23/09/2006 17:34 - (SA)
One giant mall at your fingertips
Today it seems as if almost everything can be done online: from chatting and dating to grocery shopping. Cyberspace is creeping more and more into the reality of everyday life. PRIYA PITAMBER gets net savvy with online shopping
THERE are certain Saturday mornings when the thought of going shopping is like a physical pain. Let’s face it, the malls are so choked that it feels as if you cannot breathe among the mass of crushing bodies.
Supermarkets can also be tiresome with their insanely long queues. In general, shopping can be a nightmare.
But, thanks to the advancement of technology, shopping can now be done anytime, anywhere, provided you have a computer and an Internet connection. Nowadays you can shop in the middle of the night, from your desk, or even while in bed.
Online shopping is done when a person purchases something over the Internet and places it in their electronic ‘‘shopping cart’’. Payment is made by debit or credit card when the shopper “checks out” their items.
Fill my cart
Most people who buy online say they do so for the sheer convenience of getting the products they want without having to commute.
Mpumelelo Masinga, a sales consultant, says that some items are not available locally so the Internet is his doorway to clothes, vinyls, CDs and books.
‘‘With clothing you can get exclusive items that are not sold in the country, and there is a huge variety to choose from,’’ he says.
And since summer has just ended in the northern hemisphere, and summer will be starting here, there are lots of great deals online.
‘‘You can get them at 50 percent or 70 percent off the store price, including shipping,’’ enthuses Masinga. But a big disadvantage when going online is that you don’t get to physically see the products before buying them.
Systems engineer Nelesh Naidoo regularly shops online for electronic equipment, clothing, study materials and even airtime for his girlfriend.
He once had a problem when he bought sneakers that turned out to be the wrong size.
‘‘There was some hassle to courier the stuff back to the UK and a delay at customs, but it was eventually sorted out’’ he says.
Safety first
Safety is crucial when giving your credit card details or doing a debit order online.
Computer expert, Dipan Gowan, says there is very little chance for would-be hackers to infiltrate the system because a consumer connection to the website is secured by using encryption. Encryption is when the information that the shopper sends to the company’s website, like credit card details, gets scrambled, and can only be unscrambled using specific software.
‘‘The safety of online shopping is often guaranteed by the company concerned, thus offering the consumer peace of mind,’’ says Gowan.
Michael van Rooyen, managing director of the Loot online shopping portal, says those who use their credit card as a payment method can be assured that the details are encrypted.
‘‘The key required to decrypt the details is stored on an ultra secure computer which is not directly connected to the Internet.’’ If a hacker is able to get in, ‘‘he will only be able to access the encrypted card details, which looks like gobbledygook,’’ says Van Rooyen.
There are also other things to look out for, such as hidden costs. If you order from a foreign online shopping portal, you will be charged VAT when the product arrives in South Africa. You may also pay customs duties and clearing fees. Delivery charges also increase the cost of the product.
‘‘In reality, when you buy from a foreign supplier using your credit card, your bank will charge you a few percentage points more than the exchange rate,’’ says Van Rooyen. Albert Bredenhann, co-founder of the Jump online shopping directory in South Africa, advises that if you cannot call the company, you should not shop there.
‘‘It is important to have contact details in the real world. It protects the consumer if something has to go wrong.’’
South African trends
Locally, online shopping has been increasing steadily over the past 10 years. According to The Goldstuck Report: Online Retail in South Africa 2006, there was overall growth of 20%in 2005 and 25% growth in 2004. The report predicted a 20% increase during the course of this year.
South Africans spent a total of R514 million online last year compared to R428 million in 2004. Local online shoppers also have the services of Jump, which makes price comparisons easier, and lists all the online shopping portals available to the public.
Look at what I bought
Online items vary according to the consumer’s needs. There is everything from the bizarre and the unusual to the practical.
We found a solid gold Zippo lighter selling for approximately R40 000. One woman also sold her silicone implants on eBay, where you are able to both buy and sell items. Other items on eBay are Hawaiian-style boxer shorts, vintage toys, sweet wrappers and even personalised doll head keyrings.
So if you are looking for Madonna’s cone-shaped bustier, an egg beater, a luxury yacht or customised pantihose, online shopping is the way to go.
With more people being able to access the Internet, and practically anything you can think of only a click away, cyberspace is set to become a giant mall at your fingertips.
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