2 popular places to shop online this Christmas

Peter Imbong

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With just a little over a week before Christmas, now's a good time to try online shopping

SHOPPING WITHOUT THE HASSLE. Going through your Christmas list may be as easy as a few clicks.

MANILA, Philippines – A decade ago, the idea of going online to shop for clothes, beauty products, and gadgets was something many were apprehensive about. They wouldn’t try it or simply knew very little about it. Now, many actually prefer it to the actual thing.

More than changing how we interact with each other and exchange information, the Internet has made transacting easier, faster, and in some cases, the preferred option.

Now, more than ever, local e-commerce sites with safe and secure payment options have begun popping up, offering customers quality products different from the usual surplus fare found on some ad-based sites. Free shipping not only saves you time, but also the gas it would’ve taken you to go to the mall.

And as the holiday season approaches, more and more people prefer the ease and simplicity of online shopping than trekking to the mall filled with throngs of people.

Women driven

And many of these will be women. According to Gene Cleckley, eBay Asia Pacific lead manager for communications, “The growth of businesses in South East Asia will be fueled by women.”

Citing shopping trends on eBay.ph, he said “the best selling categories are women’s accessories, handbags, and wallets. Globally it’s even a big category for us in the US.”

And for those looking to sit the Christmas shopping season out, several local online e-retailers are responding with new features and great deals.

eBay.ph

EBAY.PH. Aside from offering more than 40 million product listings from around the world, their Deals page also has gadgets and accessories at a fraction of the original price.

In trying to adapt to local consumers’ buying attitudes, eBay.ph recently introduced a personalized service which acts like a “feed” of a shopper’s favorite things.

If, while browsing for items on the site, you click on keywords such as smartphones or handbags, the systems will then start to feed you other available products and items related to your keyword. The idea, said Cleckley, is that “the products find you.”

Before eBay.ph launched a few years ago, Filipino shoppers were limited to the US-based sellers on the original eBay.com site that shipped to the Philippines. If they didn’t, that meant foregoing the purchase.

Now, said Cleckley, Filipino shoppers have access to more that 40 million items on the eBay.ph site that includes both local and global listings. And all of these sellers are guaranteed to deliver to the Philippines – with a shipping fee, of course.

And for those who want to find the best deals possible, eBay Deals gives shoppers a chance to buy the newest gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, cameras, as well as fashion accessories – sometimes at almost half the original price. 

Zalora.com.ph

ZALORA.COM.PH. The Christmas Boutique makes choosing items for friends and family easier through recommendations. Have them gift-wrapped, too.

Just in time for the holiday season, Zalora, a leading online fashion destination, launched its  Christmas Boutique, a page dedicated to help shoppers find gift ideas. Handpicked by the site’s style editors, you’ll find anything your parents, siblings, significant other, or best friend might like.

Also, since November 12, Zalora has been offering gift wrapping for online purchases. The site will also be able to send shoppers’ pre-wrapped gifts directly to friends and family. 

And for those worrying about not being able to pick the right size for their presents, the site also offers a special extended return period for the holiday season. From November 5 to December 15, customers can shop the usual way and, if needed, return or exchange their gifts for free any time before Jan 15, 2014. – Rappler.com 

Girl with shopping bags image from Shutterstock

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