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Online marketing pros and con: Users react

By Oluwatosin Adeeyo

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There is nothing as comfortable as performing tasks, resolving issues or placing market orders, which would have otherwise been tedious and stressful, effortlessly from the comfort of your home. From resolving minor banking issues to ordering for that favourite dress from the comfort of your couch, the knowledge that an otherwise tasting job can be resolved through a mobile phone provides a euphoria that cannot be matched.
Thanks to web-based markets, orders can be placed for needed items in different categories; from cell phones to clothing and vehicles. The best part is that these orders can be delivered at one’s doorstep or another preferred drop-off location.
Web-based markets came into sky rocketing use in the past year due to the mandatory sit at home and social distancing that rendered the regular physical market nearly ineffective. Articles that are exhausted at home can be ordered for and it will be delivered at your doorstep although the time it takes delivery to arrive is longer than that of physical markets where you get what you pay for instantly.
The experiences and reactions of the patronisers of these online vendors have however not be entirely positive. While some customers of these online vendors are pleased with the service rendered to them, others lament poor product and service delivery.
A patroniser of the digital market, Adedoyin Omoleewo lamented that she once spent five thousand naira on a cloth from an online vendor. However, when the cloth was delivered, the quality was not only bad, it was also grossly oversized. She however added that she has had several good experiences where she got the exact product she ordered for in the correct size and good quality. She went on to say that, the product description and quality advertised by online sellers don’t usually match the one they deliver and that is why she prefers going to a stall where she can test what she wants to buy for quality in the real world.
In her words, “Physical market is usually better because you can twist the shoe for quality. You can also feel and draw the clothes to know the materials and material quality you are buying.
Enitan Adesida, another patroniser of online market said that she has found digital market better because of their stress free nature. In her words, “My experience with online vendors has been okay. I usually get my orders when I am meant to get them without any delay.”
She however declared that online products are not necessarily cheaper especially when you consider delivery fee. When it comes to clothes, the quality of the product advertised does not really meet the quality of the product delivered. To me, online market is better except when you order electronics and gadgets because the gadgets may be faulty. The online market also saves the stress of going to stalls.
Adeoluwa Adeleye and Morris Ogan, both frequent users of the digital market posited that the quality of service they get form online vendors is generally good although sometimes the products sold have exaggerated prices.
Oluwatomisin Oluduro expressed that “There are two sides to buying things online, the good side and the bad side. Online shopping reduces your stress. You can juggle between different shops without leaving your room and your order will be delivered to your doorstep. The bad part is that many of these online vendors are dishonest in that the quality of what they advertise is not what they deliver. What you get may not be up to your expectation and a product which was advertised with bright colours will be delivered with fading colours.”
“I prefer the regular stalls to online market.” He went on “In regular stalls, you can test as many products as you want before making your choice after which you will pay. Online vendors demand payment before product delivery and the product delivered may not even meet expectation. When you return the goods, it will take some days for your complaint to be resolved. If it is regular stalls, you go to where you want to buy the good and buy them at the exact quality and quantity you want.”
Opining similarly are Mary Adekunle and David Adeleye. According to them, some online vendors are reliable while some are not. David said that some vendors deliberately send the wrong clothing size just to make sales. In his words. “You might ask for shoe size 44 and be sent size 42 instead. Then you will have to go through the stress of retuning the shoe for another one or a refund.”
Mary Adekunle, for her part said that if she is sent a faulty or wrong order, the vendor should expect the product to be returned and she will never patronise him/her anymore. She however said that her experience with online vendors have been generally good. She added that she prefers the regular market because you get to feel what you want to buy and bargain the price, which is impossible with online market. She went on to say that, the fear of purchasing fake or faulty products cannot be ruled out especially when customer – buyer trust has not been established.
Kemi Osundairo opined, “Many online vendors lie a lot. Sometimes, their goods are not in good quality and they put up a good picture of the product for advertisement. She went ahead to give instances of her bad experiences.
According to her, “There was a time I ordered a shoe from sky cargo for the price of 8000 naira and I had to pay close to pay close to 5000 naira for shipping and delivery.”
“There was also a time I ordered for a bag from the same site.” She went on. “According to the picture of the bag displayed, the bag was of a very high quality and the size description showed it to be a big bag. When the bag arrived, however, it was of poor leather quality and it was very small.”
“I prefer physical market because price negotiation can be done there. I do both online market and physical market and I prefer the physical market.”
Qudus Sontan another user of the digital market said, “My experience with online vendors has not been bad generally. I have only had few bad experiences like drivers or deliverers having problems trying to get my location or staying in an area far from my pick up location but I definitely get my goods. However this may be because I patronise trusted vendors so I get the exact quality I want. If the quality of the product delivered is not what I expect, I will definitely return it to the seller. If the seller is inaccessible, I will simply drop a bad review on his/her profile and never order from him/her again. I still prefer the physical market because you get to see what you want to buy and get to determine your choice at that moment.”
These do not necessarily make web based market appalling. It however calls for caution when you are about to place an order online. Make sure the vendor can be trusted and there is product return policy in case you are not satisfied with what you are sent.

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Online marketing pros and con: Users react

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