Online Shopping: Will Pinoys go for it?

[bunny]

Just let me know what you think!

[CaRaMBa]

Yes, I think Pinoys will go for it once a secure payment system is established. I'm not sure if there are studies on this, I'll try to search.

I think that the market will not be very big, though. If the payment system is based on credit cards, then you can have big sales, from little customers. People with credit cards are still a minority, IMHO. If you can come up with a payment system that will not be based on credit cards, something like a prepaid card which is as good as cash, then that will be better. With that, your potential market will be bigger.

[batang uliran]

I think the most broad based system in the philippines would be credit card payment plus a COD system for those without credit cards.

[Ira]

Hi Buns, the online security should be airtight. You probably know naman how bad hacking is in this country...when you have your nukenabber on, you can catch dozens of people trying to look for security breaches in just an hour. Another important thing is the type of goods sold. If the goods are the hard-to-find stuff and those that don't really need the buyer to see the products in person then it's okay (e.g., books, CD's). But if it's like, let's say, clothes, I'd rather go to the mall and check out the stuff "in the flesh".

[orano]

it's like video home shopping, pero instead of watching the TV, you're infront of your PC. however, many may still hesitate to divulge their credit card numbers online kaya dapat tight talaga ang security and i agree, it will really help kung merong COD arrangement for those who don't have or who opt not to use credit cards.

[This message has been edited by orano (edited 10-29-1999).]

[Kamatayan]

Nope... because part of shopping in pinoy culture is going to the mall (palamig, lakwatsa, paholdap)... not just the actual buying... More importantly I think any idea coming from "You-Know-Who" is lame...

[batang uliran]

Do you buy things online? IF you do, what do you buy and from where do you buy these items?

[Ira]

Yes. My family and I have purchased several items over the past year or so over the web.
My brother bought Timberlands and LL Bean on their homepage. My sisters have bought LL Bean clothes through their website, too. I have also purchased a Pediatric Neurosurgery textbook at medbookstore.com, and, B/U: Great prices (20% off retail price, natalo pa niya ang presyo ng medical publisher!), great support online (they respond to emails within 24 hours, plus they have an online package tracker), and the book arrived within 5 days of ordering. I'll buy there again, definitely.

[Zen]

Uh huh, mostly CDs.. either from amazon or CDnow.

[BadGiRL]

question: how do u pay those things that u've purchased? by cod or check or credit card? in USD or in peso?

[MsEerie]

I bought CDs ages ago. That's it. I want to buy some books sana.

[Ira]

Badgirl: via international credit card, in US Dollars. Most foreign websites who deliver to this country don't accept play money, kaya forget about the peso or the COD.

[BadGiRL]

but they do deliver talaga to ur doorstep? and.... do they charge a certain amount of delivery fee? thx

[maxwell]

I think pinoys will grasp the idea of online shopping, the problem is not a lot of ppl have credit cards, as well as computers.

Secure payment through credit cards on the net has been long established, one just has to find the right ppl to help out to process the info.


[This message has been edited by maxwell (edited 11-23-1999).]

[Ira]

Badgirl: As a matter of fact, yes, they delivered it right at our doorstep, literally. My book came via DHL, in perfect condition. I paid $36 for the shipping, but then, the extra $36 was minimal, because the book itself was 20% off bookstore prices. So in the end I spent a lot less than if I bought it here. I would rather have it delivered via express mail than have it sent to other people, dahil nakaka-hassle sa kanila yun, kahit pa kamag-anak mo. There is nothing more annoying than padala for balikbayans who are already having a difficulty on how to bring everything they want to bring without exceeding the 30-70 kg luggage limit (depending on their origin).

[BadGiRL]

ira: thx...i think i'd prefer to have it delivered to my doorstep.... the quicker the book gets here the better...i am not fond of asking for favors...and besides...wala din naman ako kakilala sa states e hehehe....

[popscenester]

i've bought cd's online...
and they we're not delivered to my doorstep...
i had to claim them from the post office...
but it was cool...
really cheaper than buying here...and those cd's wouldnt even be available here

[ruff]

i think e-commerce will be the next trend but it will probably attract more of the AB bracket for now ... my friend gets his books from amazon.com ... he says it cheaper there. what kamats said is true but on-line shopping is an attractive alternative ... surely i'd rather stay at home instead of going thru the hassle of driving thru traffic and parking on peak periods. normally though, mapapa-greenhills pa rin ako. hehehe!

[Wangie]

home TV shopping clicked, but only for a captive market.

i think online shopping would also work but only for a captive market. kung yung service mo sa captive market okay, it will work on a long-term basis. but it won't be as broad and vast as we'd want it to be pa rin.

KAMATS has a point, though. shopping is a filipino hobby.

=)

[mparaz]

Looks like the next emerging trend is m-Commerce or mobile commerce where you buy stuff using your intelligent cell phone.