Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- wind down / waɪnd daʊn / (phrasal v.) – to gradually stop something
Example:After many years of service, the company wound down operations in the region because of a decline in sales.
- eligible / ˈɛl ɪ dʒə bəl / (adj.) – related to having the necessary requirements or conditions to do or receive something
Example:Only eligible students can participate in the scholarship program.
- apparel / əˈpær əl / (n.) – clothes of a particular kind that are being sold in a store
Example:The store is clearing out its winter apparel on display to make room for the spring collection.
- e-commerce / ˈiˌkɒm ərs / (n.) – the activity of buying and selling goods or services online
Example:The e-commerce industry saw significant growth during the pandemic.
- highlight / ˈhaɪˌlaɪt / (n.) – the most exciting or interesting part of something
Example:The manager shared the project highlights during the meeting with the board of directors.
Article
Read the text below.
Amazon said goodbye to “Try Before You Buy.”
The service, which allowed Amazon’s Prime members to try on select clothing items, shoes and accessories at home before completing a purchase, wound down a few days ago. January 31 was the last day eligible customers could place orders using the subscriber benefit.
Under the service, Prime members could order up to six select apparel items on a trial basis. Customers then have seven days after receiving the merchandise to return any unwanted items without being charged.
In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson cited the program’s limited reach and the growing use of improved sizing recommendations powered by artificial intelligence on the e-commerce platform.
“Given the combination of Try Before You Buy only scaling to a limited number of items, and customers increasingly using our new AI-powered features like virtual try-on, personalized size recommendations, review highlights, and improved size charts to make sure they find the right fit, we’re phasing out the Try Before You Buy option,” the spokesperson said.
Seattle-based Amazon first began testing its trying before buying offering under the name Prime Wardrobe in 2017, and the program officially launched in 2018.
As more people shop online and take advantage of generous return policies, Amazon and other retail companies have worked to reduce shipping fees, processing time and other ballooning costs from returned products.
Amazon said that customers still will be able to get free returns across its apparel department and that phasing out Try Before You Buy would give shoppers a simpler experience with a bigger selection and faster delivery.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Do you think the “Try Before You Buy” service would be effective in your country? Do you think this service is useful for Amazon customers? Why or why not? Discuss.
- How do you think physical stores in your country would be affected if online stores offered a similar service? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Amazon has new AI-powered features like virtual try-on, personalized size recommendations, review highlights, and improved size charts to make sure customers find the right fit. What do you think about using AI tools when shopping for clothes online? Would you ever use these AI tools while doing your online shopping? Why or why not? Discuss.
- How do you imagine shopping will change over the next few years because of AI? What new shopping tools or services would you like to see developed in the future to improve your shopping experience? Discuss.
