Convenience at a Humongous Cost

by Ramita Taneja (8447161870)

The luxury of getting everything delivered at your doorstep has revolutionized the market trend. For those who hold expertise in the field of marketing would relate to my statement. It is not just the ease of getting product delivered but also returned with the same ease if not accepted for various reasons.
In recent years there has been a phenomenal boom in the e-commerce sites. Even big and small retailers have adapted themselves to this change to stay afloat. Those who do-not sell online have introduced the practice of accepting orders on phone and delivering at the doorstep.
This convenient shopping is not restricted to one segment or product but is actually available for almost all the necessities and often even luxuries.
The marketing Gurus call it a breakthrough trend which has rather increased the virtual or as I may call the digital footfall. After all what more can a customer ask for?
A finger swipe allows you to choose and pay, zero effort!!
The other side of this coin is what confuses me to call it a curse or a boon.
Yes it generates employment to many, In fact very many leading to constructive utilization of the country’s manpower, but have you ever peeped out of your window and noticed a delivery agent? (reference pic above) The agent could be made to carry even more than what they could endure in the name of “Fastest delivery”. What the seller doesn’t brief while giving the training to these delivery agents is, How this load would / could bring the permanent physical harm and eventually bring down their working age leading to “incapacitate” to work at a later stage of life.
The humongous bags carried on shoulders is a sure shot killer of body parts like knees, back, shoulders and posture if not more.
But do we HAVE TO agree to EVERYTHING COMES WITH A PRICE?
The set of rules and mandates have to be put in place by the concerned authorities for the sellers, retailers, e-commerce sites and if they already exist then not just make sure that they are incorporated but also make the general public aware of the same.
The deduction of wages upon delivery delay, loss of product, theft, customer complaint is enough of a burden and weight for this segment of employed man power; let’s not add the actual weight in terms of KGS, to the already broken backs.