Online shops – a rising trend!
Online Shopping is a rising trend in the Philippines these days.The Philippines’ Leading Online Shopping Site
Online shopping’s rapid growth is starting to change the Philippine market as Filipinos are indulging more and more in shopping from online stores due to it’s simple, quick and easy nature. This is exactly what we aim to offer you. Lazada is an Internet shopping mall that makes every purchase you do on the Internet effortless and risk-free. How does going on a shopping spree in the comforts of your own home sound to you? Gone are the days when you have to go to the mall to make a purchase, stand in line, or even the grueling commute to and from because everything is within your reach with Lazada. http://www.lazada.com.ph/I have been favorably impressed with the Lazada follow-up and delivery times and special offer emails in my several recent purchases but yesterday when I went to buy online a new Samsung Note 4, BUT I ran into several roadblocks
PAY ON DELIVERY OPTION
The pay on deliver is wonderful but when you go to buy large value purchases, such as the Samsung cell phone Lazada only will ship when payment is made which ruins a perfect online experience and unique pay on delivery Lazada experience.
I am sure Lazada subsellers can buy insurance if they worry about theft by delivery people for large value items but if not, they should expand their payment options for high value products including LBC, 7-11, or BPI payment over the counter and their systems are setup for utility and airline payments already tied in to merchant computers which allow both the buyer and Lazada to be notified when the payment is made based on the tracking number that Lazada could issue to buyer as order is placed on hold until payment is made and then auto email to buyer when payment center notifys Lazada payment is made based on tracking number. Many airline companies like Cebu Pacific and Air Asia use this system and most OLX want ad sellers use this LBC/7-11/BPI or other bank payment method. Lazada only offers Paypal, credit card which limits and inconveniences buyers who may not have a credit card. Why not enlarge the customer base to include more payment options or allow all orders to be paid on delivery to stand out from the competition?
Another alternative is to open (like Amazon is doing now in NYC,) a physical store for deliveries and payments pickups and I would love to have such an outlet in Cebu.(4)
ONLINE CHAT IS NEEDED FOR CUSTOMER QUESTIONS AND SERVICE
WARRANTY
Warranties are not explained on the website that I could find and cell phones generally have a one year warranty by manufacturer or by supplier even in OLX and many new high end cell phones on Lazada are imports and it is not clear what warranty these products carry and if Philippine manufacturer such as Samsung will provide parts and service warranty on these import phones so it should be clearly stated on the Lazada website.
COUPON CONFUSION:
I am pleased by the coupon offers on Lazada but they are very confusing and when I tried to use one yesterday on my cell phone for a high end cell phone it refused to accept it. Coupons should clearly state on which items or where it can be used to avoid customer dissatisfaction.
DELIVERY:
Although LBC delivery option is noted on Lazada website, online compliants indicate that 2GO is the most often used by Lazada and it does not track well status of package in transit and when delivery is expected as I found from my own experience on a recent cell phone delivery. LBC usually delivers the next day and tracks shipment online well.
DESIRED PRODUCTS TO BE OFFERED
Solar products continue to be a hot item in the Philippines as more want to be energy conservative and Lazada is offering a limited selection through one of their vendors but I would encourage a enlargement of the offers by others to make solar a very cost effective products, with Chinese products so reasonable these days and customers seeking these items.
For example Lazada offers a small solar kit for 8,999.00 with no transformer box to convert to 12 volt storage as you must have large battery to use duing the night (footnote 1) but Solar Energy Kit(with 2-port USB Charger)is only Php 2,990.00 (2) inlcuding converter to 12 volt storage and lights and solar panel. If CDRKing can provide such a complete useful kit there is no reason that Lazada can not find same suppliers to offer such to Philippine buyers since CDRKing often does not have stock and buyers want it.
Batteries hard to find for solar systems (footnote 3) and hopefully Lazarda can find someway of getting a vendor to offer this through Lazada as well.
Footnotes
(1) http://www.lazada.com.ph/solar-home-lighting-system-m-217482.html
(2) http://www.cdrking.com/index.php?mod=products&type=view&sid=20054&main=1
(3) http://www.cdrking.com/index.php?mod=products&type=view&sid=20609&main=167
(4) http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/10/09/report-amazon-to-open-retail-brick-and-mortar-store-in-ny/16978895/
