The leading e-commerce Chinese company Ali Baba has transformed Singles’ Day into the world’s biggest shopping bonanza–a significant breakthrough since the annual event’s debut last 2009. Ali Baba’s reported sales for November 11th totaled to 121 billion yuan ($18 billion), an ample difference of 32 percent from the preceding year’s sales of $14.3 billion. The Chinese company detailed 82 percent of purchases were made on smartphones.
But some were skeptical about the accuracy of these figures amid claims of excessive sales data provided by online retailers. Alleged online merchants trading imitation products is just another hitch the industry is facing. Notwithstanding these reports, analysts said the online shopping will make much headway amongst the digital age.
Vocabulary:
e-commerce – activities that are related to buying and selling of goods and services over the internet
ample – having enough or more than enough of what is needed
skeptical – having or expressing doubt about something
notwithstanding – without being prevented by something; despite
headway – rate of motion in a forward direction
True or False:
- Ali Baba is the leading Malaysian e-commerce company.
- Singles’ Day is on November 11.
- According to the article, Ali Baba’s sales last year was better than this year.
- Smartphones are the best-seller that day.
- Analysts say that online shopping will not make much of a headway.
Defend your argument:
- Which is better, the tradional shopping or online shopping? Explain your answer.
- There are a lot of unauthorized fake items sold in the Internet. Worse yet, online merchants that sell these are much phonier.
- Imagine that you were a credited online seller, and had your own website for your goods. How would you draw customers to your online shop and convince them that you are an authorized seller?
Express your opinion:
- Are you a fan of online shopping? If yes, how was your first experience? If not, would you like to try it once?
- Has this kind of business fascinated you?
- Share your thoughts about this quote: “If you do build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful.” – Jeff Bezos