe, some students still feel uncomfortable entering their billing information, even if they have no qualms about ordering from a catalog over the phone.
Away from home for the first time, many freshmen plan on using online shopping for other conveniences.
"Freshmen at Tufts cannot have cars on campus so it's really inconvenient to have to take the T to a mall to do our shopping," freshman Caitlin McDonnell said. "Online shopping saves a lot of time, and all my Christmas presents can be sent directly to my house which makes it easier to travel home."
"With the added stress of finals and the end of the semester being so hectic, online holiday shopping is definitely better than wasting a day in Boston that could be unsuccessful," Torsiello said. "And if you can't find something from the typical online shops, I've always had luck with eBay."
On the other hand, traditional shopping is still the preferable method for some. "After the first disaster with J. Crew, I will not leave my holiday shopping up to chance," Strapazon said.
