Shopping has never been easier; you can order whatever you want from your home. Online shopping is on the rise in the entire world, and Pakistan is going with the trend as well.
Though the prevalence of online shopping is still relatively low in Pakistan, it shows the potential to become an integral part of its business environment. In fact, any business that doesn’t have an online presence will have a tough time competing in the near future.
However, most people are still critical of online shopping. They don’t trust the process or have had unsatisfactory experiences, and hence are put off by it. If you are the same, this post is great for you because, in it, I will share some of the more incredible tips that will help you improve and optimize your online shopping experience.
So, read on to learn more.
Visit different websites before making a purchase
Imagine you go to the market to buy something, are you only going to visit a single store? Probably not. You are going to visit different markets and check out different shops so that you can find the product with the best quality and lowest price.
So, when it comes to online shopping, you should only visit a single website either. Browse the internet, and check out different websites. Check the price tags and look for discounts; you can also gauge the quality of the products by reading the reviews.
Visiting multiple websites is quite easy, and after comparing their products, you can make sure that you are getting the best bang for your buck.
Did you know about online shopping websites in Pakistan
Choose the website with more reliable delivery services:
When you order something online, it is delivered to your home. There are many things that could go wrong along the way; therefore, it is important that you choose a website or online store that has a reliable delivery service.
For instance, imagine you order something from Ali express. Though you can get high-quality products from there, the delivery process is quite tedious. Your product can take weeks and even months to reach you. It has to be shipped from another country; therefore, the chances of damage or loss are higher. Returning an order is also quite challenging, and if you don’t receive the product, you have to wait for three months after an order date until you can file for a refund.
On the other hand, you can get the same quality product from local online stores, which deliver within a week. Furthermore, it is a lot easier to return products and claim a refund. Therefore, you should ideally prefer local stores whenever possible.
Keep an eye out for offers, discount coupons, and sales:
The best way to get high-quality products, from high-end brands, at affordable prices is to look out for sales and discounts. The best way to make sure that you know about these sales, promotions, and discounts is to follow the social media pages of all your favorite brands and online websites.
You can stay notified of all the flash sales and seasonal clearance sales on the social media accounts of your favorite brands and websites.
Some applications also offer discounts on online shopping if you use them; for instance, by using the Careem app for travel, you can collect points, which can then be redeemed for discounts on different online stores and outlets.
Pay special attention to your security when shopping online:
The internet is a relatively new concept in Pakistan, in fact, only 25% of the Pakistani population actually uses the internet, and the number of online shoppers is even lower. Therefore, most people aren’t completely familiar with online shopping and the risks it can pose.
When you are buying something online, you have to pride your personal information, and if you are paying through your credit card, you will have to enter your financial information as well. Now, if you aren’t using a secure network, this information can be at risk of getting into the wrong hands, and it can be used against you.
Therefore, keep in mind that whenever you are shopping online, you should use a secure network. Don’t use public networks, like your university WiFi, and stick to your password-protected home WiFi or your mobile internet.
Learn how to gauge a website:
If you want to optimize your online shopping experience, you need to know how to gauge whether a website is legit or not. You should know whether their products are good in quality, and what their service is like.
Therefore, here are some tips that can help you out.
Firstly, check if the website has a social media presence, and check the comments people have posted on their posts. The higher the number of comments, the better. You should also see if the page replies to the comments.
Secondly, try messaging the website officials on social media, and gauge their response, ask them about the quality of the products, price, and other factors. If they are replying properly, it is a good sign.
Thirdly, Take a look at the number of followers they have, and read the reviews on the website as well.
Visit the website; you can trust:
When it comes to online shopping, trust is a very important factor. In fact, according to the numbers, 83% of online shoppers visit a store again if their first experience was good.
Therefore, look for websites that you can trust and stick to them. If you are ordering from someplace new, use the tips previously mentioned to gauge whether it is legitimate. If you want to buy grocery online, Barak.pk is one of the most reliable stores in Pakistan. The online stores of most high-end brands are trustworthy, and you should check out Telemart.pk, Daraz, and IShopping.pk as well.
Check out the return policy:
When you are shopping online, you can’t actually see the product you are buying until it is delivered to you. Though there are pictures of every product on online stores, sometimes they can be a little deceiving, and you find yourself with a product that you want to return.
Therefore, take a look at the return policy of the website; if it is customer-friendly and clear, you can trust the website; however, if it is vague and difficult, the website is probably not worth shopping from.
Don’t click on the pop-up ads:
While it isn’t uncommon for online shopping websites to use pop-up ads to promote their newsletters and show flyers, you should keep an eye out for ads that promote phishing scams. You should ideally avoid clicking on ads altogether, especially if you are visiting an unfamiliar website.
