年关将至 理性对待网络购物

Currently, many group buying websites are promoting their New Year specials. No matter if you want dates, nuts or chocolate you'll easily find a discounted package through the group buying websites.

Huang Wenmou is the product director with a group buying website in Beijing. He says:

"Usually, good sellers provide medium quality items for sale, but at reasonable prices. Now many local snacks from different places and regions across the country are packed as New Year gifts by the sellers. So it can save consumers time and trouble of selecting gifts."

The lower prices have attracted many consumers. One of these websites says they attract more than 100,000 consumers in just a day.

Mowever, experts remind consumers to think carefully before buying online.

Recently, some people shared their annual online shopping bill on social websites and many said they were shocked by the total sum they spent during the past year.

The total bill exceeded 10,000 yuan for many netizens.

Tu Yingxia works at an advertising company in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province. She says she is always too busy to shop on the street, so online buying is her preference.

However, when Tu totaled her annual online bill, she says she was surprised.

"The total amount I've spent is as high as 16,000 yuan over the past year. I never realized that I could spend so much money online."

Looking through the bill, Tu says that many items she bought online weren't necessary.

"It was simply because the prices were lower, so I bought them. Some had free delivery, others were discounted. That's why I was motivated to buy them. In addition, there were also some discounted seasons such as the Single Day Discount on November 11. Even you'd normally not buy things you never think about having, you find yourself doing it when seeing the discount."

Liu Guili is a professor from the School of Public Administration at Nanchang University. She says buying online is convenient and is preferred by many consumers, however, good judgment is needed before loading up the online shopping basket.

Liu suggests consumers set a monthly shopping budget limit. Moreover, shoppers must remember that every shop owner wants to motivate buyers to spend, so think twice before buying.

For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.