What do you think about shopping on net?

[Oliver_CL]

Personally, I don't think the shopping on net is completely perfect. If you pay attention to some shopping websites, such as ebay and taobao, you will be attracted by lots of wonderful commodities, which at least look very good. After feeling surprised about the low prices and long-time gazing at those beautiful pictures, I guess most of you will buy some of them, though you don't need them actually.

And when you got what you have pay for on internet, you will asked yourself, did these goods worth the money? Why they were not looked as good as in the pictures? You decided to return them to the retailers but was told that you should pay for all the postage. Maybe you have still never encounter such things, but it's really what majority of internet shoppers are suffering.

We did feel convenient about online shopping, which make it possible for us to buy things without going to markets and dealing with JS, but most times we were definitely confused by the poor quality of goods from a good credit bargainor. I have bought so many things online, but merely few of them satisfy me, most goods even don't have quality passed identifications, say nothing of address of factories and connect telephone numbers. It seems that chinese products have worse quality than before. The workers don't have as much responsibility as years ago I think.

I am worried about the prospect of "Made in China", it should be a powerful brand of Chinese economy, but not a target that everyone want to criticize.

[my3rdlang]

I often shopped online back in the states. I was a seller as well as a buyer on amazon.com, ebay.com and half.com (mostly sold though). In my opinion, people shop on ebay for 2 main reasons: 1) collector's items no longer sold in stores/sold out items or 2)To get a good deal. I usually shopped for shipping supplies on ebay. As I usually bought supplies in bulk, I got them for prices much lower than in the stores. I usually bought textbooks at half.com and amazon.com. Sometimes books may take weeks to arrive and/or condition would arrive worse than stated, but I was willing to take that risk if I only had to pay less than 50% of book retail. My textook buying experience has been positive over 90% of the time. Well worth it!

I also shop for clothes and shoes online but only if I am familiar with how the particular brand's sizing runs. Many merchants offer free shipping when you spend over a certain amount. Reasons I shop online: 1) I get rebates thru 3rd party websites (such as www.ebates.com). 2) The item/size/colour I am looking for is out of stock in the stores. 3) The online price is cheaper than the price at the stores I visited (It's surprising that brands such as Gap may have diff sale prices among several b&m stores and online). 4) Some items are online exclusive. 5) I have a coupon code/discount code that is online exclusive. Most of the time what I get is what I expect coz most of the time I have previously seen the clothing in person.

I agree that shopping online is not perfect. However, I find the risks small relative to the bargains and selection.

[skylee]

Maybe you have still never encounter such things, but it's really what majority of internet shoppers are suffering.

I don't share the feelings. I often shop on-line. But what I shop are just books, DVDs/CDs, air-tickets, film-tickets, musical-tickets, and hotel rooms. I've recently paid over HKD 8,000 on the internet for an e-ticket and I feel safe as the merchant is British Airways. I suppose one must shop with reputable and reliable merchants on the internet. In my experience mainland websites like ctrip and elong are very good.

I've never tried e-auctioning though.

HK is a small place but a really big shopping mall so if I need anything other than the above I just go shopping.

What is "JS"?

[Oliver_CL]

What is "JS"?

JS is a chinese abbreviation, it means double-dealing sellers and this word is used widely nowadays in chinese forums.

Oh, maybe you right, when we buy some merchandises online such as books, VCDs, and some high-tech or expensive things, or some kind of service(book rooms or other), which is either "quality goods" or "fake", it's easy to tell by sellers' credit level if it's what you want. But when you come to buy some merchandises, which were not come from big and famous factories or sellers, it's not easy to make the decision of paying or not. They look so good in pictures and the sellers promise you they were very good and have been used widely, and when you get them, you find them are really can be used, but they are not what you want!!! All you want to have are still in the pictures. I think sometimes we need to touch the actual goods when we going to buy them, no doubt it's the most efficient method to do a good deal.

Thank your replies, thank you.

[skylee]

JS is a chinese abbreviation, it means double-dealing sellers and this word is used widely nowadays in chinese forums.

So it is 奸商. Thanks.