Thursday, August 21, 2008

Online shopping is an action of buying and selling of products or services over the Internet and other computer networks. Online shopping has grown extraordinarily in our country since the spread of the Internet. This is due to a rapid rise in the number of PCs in Malaysia. This provides greater opportunities for Malaysians from young to old to conduct both business and shop online. However, there seems to be a lack of understanding and knowledge on consumers’ attitudes towards online shopping.


According to Malaysians, they do not like to shop online because:

1. Lack of trust from the merchant
2. No assurance of the product’s quality
3. Malaysian love to touch and see (even they don’t buy)
4. Malaysian claimed it’s slow in shipping
5. Some claimed they are worry of credit card fraud

It seems that most of the Malaysians are conservative minded, they prefer to buy something only when they can see it in front of them rather than giving out their own credit cards number online. This is perhaps people feel insecure towards online shopping.

Actually online shopping is not that bad as people imagine. It does offer some significant advantages to shoppers. It gives you access to products and services which are not available in your local stores. It saves time and helps you avoid going through the hassle of finding car parks and stuck in the jam for hours. It too saves you money, as some products are cheaper in other countries. It helps you to research product details and make comparisons of prices and features, before you actually visit a store.




Safety and security during online ordering and payment are important to consumers, and a lack of confidence about security among people has held back the growth of online shopping. Seriously, you can trust online shopping, it actually benefits us. As long as you take some simple precautions, you can enjoy shopping online with a high degree of security. Here’s a list of tips you should consult when shopping online.

•Check the Site's Security

-Make sure you are on a secure site before you give your information such as name, address or credit card details.
-If the site is secure, the "http" in the address bar at the top of your screen will change to "https" at the page where you are asked to type in payment information. You can also look for other signs that the site is secure such as a closed padlock on the browser's status bar.
-On a secure site, your information is stored on a secure database. If the company wants to pass on your details to other companies, you have the right to say no. Look for a tick box on the site, and make a choice about disclosing your details.
-Don't buy online if the site isn't secure.

•Shop with companies you know.

-If you're not familiar with a merchant, ask for a paper catalog or brochure to get a better idea of their merchandise and services. You can try typing the site's name into a search engine. If you find unfavorable reviews, you may be better off doing business with someone else.
-Make sure the Web site gives the business' name, mailing address (more than a post office box) and telephone number.
-You need to know how to reach the seller. So if you can't find a working phone number, go somewhere else.
-Know who pays the shipping costs on anything that needs to be returned. Also, determine the site has clear information about what you can do if you have problems with your purchase. Some purchases may need to be returned.

•Keep your password private.

-Be creative when you establish a password. Avoid using telephone number, date of birth, or part of your identity certificate number.
-If you use a password to log on to your computer, choose a different one to make a purchase.
-Use an unpredictable combination of numbers, letters and symbols.
-Do not give your password to anyone who contacts you, including people who claim to be employees of online services or stores.

•Use the safest way to pay on the Internet.

-Paying by credit card is the safest and quickest way to shop online.
-Don't send cash or use a money-wiring service because you'll never get your money back if something goes wrong.
-For additional security, you can ask your credit card company about getting a "single-use" credit card number that allows you to buy online by using a temporary card number.

•Keep a Record

-Keep records of all your transactions.
-Be sure to print and file a copy of your purchase order and confirmation number for your records, in case you have a problem with your purchase.
-Print out details from the webpage you used, such as date and copy of terms, conditions, warranties, item description, and company information. Save them with your records of your purchase.
-Keep copies of any emails you exchange with the supplier.

•Turn it Off

-When you finished shopping online, turn off your computer.
-Leaving it on all the time is a perfect opportunity for scammers to commit cyber crime by installing harmful software and control your machine.

In a nut shell, online shopping is not that bad as Malaysian imagine. Why don't we try something new and adapt with it since it doesn't harm to us? Let's shop online right now!!

Labels: online shopping