When Professor Ting Li mentioned mass buying culture on Single Day in China, I immediately recalled a case in my country. I grew up in Vietnam, my country is small and not as developed as China but somehow, we have this culture in common. In Vietnam, Shopee has become the go-to platform for online shopping, much like Taobao in China or AliExpress abroad. With its irresistible vouchers and coupons, offered three times a month, Shopee drives mass consumerism. ShopeePay, the platform’s digital wallet, follows Alipay’s footsteps but with a twist: it pushes a ‘buy now, pay later’ model instead of interest-bearing services.
Photo credit: Shopee
At first glance, it seems perfect—buyers get products without upfront payment, sellers enjoy boosted sales, and Shopee benefits from increased transactions. However, there’s a hidden catch: many buyers unknowingly have their credit scores impacted when they sign up for this service. What feels like a convenient way to shop is actually chipping away at their financial health.
Photo credit: Shopee
The issue goes beyond personal finance. A large percentage of items on Shopee are low-cost products imported from China, often with free shipping. But when these items are returned, they usually don’t make the journey back. The shipping costs are too high compared to the value of the goods, so they remain in Vietnam, turning into piles of waste.
Photo credit: vov.vn
What’s ironic is that even though I now reside in the Netherlands, I can’t escape the behaviour. I’m still drawn to these “too good to miss” deals, buying items I don’t need. I spent 1,830 euros buying bullshit things on my 3-month vacation in Vietnam last summer, and most of them ended up in the garbage. The addictive cycle of discounts, vouchers, and effortless purchases is hard to break—even with the environmental impact staring us in the face.
This consumerism, though it boosts sales and provides short-term satisfaction, has long-term costs both financially and environmentally. It’s time for all of us, myself included; to rethink our shopping habits and understand the true price we pay beyond the checkout.
Your post offers a profound reflection on the culture of mass consumerism, and it’s striking how similar the experiences in Vietnam and China are, despite the differences in development. The example of Shopee is particularly insightful, especially regarding the “buy now, pay later” model. It’s a classic case of convenience masking potential long-term consequences, and your point about credit scores is a critical reminder of how seemingly harmless choices can impact our financial health.
I also appreciate your honesty about your own shopping habits. It’s so easy to get caught up in the thrill of discounts and promotions, especially when they’re presented as irresistible deals. Your experience in the Netherlands underscores how deeply ingrained these behaviors can be, transcending borders and cultures.
The environmental implications you mention are alarming. The waste generated from low-cost, low-value items is a significant issue that often goes unnoticed amidst the convenience of online shopping. Perhaps this is a call for more sustainable practices not just from consumers, but also from platforms like Shopee. They could take steps to mitigate waste, such as improving return policies or promoting eco-friendly products.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on potential solutions. What do you think could help break this cycle of consumerism, both for yourself and for others? Could there be a way to promote more mindful shopping habits while still enjoying the benefits of e-commerce?
Thank you for your comment. A lot of people try to break the habit of overbuying by swapping it out for healthier ones, like only buying essentials or choosing quality over quantity. But honestly, that hasn’t really worked for me. No matter how hard I try, I still find myself buying things I don’t need.
I think part of the problem is that sustainable alternatives—like renting clothes or returning items you don’t use—aren’t always easy or affordable. If in the future, the process of renting and returning clothes became cheaper and more convenient, I could see myself cutting back on buying unnecessary things. It would just feel like a natural shift.
At the end of the day, it’s about having better options that make it easier for people to make mindful choices. If renting clothes were as easy and affordable as shopping, I think a lot of us would end up buying less—not because we forced ourselves to, but because the alternative would simply make more sense.