Puzzle on: Online shopping safety in SA

**SilverNodashi** · 14-Jun-11, 10:56 AM

I think that's a bit far fetched, OR the |show owners" need to change their practices a bit. In essence we also do online trading (selling hosting & domains) but we only ever give the client his product once we have a form of payment. Credit Cards are verified and bedited automatically, so we can quickly see when a client has money, and / if the card if legit.

Only once in about the past 8 years have we had a case where someoene signed up with a credit card, and we got a notice from the bank about 9 months later saying the card was stolen and we need to return the client's money. We told them that since we don't have tangible goods, and anyone could use the domain & website (we had proof that the website was in-use), that we can't return the money, but would refund the last 2 month's payment.
Most South African clients we deal with prefer to pay via EFT, which makes it a bit more trickey. If they pay us (we use FNB & Standard Bank) from Nedbank, ABSA, Capitec, etc, then it sometimes takes upto 4 or 5 days (weekends & public holidays) to get the money. So we insist on proof of payment, which could probably be faked. BUT, if it was then we simply suspend the website

I know a few larger companies (Kalahari.net, DEll, etc) won't release the goods untill the money is in their bank account - even if the client needs to wait a week or 2. I personally have been shopping online for at least 10years+ now and only once (probably about 7 years ago) was my credit card replaced by the bank since the suspected someone stole it. But there were no actual transaction on my statement that indicated it.

My mother regularly flies to Cape Town to visit my brother and pays for flights + car rental online with her credit card. She simply refuses todo it over the phone and don't always have the time to drive 50KM to the airport just to book a flight. My father purchased some solar equipment close to R200K online about a year ago, and there were no problems.

**Dave A** · 14-Jun-11, 08:49 PM

Originally posted by robinsonwang

I have heard that the cheater will pretend to buy something from the online shopping website, but after they get the products, they won’t say they have received the products. Then they want their money back with the reason they didn’t get the products!

The courier should be able to produce proof of delivery, surely?

I certainly would recommend against sending stuff by ordinary mail in this situation.

On the flip side of this online shopping risk discussion, there are times when it seems the seller is trying to defraud the buyer.

**robinsonwang** · 15-Jun-11, 05:17 AM

For the courier, is there anything wrong with the shipping way? We mainly use DHL,EMS to south africa, what else you can reconmend some.
Thanks

**Dave A** · 15-Jun-11, 08:35 AM

Now I'm even more confused.

If you are using those couriers which means the delivery should be signed off, how does the issue of refund requests for non-delivery come about?

**robinsonwang** · 14-Jul-11, 12:22 PM

To my understanding:

First,To make sure that the products was not delivered. If so, we will find out the reason first.
Second, Fulfill the Refund request. After make sure the reason, the customer service will fulfill the refund first.

By the way, I have discussed the products storage and delivery with wantitall.co.za.They can delivery the product for the foreign online shopping website, would this be a little more acceptable to all?

**Dave A** · 14-Jul-11, 07:31 PM

I should think knowing there is a local distribution point would help.

**robinsonwang** · 15-Jul-11, 08:14 AM

Yes,a local distribution point reliable to the native consumers.
I have checked the wantitall.co.za and loot.co.za, we have a discussion with these two companies.
Which one is more acceptable to you all?

Puzzle on: Online shopping safety in SA

Puzzle on: Online shopping safety in SA

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