Online Shopping in Lucena City

Posted on Jun 26, 2015

Online Shopping 101: Things You Need to Know

Credit Cards Lying on a Laptop
Photo by StormKatt

Online shopping also known as e-tail from “electronic retail” or e-shopping is a system of electronic trade which allows clients to directly buy merchandises or services from a seller over the Internet using social networking sites and a web browser. It has become increasingly popular over the years because people find it convenient to shop around for great bargains from the comfort of their own homes.

Consumers can buy a huge variety of items from online stores, and just about anything can be purchased from companies that provide their products online. Books, clothing, household appliances, toys, hardware, software, and health insurance are just some of the hundreds of products consumers can buy from an online store.

Online shopping has modernized the business world by making everything available by the simple click of a mouse button. It is a convenient form of shopping and allows for a wide array of products to be at your fingertips.

Here in Lucena, the most popular gateway to online shops is through Instagram, an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that allows users to take pictures and videos and share them through the internet. It is where Lucena-based sellers advertise their goods for people to purchase and browse through, thus inventing the so-called Instagram shops or Igshops.

The Vocabulary of Online Shopping:

Order form- a form with blanks in which a purchaser indicates desired items from online shops where he/she will write his/her name, address, username, contact no., etc.

Brand new- completely new and unused merchandise

Pre-loved- previously owned; secondhand merchandise

When worn- shows photos of apparels when worn by an actual person      

Sold out- a case when a shop sells out of item/s or merchandise so that there is no more available; disposed of to a purchaser; out of stock

Restock- to replenish an online shop with fresh stock or supplies

Swap- an act of exchanging or trading an item or merchandise with another online shop

First mine basis- first purchaser to comment “mine” on the photo of certain merchandise gets the item

Reseller- a company or individual that purchases goods or services with the intention of selling them rather than consuming or using them

Shipping fee (SF) – delivery charge; a fee paid by the customer for the delivery of a purchased product collected by the parcel service; the process of transporting an item, usually through mail (JRS Express, LBC, etc.)

Meet-up- an agreement to meet at a certain place and time; the coming together of a seller and purchaser to make a transaction. Here are some of the places in Lucena where sellers and buyers usually meet for transactions:

• SM City Lucena
• Pacific Mall Lucena
• KFC Bayan
• Jollibee Bayan
• McDonalds Bayan
• Chowking Bayan
• 7-11 Quezon Avenue cor Gomez St.
• 7-11 Lot #2771-B Along Quezon ave
• 7-11 ML Tagarao St cor Abellariosa St.

Mode of Payment- means of payment by a purchaser; can be thru cash, check, debit, credit, or bank transfer.

Bogus buyers/Joy reservers- this will list the people who have reserved items and had a change of mind at the last minute and want to cancel the ordered/reserved item (with reasons like emergency trip and other emergency things they can think of, my friend found a cheaper one, etc. which then leads to I will cancel my order because I don’t know when I will be back along with a lot more excuses and reasons

Feedback- shows photos and reviews of satisfied customers, thus deeming the owner of the online shop a legit seller/merchandiser

There is no denying the fact that online shopping has become more popular than in-store shopping. But this trend has both positive and negative aspects.

Advantages of Online Shopping:

It’s convenient. Online shopping is making things much easier in terms of time. You don’t have to drive, catch the bus, wait in long queues, or deal with not being able to find an item anymore. Now that we can buy just about anything with a few mouse clicks from the comfort of our home, very few people actually feel the need to venture into brick and mortar stores. Formal shops have only limited space and so do the goods they sell, but with online shopping, sellers do not have limitations with physical goods storage and the buyers can instantly locate the shops where they need to buy a specific item. There is the convenience of being able to shop 24 hours a day for any type of product imaginable, allowing many people (the elderly, the disabled, young mothers) to do so in the comfort of their homes.

It’s up-to-date. Online shops always update new types of merchandise which people cannot find in normal shops. Online shopping not only helps you save time, money, and a trip to the mall, but it also helps you to secure amazing bargains on all kinds of apparel.

It’s economical. The prices of goods in online shops are most likely to be lower than those of formal shops, because formal shops rent spaces and hire employees, while online shops only need to create a website, a Facebook page, or an Instagram feed to advertise their goods. You can find and buy products from all over the world and be able to compare and obtain the best price deals. You will be able to read reviews by previous buyers and select your purchases with additional information from satisfied customers. The photographs and illustrations help you choose and recommendations from others help you decide. Plus, you get cheaper deals and better prices with discount coupons, rebates, and freebies thrown in.

Disadvantages of Online Shopping:

Exposure to fraud and security concerns. When you buy things online, you are usually entrusting your private information with people you don’t know, and that can make you vulnerable to online attacks. Even with security programs installed on your computer, hackers can still find a way to steal your information. The majority of online shoppers are unaware of various hacker attacks, phishing scams, and how they affect them. Not knowing how to keep you safe is the biggest disadvantage of online shopping. Despite warnings and reassurances of legitimacy, the store may be a scam put up to gather people’s credit card data and social security numbers.

Reduced hands-on purchase gratification. You can’t see and feel first hand or try for size your purchase. You take the word of the description of the product which is usually cleverly crafted by online stores to make it sound appealing to people. There is no hands-on inspection, nor visual or physical impact for product suitability. Only when it arrives at your address, do you have the opportunity to check the purchases for what it is advertised as.

Hidden costs and inaccurate transactions. Online shops do not always list other additional charges. Prices of items do not always include additional expenses such as shipping, replacement, and handling fees among other things, so it’s important that you check with sellers if there are any other charges that you need to factor in before you buy anything.

Technicalities. There are many other online issues which are more technical in nature: viruses and time zone differences, poor Internet connection, credit card payment, no cash transactions, immediate gratification, invalid warranties, no refunds and non-delivery of purchases.

Compulsive shopping. The ease of online shopping has made many people compulsive shoppers. Most of us spend lots of time on the internet every day, and while we are on the Internet, we get bombarded with numerous advertisements. For a compulsive shopper, this is a good reason to splurge. The fact that online shopping encourages us to buy things that we do not need or use cannot be denied. This can lead to debts.

Tips for Safe Online Shopping

• Online shoppers should first familiarize themselves with online stores and how they protect their data before going on an online shopping spree.
• Online shoppers have to exercise some common sense and control if they want to enjoy the benefits of online shopping.
• The secret is to look for as many options as you can find and always be on the lookout for potential scams from disreputable sellers.
• To benefit truly from online shopping, one has to be an intelligent experienced Internet user as well as a streetwise e-commerce online shopper.

Directory Listing of Online Shops/Instagram Shops (Igshops) here in Lucena City:

@aldrinlaurashop

@allureonlineph

@bikiniandsea

@chicstacksph

@deesfashioncrib

@everydayclassics

@lavieestbelleph

@lovedthiis

@mci_shoppe

@momslittledragon

@newupscale

@sassylassieshop

@shop.brickwall

@spiceupsouvenirshop

@sweetfashionph

@talkatee

@timberexxo_shoppe

@twiinsisonlineshop

@ventitre_shop

@yourshopp101

@ysainfinity

Online shopping in Lucena City is truly worth a try. Online shops listed above are customer-friendly. @ysainfinity always does their Lucena meet-ups on certain dates at 7-11, SM City Lucena from 12-1 PM. The owner constantly updates her customers thru SMS or Viber regarding their orders and concerns, paving way for a smooth transaction and leaving the customers satisfied.

@deesfashioncrib, on the other hand, includes a cute note inside each parcel of orders that says: “We can’t wait for your OOTD! Don’t forget to tag us, okay? Thanks again for shopping!” giving the customers a chance to be featured in their feed wearing or using their merchandise.

Furthermore, @talkatee, aside from its online shop, already has a physical store that can be found on the second level of Pacific Mall Lucena. Just drop by whenever you find the time and you can check out their wide selection of cute couple and statement shirts in person.

Overall, it’s a win-win for both parties.

Disclaimer:

Please bear in mind that while a lot of online shops are legitimate businesses, there are occasional shops that engage in dubious activities; therefore, we strongly advise that you exercise proper caution and do some research before you enter into any transactions.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_shopping

https://www.staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/protect-your-personal-information/online-shopping

http://magyarefk.hu/en/useful-information/online-shoping/the-definition-of-online-shopping.html

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-online-shopping.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/about-shopping-online

http://blog.cashcashpinoy.com/2015/04/21/online-shopping-101-guide-for-your-first-clothing-purchase/

http://www.ielts-practice.org/band-9-essay-samples-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-online-shopping/

http://jiabinqiao.blogspot.com/2008/12/essay-10-talking-about-online-shopping.html

http://essay-online-shopping.blogspot.com/

http://www.essayforum.com/writing-3/benefits-shopping-online-52657/

http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/41612.html

https://instagram.com/explore/tags/lucenabased/