Who doesn’t love some online shopping?! It kills time, gives you great inspiration and potentially leads to some fresh additions to your wardrobe. But no matter how great online shopping is, we all have a range of different feelings throughout the online shopping experience. Behold, the eight emotional stages of online shopping every girl knows all too well.
1. Curiosity. You have a little bit of rare free time, so why not check to see if J.Crew has gotten any cute new items? You don’t really need anything new, but it never hurts to look.
2. Excitement.You get to the site, and you see “30% Off Everything.” Your eyes light up with excitement, and suddenly you need everything! You start thinking about how much you are over your old clothes, plus it is 30% off!
3. Determination.At this stage you are fully invested; you are going to buy something. You begin to go through every piece of clothing on the site, and add anything that is remotely cute to your cart. If only you put this much diligence into studying, you’d have a 4.0.
4. Depression.You’ve seen literally everything on the site, so you click on your cart to review your items before purchasing. You scroll down, and see even with the 30% discount your cart adds up to hundreds of dollars! You sit there in disbelieve for a second before reality sets in. You know that there is no way you can afford everything you have added to your cart, but it still doesn’t make it any less sad.
5. Selection.This is when you have to get really serious. You want to have to buy something, you just have to choose. You go back and forth, for what seems like forever, deciding between two sweaters that are practically identical. Everything in your cart seems essential, but you know you have to decide.
6. Commitment.You did it! After (what feels like) hours you finally narrowed it down to a reasonable amount of items, and they are so cute! You check out, pay and feel good about your purchase. Now all you have to do is wait for the package to arrive.
7. RegretIt’s been a few days and you begin to get a little bit of buyer’s remorse. Did you really need two sweaters, or would one have been good enough? You spend the next 5-7 business debating if you should cancel, or wait it out.
8. HappinessFinally, you receive the “University Mail” email. You get the package with anticipation, but as soon as you open the package you couldn’t be happier with your purchase. Everything is so cute and fits perfectly! You love everything so much you decide to go back online and get a few more things….starting this emotional process all over.