Wish, The Super Popular, Ultra-Cheap Shopping App, Explained

Open the shopping app Wish and you’ll be greeted by a vast array of stuff you don’t need: 12-foot-long pool floaties, whimsical toilet brush holders shaped like cherries and swans, a T-shirt with a photo of the Hanson Brothers above the word “Nirvana,” and at least a few dozen varieties of cord organizers. Or at least, that’s what I see. Depending on your shopping proclivities and personal demographics, you may find a collection of Bluetooth headphones, children’s pajamas, cooking utensils, or sex toys — almost all of it sold at outrageously cheap prices: $9 for a set of knives, $5 for a T-shirt. Those AirPod knockoffs? Free with $3 shipping. Most of these prices are presented as 80 or 90 percent off their original price, so it seems like you’re getting a discount. In exchange for these bargains, Wish demands patience. Most delivery estimates range from two to four weeks, giving the marketplace’s vendors time to ship their products from countries like China, Myanmar, and Indonesia. And apparently, even in the age of free one-day shipping, patience is a thing a shockingly large number of people still have. Read more at Vox.