ZOOMARK
another lucrative feature of
e-commerce websites.
to, and not just when the
shop is open. Whether you
are free at 2 AM or 2 PM, it
doesn’t matter!
4. Growing Trust: Th ere is
a growing trust among
e-commerce merchants.
Most e-commerce
merchants have a very
active customer service
and sales and support
department. With big
names like Wal-Mart and
Amazon entering the
market, the perception
of the industry has only
become positive in the
minds of the consumer.
Many companies provide
an exchange period of up
to 30 days for returning/
exchanging their products.
Undoubtedly, returns/
exchange is one area in
which all e-commerce
merchants have to be good.
5. Discounted Pricing: Owing
to the fact that e-commerce
companies don’t need to
invest in infrastructure and
human resources, they are
able to pass on benefi ts to
the consumer. Also, since
the number of people
visiting these e-commerce
websites is huge, they are
able to off er wholesale
SOURCE: www.ibef.org
prices. Such an arrangement
is an absolute delight for
the consumer. He is able to
make appreciable savings.
E-commerce platforms
need to have a stringent
quality control mechanism
at their onset
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Creature Companion | • Noida
6. Ease of payment:
E-commerce off ers all
kinds of payment options.
People can choose to pay
through plastic money,
wallets or cash on delivery.
Th is provides ease of
payment to the consumer
since he can choose to pay
by whichever means he
deems fi t. Th e option of
EMI on credit cards (and
now even on debit cards) is
A WORD OF CAUTION
While e-tailing is great and
is doing great in the country,
there is also an ill that has crept
up in the industry. Th e number
of inferior products available
on e-commerce websites has
been rising rapidly. Th ough
these companies have robust
returns an exchange policy in
place, such instances tend to
leave a bad taste in the mouth
of consumers. E-commerce
platforms need to have a
stringent quality control
mechanism at their onset. Th ey
need to make sure no inferior
or bad product is showcased
on their website. Most of
the time such products are
extremely cheap and maybe
e-commerce ventures need
to take a major part of the
blame since all of them want
to off er the cheapest product
to the consumer. However,
it is also possible that since
e-commerce websites off er
millions of products, many of
them may go unnoticed. Th us
the need for robust quality
control arises. Premium brands
need to ensure that old or
damaged products are not put
on e-commerce sites.
If the e-commerce giants
can overcome this folly,
e-commerce will attain even
greater heights and will create
a far more favourable opinion
in the hearts and minds of
consumers.
* Independent Writer