By Ramon Llera Vilar III
Shopping has become one of the favorite past times of people, even those that come from Dumaguete. One can truly say that shopping is both enjoyable and relaxing. Nothing beats the thrill you get from going to the mall to hunt for things that you like. And because of today’s modern technology, shopping has become just a click away from your mouse. {{more}}
There are so many things you can find and choose in online shops–from shirts, bags, organic soaps to even contact lenses. Name it, they have it. You just have to be patient in looking for the things that you want.
Gone are those days when you spend one whole day in a crowded place and only end up with aching feet. You don’t even have to worry about having the same shirt with the girl you meet along the boulevard– the dilemma that probably most Dumaguetenos encounter every day because of the limited clothing shops in town.
Online shopping has become the newest trend in the cyber world and it’s spreading like wildfire.
One of the first online sellers in Dumaguete, Engr. Veronica F. Valente, owner of Veronica’s Closet (veronicascloset.multiply.com) shares her experience: “I started toying with the idea in 2006 but I it took me until February 2007 to get things going. I started out with six items. It all got sold within days. I loved the rush I get when someone buys a dress that I have redesigned.”
Alongside her profession as a licensed civil engineer, designer, personal stylist and part-time wedding coordinator, Rona started her online store three years ago because she was influenced with online vintage stores and her love for clothes.
She usually goes to thrift shops to buy unique and one-of-a-kind clothes and would alter, restyle, and resize them so she could wear them. “My friends would ask me where I usually buy my clothes, and I delightfully tell them that I found it at the ukay-ukay. Every chance I get, I would go to ukay-ukay stores and rummage through piles of clothes. Eventually, I realized I had bags full of clothes (not including my overflowing closet), and so I thought, why not sell some? So, I sold some clothes to friends. Not long after that, my client list started expanding. Eventually, I decided to sell online,” expressed Rona.
She plans to have a name for herself on the local internet market as the shop to go to for unique and vintage yet affordable clothes.
So how does it actually work? First, you browse for possible shops on line. Facebook and Multiply are among the top sites where you can check out these shops. The most important thing to understand when you engage in online shopping are the guidelines set by the sellers so as to avoid discrepancies in the future.
“It’s easier for both parties; we ask them to fill out the order form and I just send them a message after,” said Kharyl Mae O. Fulraman, co-owner of Trendy B Shoppe (kharylmae.multiply.com).
Payments are usually done through bank-to-bank services or through money transferring agencies. Usually the buyers pay for the shipping fee. They are also expected to send a copy of the original receipt or control number as proof of payment. And only after this is the seller be able to ship the item. Shipping usually takes just a couple of days.
This procedure, however, does not necessarily apply with all instances especially when both the seller and the buyer reside just along the same area. “They (buyers) just text me our meeting place and once we meet I give them the item and they just pay me directly,” says the owner of Guching Buynow Gucci Mae C. Florendo (facebook.com/guchingbuynow).
But you must be very careful when engaging with business online since you are dealing with someone whom you haven’t really met. Kharyl shared: “There was once when I was scammed worth Php 6,000 from online shopping and we tried to know who the person was behind it and after a month we finally found out and he ended up paying me more than the amount for the damages.” With that money and her new discovered interest, she opened her own online store.
“You just have to be careful of ‘bogus’ sellers and scammers. If the person does not push through with the order and does not even update me, I simply put the item back ‘on the rack’ and deal with the buyer personally. I also mentally list her down as a buyer that I might have second thoughts dealing with again,” said Veronica.
Despite the risks, online shops still make shopping more convenient and practical. Instead of spending hours walking in the mall and finding nothing, you can be in the comfort of your own home, just clicking and shopping.
- Advertisement -