Shopping on-line

A lot of people are doing their shopping on-line these days. In fact, buying and selling over the Internet have become very popular lately. E-tailing or e-commerce, as it is called, now involves millions of shoppers who spend billions of dollars every year. Who are these shoppers? What are they buying? Why don’t they just go to the shop?

Men and women make purchases on-line almost equally. At first, men made more on-line purchases in all categories of goods than women did. Now, the balance has shifted somewhat; and women spend more money than men on buying some categories of goods on-line. Men buy more computer software and hardware, while women buy more books and music items. Sales of clothing, food, gifts, airline tickets and automobiles have increased rapidly.

On-line shopping has some advantages. By shopping on-line, both men and women can make their purchases when it is convenient for them. A lot of

e-commerce takes place after 8 p.m., when stores are usually closed. The on-line consumer may, if he/she likes it, buy at 3 a.m. Shoppers also save time and energy and often money to research products. Once they have made a decision, they may buy over the Net; or they can then go to a store to make their purchase.

Will e-commerce replace shop cruising? Probably not. Many people still prefer shopping in stores – to see, to touch, to feel the goods they want to buy. However, more and more people prefer to buy on-line.

Слова и выражения:

decision (n,С) – решение

make a decision – принимать решение

equally (adv) – в равной степени, одинаково

e-tailing, e-commerce – электронная коммерция, продажа товаров через Интернет

hardware (n, U) – аппаратура

however (adv) - однако

over the Net – через Интернет

purchase (n, C) - покупка

make a purchase - делать покупку

replace (v) – заменять, замещать

shift (v) – сдвигать, смещать

shopping on-line – покупка товаров через Интернет

software (n, U) – программное обеспечение

II. Ответьте на следующие вопросы.

1. What is e-commerce?

2. Are many people buying on-line these days?

3. What do men usually buy on-line?

4. What do women usually buy on-line?

5. Who spends more money shopping on-line?

6. What are the advantages of buying on-line?

7. Can we buy airline tickets over the Net?

8. Do you think on-line shopping will replace shopping in stores?

9. Have you ever bought anything on-line?

10. Do you like shopping on-line?

Дата добавления: 2015-10-02