Muscat: As the trend of online shopping gains popularity in Omani society, we embraced it for its time and saving benefits.
Given our significant presence on social media, we constantly come across various products. The allure of these items, coupled with the persuasive presentation by traders, entices us to make purchases from the comfort of our homes.
However, my perspective on Omani online traders changed when I shared my concerns with a colleague.
To my surprise, many of my colleagues had faced similar experiences. While it may have been my over-enthusiasm to order the wrong dress size from the website, mistakes do happen. I attempted to contact the seller to exchange the dress for the correct size but received no response despite reaching out through various channels.
The same situation resonated with Balqees al Oraimi, who shared a very similar experience. She recounted ordering an abaya from an Omani seller who blocked her on WhatsApp after receiving payment. Balqees confronted the seller from a different number, posing as a new customer, and only then, did the seller apologize and fulfill the order.
In light of these trust issues, another consumer, Huwaida al Shaikhani expressed her skepticism towards online traders from the onset of online shopping trends. She prefers to pay upon the product’s arrival to mitigate any fraud risk. As confidence in these online traders diminishes, Huwaida opts for more cautious payment methods to safeguard their transactions.
Afrah al Balushi is another consumer who firmly stands by her decision to abstain from online shopping. She declares having never engaged in it and does not intend to succumb to this convenience.
In her view, while online shopping saves time and effort, it often leads to unnecessary expenditures on items one may not genuinely need. Afrah believes that physically going to a shop allows for better decision-making when one can feel the product physically. Additionally, she emphasizes the psychological impact of spending physical cash, asserting that individuals who make cash transactions tend to spend less compared to those using credit cards.
Expressing scepticism about trusting online traders, Afrah acknowledges that there are always inventive ways for scammers to deceive people. Despite considering herself vigilant, she remains cautious to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, recognising the continuous efforts of scammers to find new ways to exploit unsuspecting individuals.
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