In this blog, we have discussed many uses to which Internet can be put for our convenience and development – learn, communicate, find information, conduct business, collaborate and network with others, and much more. Shopping is an activity that many, if not all of us enjoy, and Internet has brought ease, convenience and sophistication into shopping like in no other area of its application.
In this first part of discussing online shopping, we will explore how to enter the online shopping market and teach ourselves to become an expert online shopper. We will also explore the market. In the second part, we will discuss tips and tricks to find good value as online shoppers and how to ensure security, avoid fraud and identify a potential bad deal before committing to it.
So, what’s in the market: practically everything in the range of products and services! From business to business sourcing to consumer products, gadgets, white goods, gifts and services such as flight and hotel booking and university courses, a range of products and services are available.
And what is the process: at one end, you may select, buy and pay online; on the other, you may just browse and explore products online, then buy it over a phone or from a shop. Good Internet retailers provide flexible options to customers not just in the range of goods and services available but also in availability of online and phone help, mode of payment, delivery, returns, refunds and handling of complaints.
Beginners
If you have never shopped online and want to check it out, start with products that you clearly know about already. Books, toys, computers and electronic gadgets such as portable music players, software licences, services such as car rental or a well-known brand item that you cannot go wrong on. As you already know the indicative prices and quality of what you are getting, there are lower chances of getting a bad deal. At this stage, you can get familiar with paying bills online using BPAY or paying for goods and services using a payment service such as Paymate or PayPal. Limit your shopping to sites of leading manufacturers and leading retailers (who also have stores) only.
Intermediate shoppers
With a few transactions under your belt, you may move to buying products that you know less about. Internet provides you the options to research your alternatives online, compare features and prices, check out the delivery time and any other feature you care about, to make these ‘considered’ purchases such as expensive gadgets, hotel room booking, flight tickets, furniture etc. Restrict the sites that you deal with to manufacturer’s Web sites such as those of Apple for iPod, Dell for computers or leading retailers such as Amazon for books or Booktopia which is a local book retailer), Dick Smith for computers and electronics or Jaycar for electronics parts. You may discover the product or brand online at this stage, so you must be a good researcher who has compared the options and checked prices across other shops. You should also check out delivery time and costs, guaranty and warranties and return options. You may lso start paying with your credit card.
Expert shoppers
Finally, you can move to expert online shopper category, probably after a year of experience in buying online and after having made 10-15 purchases. As an expert buyer, you can participate in online auctions, buy personalised items such as clothes and jewellery, furniture, software, research reports and content, deal with stocks on your stock broker’s Web site and other items that you researched online and don’t know the vendor. But even at this stage, caution and a healthy scepticism is always an asset.
The idea of a phased approach will keep the risk of entering a bad transaction low while you are learning.
Research, price comparison and selection of vendor after determining their credibility are most important parts of buying online. Use the resources below:
If you are still to decide on the right option or product model to buy, then check out some reputed category sites or blogs to narrow your choices. For example, CNET or TechCrunch for digital and computer products contains product reviews, comparison of features etc.
When you have decided the product, use a search engine to find the Web sites selling the product you intend to buy.
Also when you know the product and model but are not sure about the price and where to buy from, use comparison shopping engines such as Yahoo Shopping or Shop Bot to check the range of prices for a product. Make sure you adjust for shipping costs and keep the reputation, location, returns policy and any change in warranty in mind. Comparison must be between likes.
If you have a particular brand in mind then go direct to that Web site but check competing brands too.
So, shop online and safely. If you are a beginner, take your time to move to big ticket purchases or auctions. Take smaller steps. In the next part, I will discuss how to shop safely online and explore the online market further.
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