10 Factors to Consider While Shopping Online In Pakistan

Online shopping has gained popularity in Pakistan over the past few years. Who would not mind a one-stop shopping solution with home delivery? Online shopping is all about time-saving, affordability and convenience. You can get everything while sitting at your home—just one click and you are all done.

A lot of businesses have now started their online stores as well. Online shopping comes with a lot of benefits. You can compare the prices before buying a product from a particular website. Moreover, you can also read the feedback and reviews about a specific product before ordering it from a particular vendor. The process is smooth and does not take much of your energy and time. From grocery, makeup, handbags, electronics, mobile, you name it, and it is available online. Online shopping is indeed exciting, but few factors need to be considered for a pleasant experience.

Things to Consider Before Placing an Order:

As compared to traditional shopping—online shopping has made life much more comfortable. At a touch of a button, and with minimal human interaction, you can get the products delivered at your door-step. Buying groceries, vegetables and fruits were never this easier. However, to avoid scams and rip-offs, you must consider the following factors highlighted by Hutch Pakistan

• an Online Shopping Store in Pakistan.

1. Payment Method:

Online shopping in Pakistan is not entirely trustworthy as it is in the developed world. The majority of people hesitate while shopping online due to the increased number of scams. There are times when we change ordering online when the website asks us to make an online payment. Moreover, some people do not have a bank account, and some do not trust the online banking systems.

Cash-on-delivery (COD) is the recommended mode of payment. Also, several local brands provide cash on delivery service, which is relatively much more manageable. Card payments and online transactions are riskier. Even if you are making an online transaction, place an order from a trusted name.

2. Compare The Prices:

Online shopping allows you to explore the market virtually. Even when you go for a regular shopping trip, you first compare the products and brands' prices. The same is the case with online shopping, compare the price and then place the order.

Every other retailer has invested in online stores, hence the differences in prices. You will find the same product in every other online-store with a difference in price. However, if you are getting something at an extremely low price, there might be a quality difference. Value for money should be kept in mind before placing an order. If you have any doubts about the credibility of the seller, choose the cash-on-delivery option.

3. Refund and Return Policy:

Before ordering anything from a specific website, do give a read to their refund and return policies. There are a lot of sellers who do not provide a return or refund; better be safe than sorry. Besides, there is no guarantee that a particular product will reach your place in the same condition. What if the product comes with a broken seal? To avoid such discrepancies, always check the refund and return policy.

Also, when you get your hands on a particular product—open the product immediately. Check the parcel for any damages or quality-check and return it immediately if there are any issues. Usually, brands have a limited time for returns and refunds.

4. Order Confirmation:

Always confirm the order by getting a proper receipt from the company. Either get it by email if you are ordering it via the website. If you are placing an order through a social-media marketplace, get the confirmation written in the form of the text. Usually, an order is placed, and you wait for a whole week, and then you get an email stating that the product is out of stock.

5. Duration of Delivery:

Before placing an order, ask the duration of delivery. Suppose you are placing an order for a particular event, and the delivery comes after the event. There is no point in such deliveries; always make sure that you know the delivery time period. Delivery within 1-3 working days has better reliability as compared to long delivery periods.

6. Discounts and Deals:

Online shopping is about exploring virtual market-place. Every other day there is a new deal and offer. There are hundreds of sellers, and each of them has a different way of selling products. Some sellers only deal with packages and offers. Look out for opportunities. Some stores offer sales around the year.

Besides, try to avail of seasonal sales. Some brands offer deals and discounts exclusively on their social media platforms. Follow their pages and grab the opportunities.

7. Personal Information:

Online shopping involves the dissemination of personal and financial information. Ensure that you are satisfied with the seller's behavior before providing any of your personal information. Never make an online transaction if you think that a particular website is not secure. The SSL certification of a website offers to secure your personal and financial data from hackers.

Moreover, never place an order online while sitting in a public place. Besides, always look for a broken key icon and padlock in the website link. Also, never share your personal information through email or message.

8. Delivery Charges:

Some brands do offer free delivery all over Pakistan. However, some brands offer free-delivery on a certain amount. The majority of the local brands are pretty straight-forward with their delivery charges, but there is always a doubt with international brands.

Always look out for hidden charges, taxes and customs and shipping charges. There are times when you have placed an order, and you have to bear the additional costs afterward. It is better to have a clear picture beforehand.

9. Feedback and Reviews:

One of the significant things to consider before placing an order is to go through the customer reviews and feedback. Especially when you are buying from random pages. Do not go for just the likes on the pages; likes can be bogus as well. Read the reviews section, and go to the rating of the page.

10. Authentication of Website:

Always place an order from a credible website. Never go for doubtful websites and pages. A brand with a considerable fan following can be trusted, as they will never compromise your reputation. Also, credible websites are maintained, and they have active customer representatives. Their ordering process is smooth, and you are also notified of every step.

As long as you are following a proper protocol, you should protect yourself from the scams. However, it is recommended for a fruitful online shopping experience to distinguish between genuine and fake sellers.

Khaled Syfullah is a professional Civil Engineer, worked in many international projects. He is a passionate writer and loves to write about new technology and their application in humans life.