How Kenyans are conned in Online Shopping Heists
The rise of online shopping has made it possible for consumers to make purchases and get their orders delivered to their door steps. The ecommerce market has however come with its own fair share of challenges with many falling for con artists resulting in eminent losses.
The promise of getting a product delivered to you within some few days has resulting in many Kenyan shoppers embracing the online shopping platforms. It is now possible to get a product from Nairobi, China or even USA delivered to you through online purchases.
But most of the online platforms have failed to offer what they promise with many going out of their way to loot from the very customers they are supposed to serve. With the rise of online shopping from platforms such as Jumia, Kilimall, Masoko and international ones like Amazon, many other ecommerce platforms are coming up day by day to try and compete and if possible surpass the pioneers.
The story of Appliance Kenya is so much vivid in the minds of many Kenyans who purchased goods worth millions only for the Online shop retail company to elope with their millions.
Delayed and postponed deliveries were norms with the online shop after customers have placed and paid for their orders. They took their time to harvest from the poor Kenyans and before clients knew it, they closed and disappeared forever.
Here are some Of the best Kenyan online shopping platforms you did not know that exists
One prominent business man Kabu Simon of the Bonfire Adventures becomes the latest to be defrauded by online retail shops from abroad and specifically China. Kabu took to social media to vent his frustration after he ordered goods worth Ksh120,000 from a Chinese online shop only to realize later they were fraud stars.
The online shopping company in Guanzhou China had posted items he wanted on their online platform but what was delivered were toys instead yet the amount charged where for the real items.
Simon went ahead and warned his online fans that they should always be careful when ordering goods online because chances of getting conned online are high.
View this post on Instagram
Tricks Used by Online Shops to lure customers
- Huge discount on payment before delivery
- Too good to be true offers
- Beautiful enlarged product Images that do not match with product description.
How to place your order on Jumia. Beginner Guide
Smart Online shopping tips
-
Always Deal with Companies with good reputation
A company that has numerous successful sales based on the reviews and customer satisfaction should be given a high priority when choosing an online shopping platform. Getting to know customer experiences could also be helpful in gaining trust or taking caution. Be sure to always check out customer reviews and product ratings before placing your order.
-
Always Read the product descriptions
Having identified the product you wish to purchase, it is important to read the descriptions of the product to make sure it is exactly related to what you are looking for. Images can be unreliable and deceptive in many cases.
-
Pay On Delivery
It is recommended to make the payment of your orders upon delivery especially if you are dealing with a new online shop. In case your product is not delivered or what was delivered does not match the descriptions, you can turn down the product and you stand to lose nothing.
-
Always look out for red flags
Dealing with any online shopping company need one to be alert and proactive. An online company that has a good reputation should be not be given a blind eye especially when there are too many complaints from customers. Also a new platform with no reviews and customer comment section should be approached with caution.
Prices of products that seems unrealistic should also be a red flag to sensitize buyers on the authenticity of products being sold.
-
Refund Policy
A good and trust worthy online shopping should be one with a refundable policy. The company should provide customers with an option to return and get a refund should the order fail to materialize or fail to meet customer’s satisfaction.
