Internet Shopping!

[JohnSmith1980]

Hi Everyone,

I have a research project to do this year and I'm trying to get some ideas. I have been thinking about a couple of ideas but I think they are to vague. I am mainly looking at researching e-commerce and relating it to Chinese infrastructure. I know that having goods delievered within a city should be no problem, but what about those people in Tier 3 cities and in the countryside. Is it possible for these customers to obtain goods off the internet? I once heard that when Japan first started out in e-comerce, it used to send products bought off the internet to local shops or post-offices...... is there a similar system in China or a possibility of the same system???

If anyone can provide any good reading lists in either english or chinese, it would be much appreciated. And please leave ur opinion on the subject. It is a 10,000word project with a period of 6-8months.

Thanks.

Chris..

[elina]

Because the computer and Internet are not popular in the countryside, I think at present the e-shopping is mainly facing to the customers in big cities of China.

[JohnSmith1980]

It is mainly Tier 3 cities that I am directing this thought at. I'm looking to find some sort of extent to which delivery is available. One assumes that in the country side it is pretty much non existent, but where is the line drawn - is it safe to assume that those who can access computers can receive some sort of method of delivery ????

I know it is a fairly ignorant question, but I can't seem to find much information on it. If anyone can provide any sort of reading lists/information...I would be highly grateful.

Chris.

[gougou]

You might want to have a look at some e-commerce websites and their regulations concerning shipment of goods. I just had a cursory glance at dangdang's. There seem to be exceptions to their own delivery service, but none are mentioned for standard mail deliveries. So I'd guess anybody who can receive a letter can receive goods of the internet.