Many people ask themselves this question. I think its safe to say that many South Africans are anxious about making purchases online. The proof is in the statistics showing that online retail sales contributed only 1% to the total retail sales consecutively for the past few years. Nonetheless, we are living in the digital age so e-commerce is on the rise.
As a former skeptic myself, and a huge one might I add, I never believed in the validity of making purchases online. Well, those days are far behind me because I have finally seen the e-commerce light. I’ve thrown myself into the world of e-commerce, even starting an online store called Easydoesit to learn more about it and have compiled a list of the benefits of shopping online:
It’s convenient
Online stores never close. Yes, that’s right, you can shop whenever its convenient for you. At midnight, at 1 p.m. or even at work when your boss isn’t looking. Whenever. Online stores run all day everyday, 365 days per year. You don’t have to put your “face” on or shave your patchy beard because no one has to see you. There’s no rushing to the mall because it’s closing at a set time. Tend to your shopping at your own time and pace without cashiers giving you the side eye for arriving 5 minutes before the store closes.
It allows you to compare prices with other stores
This one is for the budgeters. Spend less time walking in and out each store looking for the best prices. Just type up whatever you need on a search engine and different prices for the same product will come up. In South Africa we have Pricecheck, an online shopping and price comparison directory that lets you compare prices from different stores and then purchase the product effortlessly. This also keeps you from overspending and purchasing products at inflated prices, helping you save a few extra bucks.
There are no crowds
If you hate the month-end or Black Friday crowds or dread long queues, then this one is like a gift from above. With online shopping, there is no more walking into people who randomly stop in front of you because they remembered that the store they want to go to is actually in the opposite direction. Have the luxury of shopping in the comfort of your home by yourself. You also don’t have to embarrassingly run, or play tug-of-war with a stranger, to get the last item on the shelf.
You buy exactly what you need
When you shop online you don’t stand in a queue surrounded by all sorts of treats that you end up buying out of boredom. You also don’t decide to stop at a fast food restaurant on your way home, not to mention the petrol or travel costs involved. With online shopping you eliminate the temptation. I will admit that if you’re a shopaholic, online shopping may not cure your problem.
There is more choice
There are no limits. With online shopping there is the option to buy outside the community within which you reside. It offers you the choice to compare prices and purchase goods internationally. So when something is not available in your home country there is the possibility of looking outside.
There is safety with sensitive information
Lastly, most people are concerned with giving away their private details, more specifically, their banking/credit card/debit card details. There’s no need to panic because these days there are payment gateways such as PayPal and PayFast available that authorize credit card or direct payments to ensure the safety of all your transactions. This will help you shop stress-free.
In conclusion, e-commerce is growing in South Africa and globally. The online fashion retailer, Spree, predicts that by the year 2021, online shopping will rise by 4% in South Africa’s total retail sales. We’ll all end up shopping online in the future, so why not start now?