Online Shopping
So you found this iPhone in one of the retail shops but you couldn't afford it. So you thought of buying it later but by that time it has gone out of stock. What to do? No worries, let's look elsewhere easy and effective. How about going online? Sounds good, right? First, let's take a look at what "online shopping" means.
* Online Shopping: An electronic commerce (e-commerce) application that business can use with each other or they can offer services or goods directly to the customer.
As a customer, can you think of how beneficial is this online service. I'd say 'very' beneficial. Just think of it: sitting down comfortably and ordering your stuff from your living room. Take a look:-
* You can shop anytime and from anywhere that suits you
* Saves time by not needing to go from one place to another
* You can purchase items from shops which you cannot access normally; like the ones not available in your country
* It allows easy comparison between prices from different shops & sellers
* No need to queue; go figure
* Those who experience difficulties in transportation needn't to worry
* You can even get a discount.
Sorry to bearer of bad news, but there are drawbacks which are not going to make you very happy:-
* There's no way to tell the actual quality of the item you're buying
* Some security concerns are still swarming
* Sometimes, you might not receive what you've ordered
* In case it doesn't arrive, you'll still be charged unless you contact the website
* Heavy charges may be imposed due to handling & shipment
* There's a chance your order will get damaged on its way to you
* Some people think that you lose some of your social life. That's what they think.
If we try to look at this from the entrepreneur's point of view, we'll find that the story is quite different. When a business is dealing with online shopping it, there are some matters the business has to consider and these matters causes some disadvantages to the business such as:-
* Great deal of money has to be paid for the web designer who will design the website professionally.
* Staff needed to keep the website updated
* If the website crashed, then the entire operations would be in jeopardy
* Security issues are there. If the business cannot protect its customers from online thieves, then the customers would tend not to use their website or simply sue the business.
* The website has to be hosted on reliable server
But there is more to it! Despite what you've read earlier. There are benefits to the business from online shopping. Like:-
* Costs regarding the finance for retail premises and running them are not needed
* Online shopping requires less staff when compared with traditional retail shopping
* The products can be accessed and viewed globally
* It allows easy tracking of competitors
* "Customers who bought this also bought..." line is quite catchy and encourages customers to buy even more
How to buy something online? Simple. First of all, log in to the trusted website you're using. Make sure that the website is genuine i.e. check for the "s" in "https" and the padlock icon which will be located either at the bottom or at the top of the browser. Next, search for the items you want and add them to your virtual cart. Once you're done proceed to checkout. There, you need to type in your personal data such as your name, address, zip code, etc... . After that, you'll need to select the method of payment. I'd recommend using services such as PayPal as they're more secure. The card number will be stored in your account, so you won't need to reenter it when you decide to buy items next time. However, the security code is a different story. You'll need to reenter that code every time you make an online purchase. Last but not the least, choose the shipping method (if you're ordering items from outside the country). Note that the shipment & handling fees are very high. Therefore, registering with a company such as Aramex.com would be a wise decision. Once you register with them, they'll give you a list of addresses. put their address on the address bar when entering your personal data. Your order will be delivered to them with the minimum fee possible. Then they will ship it to you with a small fee. Life is Good.
When it comes to security, concerns would be rising. Since online shopping involves money, then it'll definitely involve online thieves. Hacking used to be the big problem but now it is rarely seen. These thieves have found another way of tricking users. They use what is termed as "scam" which involves phishing, pharming, etc... . A mediocre computer user would not recognize these scams. Basically, those thieves will send you a fake message claiming that they're a company with something like special offers and will provide you with a link. This link will take you to a fabricated website of their own where you'll enter your personal data and "whoops", they're sent to them. Now they can access your bank account or amazon account and wreak havoc.
So to avoid these issues, here are some things you might be looking for:-
* Encryption: This means that critical data such credit card numbers are scrambled by a secret code that only the shop computer can unscramble it. Anyone trying to steal these data will probably fail.
* Secure Site: Check for the URL of the website you're using. It has to contain the "s" as in "https//amazon.com". This means that this site is using encryption to your personal data. You'll also find a padlock at the bottom or the top of the screen depending on your browser. This confirms that the site is genuine.
* PASSWORD: Keep it safe. I'd recommend you to change your password every now & then. I know it may sound like a pain but its much less pain than the one you'll get if your account is ransacked. I'd also suggest you to keep different passwords for different websites and don't use a something so obvious as a password. "Fido" for instance is not a good one. Having something like "D*LyM" is quite strong and more preferred.
References:
www.teachict.com
* You can shop anytime and from anywhere that suits you
* Saves time by not needing to go from one place to another
* You can purchase items from shops which you cannot access normally; like the ones not available in your country
* It allows easy comparison between prices from different shops & sellers
* No need to queue; go figure
* Those who experience difficulties in transportation needn't to worry
* You can even get a discount.
Sorry to bearer of bad news, but there are drawbacks which are not going to make you very happy:-
* There's no way to tell the actual quality of the item you're buying
* Some security concerns are still swarming
* Sometimes, you might not receive what you've ordered
* In case it doesn't arrive, you'll still be charged unless you contact the website
* Heavy charges may be imposed due to handling & shipment
* There's a chance your order will get damaged on its way to you
* Some people think that you lose some of your social life. That's what they think.
If we try to look at this from the entrepreneur's point of view, we'll find that the story is quite different. When a business is dealing with online shopping it, there are some matters the business has to consider and these matters causes some disadvantages to the business such as:-
* Great deal of money has to be paid for the web designer who will design the website professionally.
* Staff needed to keep the website updated
* If the website crashed, then the entire operations would be in jeopardy
* Security issues are there. If the business cannot protect its customers from online thieves, then the customers would tend not to use their website or simply sue the business.
* The website has to be hosted on reliable server
But there is more to it! Despite what you've read earlier. There are benefits to the business from online shopping. Like:-
* Costs regarding the finance for retail premises and running them are not needed
* Online shopping requires less staff when compared with traditional retail shopping
* The products can be accessed and viewed globally
* It allows easy tracking of competitors
* "Customers who bought this also bought..." line is quite catchy and encourages customers to buy even more
How to buy something online? Simple. First of all, log in to the trusted website you're using. Make sure that the website is genuine i.e. check for the "s" in "https" and the padlock icon which will be located either at the bottom or at the top of the browser. Next, search for the items you want and add them to your virtual cart. Once you're done proceed to checkout. There, you need to type in your personal data such as your name, address, zip code, etc... . After that, you'll need to select the method of payment. I'd recommend using services such as PayPal as they're more secure. The card number will be stored in your account, so you won't need to reenter it when you decide to buy items next time. However, the security code is a different story. You'll need to reenter that code every time you make an online purchase. Last but not the least, choose the shipping method (if you're ordering items from outside the country). Note that the shipment & handling fees are very high. Therefore, registering with a company such as Aramex.com would be a wise decision. Once you register with them, they'll give you a list of addresses. put their address on the address bar when entering your personal data. Your order will be delivered to them with the minimum fee possible. Then they will ship it to you with a small fee. Life is Good.
When it comes to security, concerns would be rising. Since online shopping involves money, then it'll definitely involve online thieves. Hacking used to be the big problem but now it is rarely seen. These thieves have found another way of tricking users. They use what is termed as "scam" which involves phishing, pharming, etc... . A mediocre computer user would not recognize these scams. Basically, those thieves will send you a fake message claiming that they're a company with something like special offers and will provide you with a link. This link will take you to a fabricated website of their own where you'll enter your personal data and "whoops", they're sent to them. Now they can access your bank account or amazon account and wreak havoc.
So to avoid these issues, here are some things you might be looking for:-
* Encryption: This means that critical data such credit card numbers are scrambled by a secret code that only the shop computer can unscramble it. Anyone trying to steal these data will probably fail.
* Secure Site: Check for the URL of the website you're using. It has to contain the "s" as in "https//amazon.com". This means that this site is using encryption to your personal data. You'll also find a padlock at the bottom or the top of the screen depending on your browser. This confirms that the site is genuine.
* PASSWORD: Keep it safe. I'd recommend you to change your password every now & then. I know it may sound like a pain but its much less pain than the one you'll get if your account is ransacked. I'd also suggest you to keep different passwords for different websites and don't use a something so obvious as a password. "Fido" for instance is not a good one. Having something like "D*LyM" is quite strong and more preferred.
References:
www.teachict.com
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