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I’m not particularly proud to say this but, even after over two decades of existing on this planet (minus my oblivious toddler years, of course), I haven’t done much online shopping. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve dipped my toes into it, but let’s just say I haven’t swum in the deep end. Here’s why: I’m the kind of person who looks at online shopping like it’s a gamble. And for me, trust is the currency.
My first ever online shopping experience started with buying things from WhatsApp vendors. I kept my purchases limited to “safe” items that didn’t require guessing sizes or estimating durability, like accessories or books. But Clothes? Food? Too risky. My trust issues simply couldn’t take that leap.
Now, here’s the thing: some small WhatsApp vendors understand the assignment. They know how to present their products so you know exactly what you’re paying for. For example, a brand that has the proper basics, you know; a solid brand name, clear contact details, a consistent brand feel, social media presence and all that.
Call me picky but take Coca-Cola for example, you know it’s a Coke ad even before the bottle pops up. That’s branding. And when small vendors emulate that, it builds trust. If something goes wrong, I know I can reach out without getting attitude from a supposed CEO because I dared to ask for a refund. Trust me, I’ve heard the horror stories.
I’ve never shopped on Jumia but even if I will, I know it’s still a trust game. If I ever have to shop from the platform, I’ll have to check for live product images, buyer’s reviews—it’s more convincing when some buyers post pictures of the products after they’ve gotten it—and most importantly, product specification. My sister once ordered a complete cup set on Jumia for a surprisingly cheap amount, it was basically a steal. Turns out, it was a steal—of her expectations. She ended up with dollhouse-sized teacups instead of the human-sized ones she thought she'd ordered. Hilarious? Yes. Refundable? Nope. That’s the risk with large platforms. They’re convenient, but you’re you’re totally buying at your own risk. Perhaps there are platforms that allows for product return, I wouldn't know.
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Now, let’s talk about Shein. I downloaded the app once and was determined to become one of those girls with an effortlessly chic wardrobe curated from online finds. But the first thing that discouraged me was the dollar-to-naira conversion rate. A $5 top? That’s ₦8,000. For one top. My budget took one look at me and laughed. And like the wise saying goes, “Cut your coat according to your what?” I’ll leave you to complete it.
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This brings me to my one and only full-on online shopping spree: AliExpress. Ah, AliExpress, where the prices are so low they almost feel illegal. I never studied economics, but being economical with money is one lesson adulthood has drilled into me. Them no dey tell person twice (that is, once a person has suffered once from lack of money or bad money habits, he/she tends to avoid such happening again).
AliExpress made it easy. I would buy products for my nail studio, personal fashion haul, self-care finds and room décor items. The only downside? Shipping. It took so long that by the time my package arrived, I’d forgotten I even ordered it. Imagine getting a call from the post office on a random Tuesday, saying a package you ordered 90 days ago had arrived. Still, the tracking feature on the App was brilliant. I could watch my order’s journey from the seller’s warehouse to a ship in China to the Nigerian post office. It felt oddly satisfying, like following a treasure map.
Unfortunately, that era ended when Nigeria banned international transactions with local bank cards, which was very heartbreaking by the way. I looked into getting a virtual dollar card, but that brings me back to the naira-to-dollar problem. If the whole point of shopping on AliExpress was affordability, then converting naira to dollars kind of defeats the purpose.
So, maybe someday when my coat can size me and contain 10 more people—when my passive or active income can afford it—I’ll explore as many shopping platforms as possible; from shein to AliExpress to whichever one there is. But for now, my coat can only fit me and I’m managing it that way, lol.
Thank you for reading! :)