Afrah al Balushi @afrahalbalushia Online shopping is going from strength to strength. But a large number of people are shy of e-commerce as they want to feel the product physically before buying it. Others stay away from online buying due to its risks of fraud and breach of privacy.
One must be careful while purchasing products or services online.
Before entering any personal or financial information, you must verify that the site is genuine and safe. Make that the connection phrase ‘https’ is at the beginning of the site address. If you do not see the letter ‘s’ at the end of ‘http’, this means that the site is not encrypted and your private data will be at risk.
To ensure safe e-shopping, the Consumer Protection Authority launched an awareness campaign last month to foster digital markets that ensure consumer rights in online commercial transactions.
The CPA also explained as there are many complaints from digital consumers similar to regular shopping there are plans to address them in e-commerce regulations.
There is another major change that is evident in consumer behavior in online shopping. Consumers conduct research and read the product reviews before purchase. The consumer can also learn about the product’s features, characteristics, and benefits as if s/he were holding it in his/her hands.
In the past, consumers did not have the luxury of postponing payment at a later time. But now one need not pay for the product at the time of purchasing thanks to credit cards and installment facilities.
There are many reasons to buy online. It's not just convenient. Now you can compare prices and find offers. You can also verify the quality through product reviews. Despite the presence of all these advantages, one must be careful before making the purchase.
Here are a number of tips that consumers should follow while shopping online, 1. Ensuring that the store or the account is licensed.
2. Research and comparing prices of goods and services 3. Read and understanding the terms and conditions 4. Verify exchange, refund and warranty rules 5. Keep the invoice and other papers related to the product in a file.
6. Beware of fake offers 7. Read reviews of other customers before purchasing a specific product 8. Use safe and secure payment methods, and track the shipment in order to know its whereabouts and when it will arrive.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion had issued Ministerial Resolution No. 499/2023 regarding regulations of e-commerce. The decision comes within the national plan for e-commerce, with the aim of creating a legal and regulatory environment to develop and promote e-commerce. It aims at reducing scams and fraud related to e-commerce. These regulations keep pace with best practices in developed countries.
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