Few months ago, the internet was abuzz with the sad story of the kidnap of three children by a family's new maid. This story got me very emotional and yes, I joined the social media campaign to try to rescue the kids. However, one part of this ordeal that caught my attention maybe in a slightly different way, was the fact that the mother of the kidnapped kids sourced the nanny off a classified ads website. I was stunned that this could be happening in Nigeria already. Unlike most people who vented their anger and blamed the woman for using this unorthodox style of recruiting, I sat back and thought deeply about her actions. I came to a resolution that Nigerians are unconsciously making the transition from analog to digital and beginning to trust e-commerce platforms to close deals that before now were not an imagined possibility.
This transition has a huge behavioral and cultural element which is very difficult to influence, but interestingly, we are already seeing the positive changes and obvious downturns. This kidnap story is a strong evidence of this much-needed transition. Just like the physical market place, we now have online marketplaces, online shopping malls, online stores, etc, all in obodo Naija! Amazing right?
Nevertheless, just like anything new, e-commerce has its own challenges, especially in a unique market like Nigeria, which is plague with many shortcomings. That is not to say it should be abandoned. Just like fire can be a tool of destruction, we should not forget that it could also be a source of illumination, warmth, etc. E-commerce just like fire, delivers lots of benefits but in the wrong hands can be a tool for fraud. So my question is, how can e-commerce consumers like you, contribute towards surmounting the apparent challenge of fraud in Nigeria?
Trust is the single most important and intangible element of using e-commerce platforms and most online platforms work hard to foster this. However, consumers should be more discerning. Before you shop on Jumia, Konga, Kaymu, OLX or any of its kind, please endeavor to do some preliminary research. The result of your research should then influence your decision on whether or not to make that purchase.
Another rule of thumb is never to shop on websites that do not make room for reviews. As a consumer, if you have purchased a product online and it's been delivered , make it a point of duty to drop a review. Your review should answer any of these questions. What was your experience shopping on that e-commerce platform? Was it cumbersome completing your transaction online? Was it super easy ? Was the quality of the product you received good? Did the product image and description online match the actual product delivered to you? Did the product do what it said it would do? Was the delivery made within the promised timelines? Was the product fit right? Was the price of the product commensurate to the value delivered?
Please note that reviews should not always be negative, so don't wait till you have a negative experience to share your views. A positive review is equally as important because it points other users in the right direction and could help increase sales for the product's seller.
While e-commerce is still growing in Nigeria, remember reviewing products is the only way your voice can be heard as a consumer. Take full advantage of this and feel free to post your reviews on your personal social media accounts, just if the e-commerce site decides to delete your review. We are the generation shaping e-commerce in Nigeria, so actively be a part.
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