Shopping for home-related items is a hassling chore for most. In past years, families would have to go out at least once a week to provide everyone with food and other basic necessities. However, the billion-dollar company Amazon has helped that task seem a little less daunting. With over 190 million users each month, Amazon has easily become the world’s largest online market. Amazon Fresh, a grocery store founded in 2007, has only 23 locations in the US in addition to its option to order online. Their physical shops have taken convenience to the next level. Instead of scanning your items by hand while checking out, simply walk through one of the Dash Cart lanes. Your items will be scanned by detectors on either side of the cart.

However, big businesses come with their own set of issues. Amazon has raised some pretty major controversies, such as how they treat their employees and their environmental impacts in the past few years. In April of 2020, Amazon illegally fired two employees, and the amount of packaging material they produce is furthering the destruction of our planet. Yet, millions of people are still loyal. People might not support them, but it’s difficult to resist their convenience. 

Amazon has an incredibly large variety of products, spanning from everyday objects to harder-to-find items. They come at a reasonable price, so it’s not surprising that they’re so popular. Some families may not be able to afford the time of constantly going to different stores. That’s where Amazon becomes quite beneficial. It saves money that could be used for things like gas (especially with the recent rise in prices) and normal automotive wear and tear.

Allison LaMaster ’24 only shops on Amazon occasionally. “[I order from Amazon] maybe every month or two, [depending] on if I’m looking for something specific or just shopping.” LaMaster recognizes both its pros and cons. “I’ve heard of their treatment of employees and how they rarely get breaks. I don’t have much to say about it since I haven’t heard Amazon comment on how they would fix problems in the workplace.” 

Despite continuous new advancements regarding Amazon’s inhumane decisions, its revenue has jumped almost 40% compared to a year ago. Again, the convenience factor is hard to ignore. “[Amazon makes it] easy to shop and buy from home without having to get up, you can look up anything you are looking for [and] if you have an Alexa it will tell you updates on your package,” LaMaster says. 

Although, there are just as many cons as there are pros. For example, you can accidentally forget items when shopping online. And when you’re in a store you’re constantly browsing different aisles, making it less likely to forget something. In addition, you have to wait days, sometimes weeks, for your package to arrive. That’s incredibly inconvenient depending on when you need the item. Buying from Amazon just increases their business, making it less likely for them to make the necessary changes in how they run things, such as improving how they treat their employees and finding ways to become more environmentally friendly.

Sure, Amazon has a lot of problems, but the concept of ordering online is incredibly useful. If Amazon and other online ordering companies find better ways to run their business, web-based buying could create a much better future.

Poll Creator