Post by oldman on Oct 19, 2013 21:31:55 GMT 7
I buy most of the things that I need through the internet. Not only is it cheaper to buy online but the other key benefit is that I don't have to waste time to go to the shop to buy it. It will simply be delivered to the house.
I like buying through Aliexpress.com because the onus for the delivery is on the seller and not the buyer. If I did not confirm that I received the goods, the seller will not be paid by Aliexpress. So much so that sometimes, very eager sellers will actually use internet telephony to contact me from China asking whether I have received the goods. Mind you, most of these sellers speak quite decent English and they are very polite. Also, if the goods are not in good condition, one can state that to Aliexpress and the seller will then have to find a compromise before they can be paid the money. This model makes e-commerce a lot less risky for the buyers.
Nowadays, I buy even the most basic things like electrical connectors through the internet. For example, recently, I needed some electrical connectors. If I go to a DIY shop, it will cost me at least $3 for the connector. Through Aliexpress, I can buy 10 of these for $6 with free delivery thrown in. It is so much easier to simply order online and wait for the package to arrive in 2 to 3 weeks time. The downside is that I now have drawers of lots of excess inventory!
I also buy my clothings through the internet. Branded shoes and shirts are so much cheaper through Amazon. This is because most of these brands come from the US and they are all priced for the US marketplace. Usually these brands are marked up when they are brought over to Singapore. Moreover, through Amazon, some of these products go on significant sales every now and then. Sometimes as much as 75%.
Though Amazon offers free delivery for US$125 worth of products, these are selective products. One has usually to add around US$10 for delivery per item. But even with this delivery charge, the branded items are usually much cheaper than buying from the shops. The only thing one has to watch out for is the size as I have bought many shirts that are too large for me. I still wear these as I hate to see things go to waste. Maybe wearing oversized shirts may make me look thinner as well.
If more people buy things the same way I do now, the retailers will surely have a much harder time in the years ahead. Shops may become showrooms and the actual transactions take place over the internet. I do feel sorry for the retailers as they are hit by high rentals, high salaries and a likely reducing transaction volume in the years ahead. This is why I shy away from investing in pure retail companies.
Perhaps the only retailers that will do OK are the ones providing essential items like food and household items. However, their margins are usually thin on such items and they have to count on volume sales while keeping a close eye on their overheads.
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Oldman, whats your view on retail business? Parkson?
Read more: pertama.freeforums.net/#ixzz2iCoO8yFe
I like buying through Aliexpress.com because the onus for the delivery is on the seller and not the buyer. If I did not confirm that I received the goods, the seller will not be paid by Aliexpress. So much so that sometimes, very eager sellers will actually use internet telephony to contact me from China asking whether I have received the goods. Mind you, most of these sellers speak quite decent English and they are very polite. Also, if the goods are not in good condition, one can state that to Aliexpress and the seller will then have to find a compromise before they can be paid the money. This model makes e-commerce a lot less risky for the buyers.
Nowadays, I buy even the most basic things like electrical connectors through the internet. For example, recently, I needed some electrical connectors. If I go to a DIY shop, it will cost me at least $3 for the connector. Through Aliexpress, I can buy 10 of these for $6 with free delivery thrown in. It is so much easier to simply order online and wait for the package to arrive in 2 to 3 weeks time. The downside is that I now have drawers of lots of excess inventory!
I also buy my clothings through the internet. Branded shoes and shirts are so much cheaper through Amazon. This is because most of these brands come from the US and they are all priced for the US marketplace. Usually these brands are marked up when they are brought over to Singapore. Moreover, through Amazon, some of these products go on significant sales every now and then. Sometimes as much as 75%.
Though Amazon offers free delivery for US$125 worth of products, these are selective products. One has usually to add around US$10 for delivery per item. But even with this delivery charge, the branded items are usually much cheaper than buying from the shops. The only thing one has to watch out for is the size as I have bought many shirts that are too large for me. I still wear these as I hate to see things go to waste. Maybe wearing oversized shirts may make me look thinner as well.
If more people buy things the same way I do now, the retailers will surely have a much harder time in the years ahead. Shops may become showrooms and the actual transactions take place over the internet. I do feel sorry for the retailers as they are hit by high rentals, high salaries and a likely reducing transaction volume in the years ahead. This is why I shy away from investing in pure retail companies.
Perhaps the only retailers that will do OK are the ones providing essential items like food and household items. However, their margins are usually thin on such items and they have to count on volume sales while keeping a close eye on their overheads.
----------------
Oldman, whats your view on retail business? Parkson?
Read more: pertama.freeforums.net/#ixzz2iCoO8yFe
