Online sales accelerate in SA

Have you bought goods online from a local company this year?

  • Yes

    Votes: 27 96.4%

  • No

    Votes: 1 3.6%
  • Total voters
    28
I am just hoping and hoping SA keeps going into online retail market. It makes things so much easier. Some of these big stores need to step it up like Hi-fi Corp. They need to have an online store/delivery options(they are working on it) but they are so slow.
 
Shipping is what sucks here. For example take2 says "ships 2-4 days", which means that they only ship the product out to the customer in that amount of time. In the uk I ordered something online late on a Friday afternoon and the next morning the delivery guy woke me up.

I'm just far too impatient to shop at our online stores :(
 
A huge driver FOR online retail is that one largely avoids the eish-factor, thus less poor excuses, ignorance and poor communication skills. If only someone can come up with an answer to the delivery side of things!
 
Would be an interesting statistic on how online sales are split up per sector.

I wonder if the research report included on-line grocery shopping in its analysis.
If people bought their groceries on-line, surely that would make a big impact on the numbers mentioned in the article?
 
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My wife and I usually don't know what groceries we need to buy until we start walking around the shop. Online shopping needs to get the "browsing" (several puns intended) experience a bit better for groceries I think.
 
I find it a lot easier and simpler to buy online these days from South Africa shops.
Not sure how you gonna make browsing for groceries easier? What would make the browsing experience better for you?
Think the only way you really gonna get things to change is by using the shops website and making suggestions on what you think would improve the experience. Not that they would listen, but maybe you are pleasantly surprised and they do.
 
Walking around and seeing things on a shelf with a bunch of other things you usually like has a different impact. I'd say they should go chrome with virtual isles you can "walk" through :) It need not be full 3D, just the same images they use anyway arranged in a shop-like fashion. But in the end if you know what you want online shopping is more direct and convenient for sure.
 
Like your thinking. To "walk" through a store in virtual mode might give the same impulse buying affect like if you are in a store...
 
This is good news for all involved, maybe we will see an increase in online stores as business interest...more work for us web developers, yes palease.
 
As long as they keep the SA Post Office out of it, then online shopping is SA is going ahead nicely.
Groceries still seem a bit impractical to me though...
 
CR34M3 said:
As long as they keep the SA Post Office out of it, then online shopping is SA is going ahead nicely.
Groceries still seem a bit impractical to me though...
Click to expand...

Yes and no. For a person who has a household, you know that every month you need a x bars of soap, b x dishwasher liquid etc. To have theses as a recurring monthly dropoff from online? Yes please!
 
I have been buying 90% of my things online over an decade already, When i was in the UK, I bought my Takeaways like Pizza online, i rented DvD's from blockbusters over the net. cant wait till it works the same here. It does tend to be a bit "slow" here in south africa
 
Wrt to take2 and other online retailers, I think they have to get stock in sometimes? Unlike UK/USA stores that have enough support to keep stock on hand.
When take2 have the stock, it's next day delivery.
 
i shop online almost weekly, but like most posters mention..shipping is the "killer"...But..very convenient way to "shop"..must admit not really shopping "household items"..
 
Aessa said:
My wife and I usually don't know what groceries we need to buy until we start walking around the shop. Online shopping needs to get the "browsing" (several puns intended) experience a bit better for groceries I think.
Click to expand...

I'm totally impressed with Pick n Pay online. I'm not sure what delivery is these days but it was R50 the last time I used them and man... R50 was worth every cent. 1) Drive to mall and find parking 2) Walk around PnP 3) Pay for parking and leave 3) Drive home. That time alone is worth more than R50 to me. Also, if you want a nice grocery list, do the online shopping trip to the checkout point and print your 'till slip'... nice for monthly budgeting too!!

Mr Delivery online is nice too. Worst online shops for me are Incredible Connection, Reggies and ToysRUs... their stock doesn't match whats in the stores - mostly a subset.

Another incredibly useful place online in East London is the PC shop - even if you don't buy online, you can shop, check stock and prices! I love comparing before I even waste petrol going out.
www.thepcshop.co.za
Garth Petersen for president!
 
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Aessa said:
Walking around and seeing things on a shelf with a bunch of other things you usually like has a different impact. I'd say they should go chrome with virtual isles you can "walk" through :) It need not be full 3D, just the same images they use anyway arranged in a shop-like fashion. But in the end if you know what you want online shopping is more direct and convenient for sure.
Click to expand...

bazzathetwit said:
Like your thinking. To "walk" through a store in virtual mode might give the same impulse buying affect like if you are in a store...
Click to expand...

Yep... second life - Pick n Pay rofl.
 
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