In an age where people can “Shop Like a Billionaire,” as claimed by Temu, they can buy so many items for such a low price. Of course, many people opt for those options, as fast fashion and ‘dupes’ are starting to become the more popular alternative to higher end commodities. It’s quantity over quality.

On places like Amazon, items are bought cheaply from companies and drop shipped at higher prices for the exact same quality and often, product.

Buying from places that already have the price marked low often cuts out the middlemen, who purchase the goods to sell to retailers (like Walmart produce), as opposed to selling directly (like a farmer’s market). The places often source their merchandise from countries with weak labor laws, in sweatshops where the working conditions are inhumane.  

Many people purchase products from these sites, influenced by other people promoting them. Unboxings, hauls, Amazon lists and more contribute to not only the promotion of buying unethically sourced products, but the promotion of buying too much. 

Over consumption is to consume something in excess. Many followers of online influencers may feel influenced to buy products that they most likely don’t need in the first place, like plastic gadgets and gimmicks that only have one function, a large collection of trendy, reusable water bottles and so much more. 

This trend resembles hoarders and shopaholics. 

People are essentially buying things for the sake of having them because popular influencers told them that it’s cool. It’s not bad to be influenced every now and then, but when it drains people of their money for a quick fix of dopamine, ends up deteriorating in less than a year or is made from companies that profit off modern-day slavery, then it just may not be worth it.

More people should reconsider whether what they’re buying will benefit them more than the opposite.