Opinion on Ecommerce (Online Shopping)

[Gahno]

I would like to understand what the majority of you think regarding Ecommerce?

Do you feel comfortable paying for something on a website? Something you don't physically see like a shop or store.

If so which method do you guys normally prefer paying with?

via EFT?

Or

via Card?

 

[Johnatan56]

Depends on the website's reputation, I am quite a bit less trusting on online sites.
Payment depends on convenience, via CC can still reverse the payment but for e.g. wootware I have had great after sales support and don't have a problem with EFT.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I would like to understand what the majority of you think regarding Ecommerce?

Do you feel comfortable paying for something on a website? Something you don't physically see like a shop or store.

If so which method do you guys normally prefer paying with?

via EFT?

Or

via Card?

EFT....LOL.

I don't buy anything but groceries, cars and motorcycles in the shop for probably the last 10 years.

You use your card, it's actually SAFER online than handing it over to any person in a store.

 

[Gahno]

I always assumed people will be scared to load their credit card online. And EFT normally happens with attached official quotation of some sort.

I suppose South Africa changed a lot this pass few years


Anyways thanks for your feedback guys I been busy building my own Ecommerce site so it is good info thanks for the input.

 

[chopsky]

I would like to understand what the majority of you think regarding Ecommerce?

Do you feel comfortable paying for something on a website? Something you don't physically see like a shop or store.

Depends on what I'm buying and who I'm buying from. A reputable store (e.g. Takealot)? Sure. If the store is not well known, I do a bit of research into the business first, and make sure the site is well secured (SSL etc.)
I'm happy to buy most things online, except food and most clothing (because I like to try the items on).

If so which method do you guys normally prefer paying with?

via EFT?

Or

via Card?

Card 99% of the time.

 

[saor]

Do you feel comfortable paying for something on a website? Something you don't physically see like a shop or store.


via Card?

Feels like a question more suited to 1999.
Yes I feel comfortable.
Credit card.

 

[Werfetter]

I buy most things online. Basic groceries and clothes are the only things I really buy in store unless it is an emergency...

Always by card but as mentioned reputation plays a big role and I wont easily buy from a store that does not have a reputation.

 

[Gahno]

It seems Ecommerce is becoming more and more big in SA, which is a good sign I think this brings more competition and helps with prices for the consumers

I guess I will need to get SSL certificate for my website then.

Reputation is something to be built on though, as any new business you don't have reputation. Guess will need to work hard on that.

Anyways thanks for all your input.

 

[Markd]

Having run an online store for quite a while, the majority of people paid with Credit Card. We also didn't "store" any credit card details, or have any interest in doing so. The site was integrated to a Payment Gateway that handled the transaction and took a percentage for their troubles. Most people, honestly, have no idea what an SSL certificate is. The hardest sales are the first ones, and as soon as you have just a couple of people that trust you, the trust grows quite quickly, and all you have to do is not cock it up.

This said, online is becoming very popular in SA with most of the large corporate currently moving online. These guys have deep pockets, and as a mom-and-pop, you need to scale quite a bit to survive over the longer term - thats the challenge for most small etailers.

 

[Gahno]

Having run an online store for quite a while, the majority of people paid with Credit Card. We also didn't "store" any credit card details, or have any interest in doing so. The site was integrated to a Payment Gateway that handled the transaction and took a percentage for their troubles. Most people, honestly, have no idea what an SSL certificate is. The hardest sales are the first ones, and as soon as you have just a couple of people that trust you, the trust grows quite quickly, and all you have to do is not cock it up.

This said, online is becoming very popular in SA with most of the large corporate currently moving online. These guys have deep pockets, and as a mom-and-pop, you need to scale quite a bit to survive over the longer term - thats the challenge for most small etailers.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Actually I have been looking around for the payment gateways, so still deciding on this and also checking how I can integrate it to my customized e-catalogue. I am actually doing something a bit out of the ordinary that normal e-commerce platforms don't really work. So still studying which gateway best suits my business. Actually I we are also a mom-and-pop business

I do understand what you mean, in the end business is all about capital whoever has more capital normally wins. I am always thinking how I should scale what interface or system is required. But for now I want to get that first sale like you mentioned

Nonetheless thanks for sharing.

 

[Basil959]

I've been running a online store for I while, and if I had a rand for ever time someone asks "where is your shop"?? or "can you send me a quote.." :wtf:
The online game isn't as easy as its made out to be, and our shoppers are not as tech savvy. That said, I make it my duty to educate the consumer hopefully one day I will benefit, or someone on this forum will benefit..

As for Google -- they have way to much power...!

 

[Gahno]

I've been running a online store for I while, and if I had a rand for ever time someone asks "where is your shop"?? or "can you send me a quote.." :wtf:
The online game isn't as easy as its made out to be, and our shoppers are not as tech savvy. That said, I make it my duty to educate the consumer hopefully one day I will benefit, or someone on this forum will benefit..

As for Google -- they have way to much power...!

I would guess there will be these kind of questions since I don't think everybody in SA knows what ecommerce means yet.
Well good to know i didn't waste time building an automated official quotation pdf creator for my online orders.