C) Find a word in the article to complete these phrases.

the floating flower………. / fragrant shopping………. / the Dutch………. / seasonal………. / traditional tulips and ………. / hand-made ………. / individual ………. / the beaten ………. / to get a better ………. / cheap………. / ridiculously expensive ………. .

d) Discuss the following:What places for shopping bargains would you recommend in your country? What things can be bought there?

1. Read the text and discuss the following.

Web shopping is a phenomenon that first emerged in the 1990s. With the growing popularity of the internet, online shopping allows customers to shop different stores from the comfort of their home or computer. The success of online stores like Amazon.com has led many away from in-store shopping toward web shopping. On the web, people are capable of easily comparing products while bargain shopping or discount shopping. Many, however, have raised questions over the costs of online shopping and whether web shopping is safe.

Many concerns about internet shopping are due to security issues. When engaging in an online transaction to purchase something, it is important to verify that your internet connection is secure, keep your passwords to favorite websites secure by never answering unsolicited emails that ask for that information. In addition, never open attachments from unsolicited emails because they may contain viruses which can sacrifice the security of a computer.

The best form of payment to use when shopping online is a credit or debit card. In some countries there are federal laws that protect the consumer from credit / debit card fraud. For example, under federal law in the United States a consumer’s liability is limited to $50 (USD) when using a credit card. Many websites will offer to cover the liability and the large credit card companies offer protection too.

Knowing your seller is another important guideline to lead to a pleasant internet shopping experience. Most transactions with major retailers are going to be smooth and very rarely will lead to any problems. However, when shopping with a company that is unfamiliar, it is important to do some research. Just because a company is ranked high in a search engine does not mean it is reputable. It is important to double-check company information and to be familiar with all of their purchase and return policies, as not to be surprised later.

If something seems to good be true, it probably is. This saying is used many places in life, but it is especially important when shopping online. There are many ways to save money online by shopping clearance sales, taking advantage of online-only specials or using online coupons that can be obtained at numerous websites. However, websites or unsolicited emails that offer products or services that sound too good to be true usually have less than honorable intentions. Many of these kinds of problems may occur when purchasing luxury or designer goods.

Finally, after an internet shopping transaction is complete, it is important to print all receipts. By printing or saving to a hard drive a copy of the order confirmation, there is a record of the transaction in case of any possible future disputes. Having a picture or record of the original product also provides a record if the product shows up and looks different than expected.

Ø Express your opinion on internet shopping. Have you ever used it?

Ø Is web shopping common for your country? Is it reliable there?

Ø What difficulties / tricks can you come across while shopping through internet?

Ø What forms of payment on internet shopping are used in your country?

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 1270