Views and Visions: Group buys Part 2

Continued from Part 1… A lot of trust is involved since Audrey pays for everyone first. Also, her neighbours collect the eggs on their own. So far, no one has taken more eggs than they’ve ordered. Only once did someone say that the large eggs she’d ordered were nowhere to be seen. A quick message in the group chat cleared things up. Another neighbor had sent her son to collect the eggs, and he had taken the wrong ones. In many neighbourhoods throughout Singapore, such group buys have become increasingly common as the pandemic drags on. Containment measures have had an adverse effect on many businesses, especially when there was a ban on dining in. So many shops and eateries which never used to offer deliveries have started to take on group orders. Every group buy is slightly different. Some hosts charge a nominal fee for the administrative work involved. However, Audrey and her neighbours have been doing it for free. “Our community spirit is pretty strong, and group buys have brought us closer together. Even after the pandemic is over, we hope to continue this regularly.” (Tan Ying Zhen) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.