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Online shopping on the up, make sure that you are safe
By ICTWorld, 3 May 2006
Remember when you had to venture into a travel agency to book your flight? Or when we had queue for ages at the bank to get a statement or transfer money?
Four years ago the thought of ordering groceries from the comfort of your armchair was inconceivable, and insurance, well, you needed to make an appointment with a broker for that.
“Online shopping has definitely made our lives easier, and has changed the way we operate in a business as well as commercial environment. "The Internet has also dramatically altered the state of the short-term insurance industry as today, over 20% of insurance policies are purchased online,” says Fabian Angiers, GM of Dial Direct Insurance, a short-term insurance company.
“According to a survey conducted by research firm World Wide Worx, South Africans spent R514m shopping online last year – pretty good considering that there are only 3,6m Internet users in SA.”
Angiers continues: “While we are nowhere near the 225 801 428 American Internet users who will reportedly spend $100bn on online shopping this year, South Africans online spend should increase over time due to the emerging popularity of broadband or high speed Internet access.
"At Dial Direct Insurance, for example, our online client base increased by 89% in just one year, proof that e-commerce shopping is on the up.”
So what makes Internet shopping so alluring? According to a survey conducted by Deloitte & Touche, the top three reasons for shopping online are: the convenience of 24 x 7 shopping, the fact that it saves time, and because it is less hassle and you do not have to put up with crowds in shopping malls.
That said, security and fraud concerns are still rife in SA, and many consumers are sceptical about giving their credit card details out over the 'Net.
“In reality, however, online shopping is on the whole, very safe. Many online companies utilise advanced security infrastructure, but the consumer also has to play a role in protecting his/herself online,” says Angiers.
“Shopping for a product or service over the Internet is a fantastic way to compare prices, save yourself time and sometimes even money.
"We believe that online shopping is the way of the future, and urge consumers to be in-the know and savvy what it comes to online safety issues,” concludes Angiers.
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