ELIE- Activity 7.2

“Safe Add to Cart: How I Avoid E-Commerce Disasters”

     Can’t we just be FOR REAL—E-commerce is both a blessing and a trap. It’s the friend that helps you buy useful things while also whispering, “Buy this cat-shaped lamp you don’t need.” I love online shopping, but I’ve also learned (the hard way) that behind every cute item is the potential for chaos. After reading our Lesson 7 module, I realized there’s an actual science to avoiding the drama.

     To start, product risk is my mortal enemy. You ever buy something that looks amazing in photos but shows up looking like it came from a parallel universe? Yeah. That’s why I’ve become a review detective. I don’t just look at ratings—I investigate like I’m exposing a scandal. I zoom in on blurry customer-uploaded pictures like I’m in CSI: Shopee Edition.

     Then there’s privacy risk, which I take more seriously than my crush on midnight snacks. I don’t share my personal info online because I believe in digital boundaries. The only people who need to know my address are the delivery guy and my dog (and maybe my future self when I forget where I live). That’s why I still use Cash on Delivery like it’s my emotional support payment method. I’d rather hand over cash than my card number. Why? Because if I ever get scammed, at least I still have my dignity. And my money.

     Moving on to temporal risk—a.k.a. the drama of waiting. I once waited three weeks for a “fast delivery” item that arrived slower than my motivation on a Monday. So now I always check the shop’s shipping performance. If reviews say, “Fast delivery! Arrived in 2 days,” I’m sold. But if it says, “Still waiting after 2 weeks. Send help,” I run faster than my internet during a storm.

      And honestly, you know that feeling when you order something you’re really excited about—like a cute phone case with a built-in mirror (because, hello, vanity)—but the order status just stays stuck on “Pending” for three whole days? THREE. DAYS. It feels like being left hanging by an ex you never even dated. No update, no email, no movement. Delivery status? “Preparing to ship.” Since when?? Last week? I swear, I’ve developed trust issues with the phrase “Estimated Delivery: 3–5 days,” because it always sounds like a lie. Meanwhile, I’m at the window, by the gate, checking app notifications like I’m waiting for the love of my life to return from war. And don’t even get me started on those sellers who vanish after checkout. Like, hello? Where are you, Shopee seller123? I left my hopes and dreams with that order! And that broken tracking number? It’s giving ghosted. So yes, the biggest lesson? Online shopping will test your patience, your Wi-Fi, and your emotional stability. But hey, at least I got a ₱50 voucher. Worth it? Debatable.

     Financial risk is the next villain in this story. Nothing haunts you like a “no refund” policy after receiving an item that looks like it survived a typhoon. That’s why I don’t go for sketchy sellers, even if their price is a steal. If the grammar on their product description is suspicious and the return policy says “no returns, no complaints,” I treat it like a red flag on a dating app—exit immediately.

      I also take my time comparing listings. Sometimes the same item has three wildly different prices across platforms. I dig deep, compare deals, check shipping, and inspect whether freebies are included. E-commerce is war. You don’t enter the battlefield without doing recon.

     At the end of the day, what keeps me grounded is the awareness that e-commerce is convenient—but risky. Based on our module, I’ve learned that risks like faulty products, data misuse, delivery delays, and unclear policies are part of the territory. But the smarter you shop, the safer the experience becomes.

     So before I hit “Buy Now,” I pause. I investigate. I double-check. Because I’d rather spend five extra minutes verifying than spend five days regretting. And if I still get played by a mysterious shop that shipped me a questionable power bank from a warehouse in the middle of nowhere? I laugh, I cry, I leave a passive-aggressive review… and maybe still add something else to cart.