Internet users need no longer worry about one type of scam as President Chain Store Corp (統一超商) is teaming up with the nation's largest online auctioneer, Yahoo-Kimo Inc (雅虎奇摩), to provide customer-to-customer (C2C) services.
Consumers making purchases on auction sites listed on Yahoo-Kimo can elect to pick up their goods and make payments at the same time at President Chain's more than 4,300 7-Eleven outlets.
Internet shoppers currently risk being defrauded when paying before commodities are delivered to their doorstep via private delivery or the post office.
According to a survey released by President Chain, virtual shopping sites have become the fourth most popular destination (84 percent) that Internet users visit, after convenience stores (95.6 percent), supermarkets (92 percent) and hypermarkets (91.5 percent).
"Internet shopping is the future trend for consumption," said Jackie Su (蘇嘉麒), manager of general merchandising for President Chain, during a press conference held yesterday.
Transaction volume for Internet shopping over the past three years has recorded more than 50 percent growth per annum. The market last year reached NT$145.2 billion (US$4.4 billion), with business-to-consumer (B2C) sales accounting for 60 percent and C2C the remainder, Su said.
He estimated that turnover on e-business this year would jump another 40 percent to NT$200 billion, supported by nearly 15 million online users.
Since a test run was launched in November last year, more than 30 online auction stores, with products ranging from clothes, accessories and shoes to pet gadgets, have cooperated with President Chain. The number is expected to rise to 45 by the end of the month, the firm said.
Chuang Lung-lung (莊龍隆), who runs an online store auctioning handbags, joined the system two months ago. He said his business grew by 60 percent, with customers saying it offered a more convenient alternative -- with a guarantee.
RSS