Thanks to Lazada, online shopping caught up fast in the country

I was fooling around Google the other day and chanced upon a Wikipedia entry about Compuserve the company that built the first electronic mall back in the 1980’s light years ahead of our very own Philippine online shopping mall lazada.com.ph. During that time people perhaps never even thought that they will be shopping in virtual stores at the comfort of their own homes twenty years later. It amazes me how fast the concept of online shopping has caught up in our local market considering that we are still a developing country. It is very interesting how fast people got into the idea of getting online and purchasing things from stores that they can’t even get into. For a lot of people, online shopping has simply become a way of life.

And why not, online shopping, acquiring services online and doing other things on the Internet saves time, money and effort on the consumer’s part. The Internet, on top of those benefits I have mentioned also offers a greater range of selections when it comes to products. It also lets consumers do their own fact finding and research rather than solely depend on what the product salesman has to say about the item the consumer is buying hence more freedom, more independence that results to improved quality of life in general. The internet is basically a very tough opponent to beat if you own a business and does not want to get in on the Internet bandwagon. To survive and stay afloat, it’s either you join it or get squashed by its gargantuan force.

Rocket-Internet’s introduction of Lazada to the Philippine market has got a lot to do with the general population’s open armed adoption of the idea of purchasing things online. This company is one of the first companies in its online retail category to make online shopping as accessible and convenient as it is as of the current time. They pulled off the accessibility factor by introducing better services like more alternative ways to pay, faster delivery times, great deals and promotions and lesser information requirements when signing up for a new online shopping account. Take for example the cash on delivery payment service that Lazada offers, this payment service alone opened up the opportunity for the company to reach new market frontiers particularly the class C and D segments. They were able to tap into those markets with the cash on delivery payment option alone because it is much easier for most people. Previously, when there were no alternative payment options such as cash on delivery, the only way was to go through the credit card route, an online payment method that is obviously not as accessible for most people unlike cash on delivery. Like what I have said, online shopping has become a way of life; it levels out the playing field for consumers and vendors alike because you can do it anytime, anywhere. The market is still developing and Lazada is definitely going to be on the forefront of local e-commerce progress.

Lazada: Ecommerce had been around for decades

It took so many years before the idea of e commerce started getting attention in the developing countries. The Philippines had for years few online stores that sold only specialized items, usually items the online store produced itself. Online shopping then meant browsing the internet for online stores that carried the items that an individual wanted to purchase. It meant placing several orders to several stores. Since each store charged shipping and handling fee, ordering different items from different stores meant that the buyer had to pay a lot of fees on top of the typically expensive product costs.

 

Then came Lazada Philippines, an online shopping website that has been growing very fast in the country. This online shopping mall is one of the most successful online shopping mall in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. These online shopping malls are owned by Rocket Internet, a very successful online venture builder that has left its mark in the market since it started in 1999.

Extensive Product Lines

Lazada Philippines offer a worry-free online shopping experience from a wide array of product selection, both domestic and international. Lazada Philippines offers the best in consumer electronics, personal computers or laptops, mobile phones or tablets, home appliances, cameras, music, movies, toys & baby products, fashion accessories, watches, and almost any product that one can think of. 

The products sold at this online shopping mall are authentic products that are backed up by up to two years of manufacturer's warranty. The manufacturer's warranty is a way of making the shoppers feel secured that they are not buying knocks off or imitation products.

Convenient Shopping Experience

Shopping at Lazada Philippines is a hassle-free experience. It is the best alternative to physical shopping in a mall because instead of walking from one store to another, you will just be dragging your mouse from one product category to another. Choose and click the product you want to buy and put them in the virtual shopping cart. At the end of your online shopping, you will just make one payment as opposed to the several payments you need to make while shopping at the different stores in an actual mall. All the items you purchased will be delivered at your doorstop. Everything is done while you enjoy the comfort of your home or your office.

Products purchased from the online shopping mall of Lazada Philippines will be delivered to your doorstep without having to pay shipping and handling fees for purchases of Php 1,000 or more. For purchases less than Php 1,000, they charge a very low shipping fee of Php 55.00 for Metro Manila and Php 99.00 for all areas outside of Metro Manila.

Payment Options

Most online stores accept only the major credit cards as the mode of payment. At Lazada Philippines, online shoppers are given different payment options. Of course, major credit cards issued by Visa and MasterCard are accepted. The second option is Cash on Delivery. You will have to pay cash to the delivery agent upon receipt of the products you ordered. This gives the buyer the option of first checking on the condition of the products before making the payment. If the product delivered is the wrong one or if it is damaged, the buyer can simply return it to the delivery agent and refuse the delivery. 

The third convenient option of payment is the BDO Credit Card installment. This option is applicable to purchases of Php 3,000 or more. The shopper should proceed to check out and choose BDO installments on the checkout page. After redirected to the BDO Payment Gateway, the shopper needs to fill out the form and click "Submit" to complete the transaction.

Lazada Philippines revolutionized the concept of online shopping in the Philippines, making shopping a wholesome experience right at the comfort of one's home.

Lazada Philippines: You Don’t Need High End Malls When You Have the Philippines' Online Shopping Mall

I consider myself to be a true blue shopaholic. Most of the high end fashion shops and first class boutiques in Makati and Alabang know me by first name because of how frequent I splurge there. I thought I had it figured out and knew all the best deals in town but when my shopping sister Samantha told me that I’m missing out on a lot by not checking out Lazada Philippines, I got really curious. I admit I had a lot of reservations about online shopping. I tried to buy a juicy handbag once and got scammed out of my money so I thought to myself, “what's the difference between that and Lazada Philippines?”. When my friend showed me all the goodies she had bought from Lazada and how much she got it for, I was convinced to give it a shot.

I was really excited when I clicked on the website because of the array of products that were on display as offers for the day. It got me to register for an account real quick and was I even more ecstatic when I got my account up and working- they had so much more to offer and the range of products were just diverse. I didn’t have to stick to clothes shopping here; I could buy gadgets, household essentials and even shoes! I wanted to kick myself silly after seeing all that they had to offer because I couldn’t believe it took me this look to get plugged in on the amazing deals and stuff from this online shopping mall!

An Amazing Shopping Experience

I wanted everyone to know just how perfect my shopping experience was with Lazada Philippines as well as the convenience of finding my favorite designer brands with a few key strokes. Browsing the website is really fairly easy, I don’t consider myself to be an internet wizard but I had no problems finding the products that I wanted purchase. All of their merchandise were laid out in a pleasing manner and each page would highlight the visuals with vibrant aesthetics to really capture your shopping momentum.

Being a designer lover the first thing that I did was go on the search tab and look for one of my favorite tabs, Maldita. I was excited because they have an entire brand section devoted to it and had some of the most recent clothing line on sale! So I bought the BaziaV-Neck Dress that I saw at the mall the other week at a lower price and that for me was just the icing on the cake!

I love Maldita products because they fit women with real curves and have flattering silhouettes that are just elegant and really pretty. The particular Item I bought was a mini-dress made from Satin, with a low V back and a gathered waist. It’s going to be fabulous when I wear it on a date for sure.

To complete my look I decided to make another purchase- a handbag that would accentuate the silhouette of my dress and add a touch of elegance making it the perfect evening ensemble. It wasn’t hard to find the right bag, I immediately found a great steal with their Fides Frederica Handbag which was a croc embossed cowhide leather handbag with a golden flap exterior that was accentuated with this adorable pad lock for its design.

When my items were delivered at my home I was really satisfied with how Lazada Philippines took care of the goods. They were delicately wrapped and the delivery service was polite and attentive. I really want to thank my friend for showing me a world of new possibilities with Lazada Philippines. I can’t wait to buy more stuff and enjoy their outstanding customer service. I will recommend  this company to anyone who enjoys shopping as much as I do!

BDO Installment Payment Option Rocks!

As a mother, we're taught to make sacrifices for the family. Most often than not, it is us who has to take one for the team. We wear the old ratty pair of shoes for as long as our kids have shiny and clean ones to wear. We recycle last year's Christmas dress into a long, loose blouse over leggings because we know that the family budget is tight.

 

At work, we're the ones who always bring “baon” to help clear off the leftovers on the fridge. This is something that we gladly do for our families, but sometimes, just sometimes we see something we really want to buy and feel that we deserve to have it. I was browsing for new backpacks for my husband and my son at Lazada Philippines, when I chanced upon this gorgeous Roberto Cavalli watch online. I am a regular shopper at the Philippines' Online Shopping Mall because it does not hinder me from plowing on with the days tasks. I love the fact that they have everything I need and that the catalogs are neatly sorted and categorized according to need.

Jaw Dropping Gorgeous Watch

I am not fond of jewelry and overly large accessories, but I do love an elegant watch. I've collected timepieces from Esprit, Anne Klein, Philip Stein and other brands since I was young. When I was single and was earning well, I could buy any watch that strikes my fancy – but two children has taught me to exercise restraint. After all, one can only wear one watch a time. But seeing that Roberto Cavalli watch really gave me sleepless nights. It has been years since I last bought myself a decent pair, and I felt that I had to reward myself a little. Just this one. Just this one watch.

To other Moms reading this blog pots, I'm sure you can relate with my emotional dilemma. Buying an accessory for oneself feels like robbing your children off food and milk or school allowance. But really, everyone else would say we should give ourselves a small treat every so often.

Thank God for BDO Installment

As mentioned earlier, I am a regular shopper at Lazada Philippines. I have always paid using my husband's Visa or Mastercard since for him, it was the most convenient method of payment. Having the charges billed on  his card allows him to see the items I have purchased. I also make sure that I shop after the cut off date of the card so that the bill reflects at least 21 days after. This gives us ample time to set aside the amount for payment from the family budget. 

For my guilty pleasure, I chose to use the BDO Installment option. I have a BDO credit card under my name which I use in case of emergencies. I carefully looked at the break down of installment payment which Lazada Philippines posted on their site. The terms were light and payment was very easy on the pocket. Mind you, the Roberto Cavalli watch I am coveting costs only PHP6,000 and I will be getting the three months installment term, so that it is even lighter on the budget.

I plan to pay for my watch by working on weekends writing outsourced content. Since the term is three months, I am sure to have enough money to pay off the item by then.  I commend Lazada Philippines for offering such convenient payment methods. It makes shopping easier and paying for the purchases lighter on the pockets.