The Online Shopping Thread

devarshi84 · 9th March 2007, 13:06

Would t-bhpians be ready to buy expensive and unique stuff online from a reputed source offering best in class technology and products?

what would be your suggestions and opinions?

khanak · 9th March 2007, 14:09

Id buy online if the price is really good. i like to see a product before buying it and play with it in the shop a bit before taking it home. also for online shopping one needs to have a trusted dealer who also offers support if the product doesnt work. A COD option would be the best.

alexrabbi · 9th March 2007, 14:21

In past i have purchased books and cd's from amazon.com - they r really profession.

Once the local post office opened my parcel, when i informed amazon they refunded some % of money and asked sorry.

But i haven't yet found any such reputed online shops in India.

spadival · 9th March 2007, 14:25

I have bought off online stores, both in UK and India.. Never been disappointed so far.

Last online purchase was my car insurance

Rtech · 9th March 2007, 14:26

I have bought a lot online. Both in India and abroad. However, India has a long way to go as far as customer satisfaction goes. I've only recently had 2 very bad experiences - one with cleartrip.com on the refund of canceled tickets, and the other with indiaplaza.com on a goof up on their part for which their support was terrible.

However, that said, I have had very good experiences with sifymall.com.

Main things I look out for are:
- Physical address for the company
- Actual customer support number
- and ofcourse it helps if it is a well established company name behind it.

scooby05 · 9th March 2007, 15:07

For the last 4 years now, I've been buying loads of items thru the net.
all my part imports for all the cars[except mercs] are thru the net. also book flights, hotels and buy lots of other things.
this laptop-Armada M700 was bought on Baazee.com 4 years now!!
just bought a laptop for my daughter on Ebay.co.in
Never faced a problem! Touch Wood!

aZa · 9th March 2007, 15:57

Yes i would ... have been purchasing books, cd/dvds from amazon for years now. Also from Ebay and twice from indiatimes shopping. Somehow i've always found ebay.co.in prices higher than street prices.

Vid6639 · 9th March 2007, 16:14

cleartrip is real sad when it comes to refunding. It has some crazy cancellation charges and the money is credited back to your credit card only after a month.

spadival · 9th March 2007, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooby05

For the last 4 years now, I've been buying loads of items thru the net.
all my part imports for all the cars[except mercs] are thru the net.

Didnt you face problems with customs while importing parts?

Akshay1234 · 9th March 2007, 17:00

i would definitely buy as long as its from a good source.

mobike008 · 9th March 2007, 17:09

I buy a lot online in India and sometimes when abroad. Some of the websites i use regularly and find safe to transact online using a credit card are :

Ebay ( for any product that is cheaper than offline)
DeepDVDDiscount.com ( For Movie DVD's) order it from India and get it delivered in US and somebody brings it along to India.
Bestbuy.com ( Same as above)
overstock.com ( used mostly to buy watches)
spicejet.com ( for airtickets), one of the best online service for buying airtickets

I find Rediff and Indiatimes blatantly expensive and extremely poor in delivery and customer service.

sreenivass · 9th March 2007, 17:37

purchased both my digicam and camcorder from Amazon, laptop from Acer agent online, all in the US. In india there are a few sites like firstandsecond.com and others. My decision depends both on the reputation of the site and the value of the goods. There may be some goods I want to see and feel before I buy for which online purchase is not possible.

GTO · 9th March 2007, 17:39

I buy a ton of stuff online, all the time. And its not restricted to products....even certain services like document copy-editing etc. The choice availability, convenience and value is unmatched. When I shop, I look for reliability, brand name, ease of shopping and value.

prabuddhadg · 9th March 2007, 17:54

No. I have bought a lot of stuff from ebay, including a camera for some 15 or 20k. But last two transactions, I got fooled and ebay was no use at all in solving the dispute. So, I decided not to transact any more unless there is a COD facility.

Equus · 9th March 2007, 19:17

Been buying online for years.. No major issues!

9th March 2007, 13:06	#1
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	The Online Shopping Thread Would t-bhpians be ready to buy expensive and unique stuff online from a reputed source offering best in class technology and products? what would be your suggestions and opinions? Last edited by devarshi84 : 9th March 2007 at 13:07.
	(1) Thanks

9th March 2007, 14:09	#2
khanak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai/Toronto Posts: 2,799 Thanked: 268 Times View My Garage	Id buy online if the price is really good. i like to see a product before buying it and play with it in the shop a bit before taking it home. also for online shopping one needs to have a trusted dealer who also offers support if the product doesnt work. A COD option would be the best.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 14:21	#3
alexrabbi BANNED Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 131 Thanked: 21 Times	In past i have purchased books and cd's from amazon.com - they r really profession. Once the local post office opened my parcel, when i informed amazon they refunded some % of money and asked sorry. But i haven't yet found any such reputed online shops in India.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 14:25	#4
spadival Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, AU Posts: 1,773 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	I have bought off online stores, both in UK and India.. Never been disappointed so far. Last online purchase was my car insurance
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 14:26	#5
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	I have bought a lot online. Both in India and abroad. However, India has a long way to go as far as customer satisfaction goes. I've only recently had 2 very bad experiences - one with cleartrip.com on the refund of canceled tickets, and the other with indiaplaza.com on a goof up on their part for which their support was terrible. However, that said, I have had very good experiences with sifymall.com. Main things I look out for are: - Physical address for the company - Actual customer support number - and ofcourse it helps if it is a well established company name behind it. Last edited by Rtech : 9th March 2007 at 14:28.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 15:07	#6
scooby05 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,145 Thanked: 192 Times	For the last 4 years now, I've been buying loads of items thru the net. all my part imports for all the cars[except mercs] are thru the net. also book flights, hotels and buy lots of other things. this laptop-Armada M700 was bought on Baazee.com 4 years now!! just bought a laptop for my daughter on Ebay.co.in Never faced a problem! Touch Wood!
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 15:57	#7
aZa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Noida / Delhi Posts: 1,595 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	Yes i would ... have been purchasing books, cd/dvds from amazon for years now. Also from Ebay and twice from indiatimes shopping. Somehow i've always found ebay.co.in prices higher than street prices.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 16:14	#8
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,730 Thanked: 43,477 Times View My Garage	cleartrip is real sad when it comes to refunding. It has some crazy cancellation charges and the money is credited back to your credit card only after a month.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 17:00	#10
Akshay1234 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 10,265 Thanked: 12,317 Times	i would definitely buy as long as its from a good source.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 17:09	#11
mobike008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 11,703 Thanked: 14,829 Times View My Garage	I buy a lot online in India and sometimes when abroad. Some of the websites i use regularly and find safe to transact online using a credit card are : Ebay ( for any product that is cheaper than offline) DeepDVDDiscount.com ( For Movie DVD's) order it from India and get it delivered in US and somebody brings it along to India. Bestbuy.com ( Same as above) overstock.com ( used mostly to buy watches) spicejet.com ( for airtickets), one of the best online service for buying airtickets I find Rediff and Indiatimes blatantly expensive and extremely poor in delivery and customer service.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 17:37	#12
sreenivass BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bangalore India Posts: 932 Thanked: 44 Times View My Garage	purchased both my digicam and camcorder from Amazon, laptop from Acer agent online, all in the US. In india there are a few sites like firstandsecond.com and others. My decision depends both on the reputation of the site and the value of the goods. There may be some goods I want to see and feel before I buy for which online purchase is not possible.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 17:39	#13
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,534 Thanked: 300,741 Times View My Garage	I buy a ton of stuff online, all the time. And its not restricted to products....even certain services like document copy-editing etc. The choice availability, convenience and value is unmatched. When I shop, I look for reliability, brand name, ease of shopping and value.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 17:54	#14
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 812 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	No. I have bought a lot of stuff from ebay, including a camera for some 15 or 20k. But last two transactions, I got fooled and ebay was no use at all in solving the dispute. So, I decided not to transact any more unless there is a COD facility.
	() Thanks

9th March 2007, 19:17	#15
Equus Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,123 Thanked: 423 Times	Been buying online for years.. No major issues!
	() Thanks