Online shopping in Uganda has been embraced in a very huge way especially in Kampala. People now prefer to buy almost everything online. While online shopping in Uganda comes with many benefits such as convenience, ability to shop from anywhere at any time, better prices, ease of finding products etc, it also has its ups and downs. The essence of this write-up is not about blaming eCommerce websites or online stores in Uganda but to educate you about common mistakes Ugandans make while shopping online and how to avoid them. Paying attention to these mistakes could help you save money and also greatly reduce the risk of getting scammed or getting unwanted goods.
Also read; 21 ways to save money on grocery shopping in Uganda
Online shopping mistakes to avoid in Uganda
E-commerce shopping in Uganda comes with risks, most importantly scams, counterfeits and theft of your sensitive personal and financial data. So before you go shopping online on your favorite shopping site, learn about these mistakes online shoppers in Uganda make and how to avoid them:
1. Not doing proper research
One common mistake that Ugandans make when shopping online is failing to do adequate research on the products they are considering purchasing. This can lead to a number of problems, including buying counterfeit products, paying too much for items, and not knowing what to look for in terms of quality and features.
Proper research can help you become more informed about the products you are interested in and make more informed decisions when it comes to purchasing them. This can include reading product reviews, comparing prices from different online shopping websites, and looking for information about the manufacturer or brand. By taking the time to do this research, you can protect your from falling victim to scams or paying too much for a product.
Researching products can also help buyers distinguish between genuine and counterfeit items, which can save you from being ripped off or disappointed with your purchase. In short, conducting proper research before shopping online can save time, money, and frustration in the long run.
Also read; How to Shop Online Like a Pro: 10 Expert Tips
2. Not checking for any extra costs
Another mistake Ugandans often make when shopping online is failing to check for any additional costs. This can lead to unexpected expenses, particularly when shopping on foreign websites. For example, some sellers may attach a high shipping fee, which may be listed in a foreign currency, leading to a higher overall cost for the product. In addition, it is important to be aware of customs and local tax charges when shopping online, as some sellers may not include these in the initial price displayed on the site. This can result in the buyer being required to pay additional taxes when collecting the item, leading to unexpected expenses. To avoid these issues, it is important to thoroughly review the total cost of the product, including any shipping and tax charges, before completing the purchase.
3. Paying before without any assurances.
There are some retailers that require customers to pay for goods in advance before they are delivered to them. While this is assurance that a retailer will get paid for the goods delivered, it has risks. Scammers also ask for advance pay to which they deliver counterfeits, wrong goods or don’t deliver at all. Only pay in advance on reputable and well-known platforms such as Jumia, Ubuy or Kikuu. And for purposes of accountability and future evidence, the payment should be made within the retailer’s website or app and only through secure payment methods such as mobile money or debit car. Similarly, never pay in advance or send delivery fee to social media sellers and those that sell through classified sites such as Jiji, Jumia Deals and Tunda.
Also read; Tricks Jiji Conmen use and how to avoid getting conned
4. Purchasing from sites without a return, refund or exchange policies.
A return policy is a protocol put in place by a shopping website to enable it clients to return goods in case they are wrong or don’t fit. Only buy from a site whose return, refund or exchange policies. You do not want to buy from a store that will sell you unwanted or counterfeit goods and they refuse to refund your money, exchange for you the item with another or accept returns. Last year, a friend ordered a smartphone from a local online store which was advertised as original but received a replica. He notified the store about it they went mute on him. It took him more than 6 months to get a refund, and more over after involving police. That was a frustrating experience that you would never want to go through.
5. Returning damaged or fault product too late
Even when the site has good return, refund and exchange policies, as client you have to bear the responsibility of immediately reporting the damaged, faulty or wrong product. Ordering a shoe and you receive wrong size, and then report the store outside the stipulated return is not a right move. If you receive a faulty, damaged or wrong item, immediately give it to the delivery boy to return it.
Also read; How to stay safe while shopping online in Uganda
6. Saving payment information on shopping platforms
How many shopping sites in Uganda have you saved your payment information with? Even if it only one may be just too many. Today, the internet is full of cyber criminals. If your shopping platform gets a data breach, these cyber criminals could end up stealing your debit/credit card details. Remember a criminal does not need to your bank to steal your money if they get hold of your card information. Never save your debit/card on any shopping platform, and if possible to use the “guest checkout” option it is provided and skip creating an account.
7. Using the same password on multiple sites
I bet you have heard this one before. Using the same login credentials on every site you use is like giving a hacker one that opens your house, opens your money safe and starts your car. Use different passwords for each of your online accounts so that if one password is stolen, the damage will be contained. I know some people find a problem remembering too many passwords, but in this case, you can use a password management tool where you can manage all your passwords in one place and you can access them with one master password.
8. Using public wifi to shop online
Before you begin shopping online, first look around. Where are you? If you’re accessing internet on a public wifi like at the restaurant or workplace, it is better to wait until you go home. Nowadays free wifi is common in places such as malls, restaurants, libraries, schools, parks etc but it is not the safest way to surf the internet especially when login and credit/debit card information is involved. Your login credentials can be easily captured through public wifi by hackers. These hackers can even create a bogus network with a name that resembles that of a place you are trying to get online at. If you want to do online shopping or simply check your bank account balance, cyber experts recommend that you do so using your cellular mobile data instead of public wifi.
9. Following unknown links
Don’t click on shopping links sent to your email or posted on social media, even if they purport to be coming from a big name online retailor. Those links can be crafted by cyber criminals and may lead you to fake sites that trying to collect your information for identity theft. Instead, type the retailer’s website URL into your web browser’s address bar and find it through search. Never give out your personal information including your credit/debit card details or National ID in response to an advert, email or social media link.
10. Shopping from sites that aren’t secure
You can get a lot of clues about security of a shopping website simply by checking its web address. For instance, look out for only URLs that begin with https rather than just http. This is because the added “S” in https indicates a site is secure. Also check or click on the padlock icon in the address bar to see whether the site uses encryption to ensure security. Review the retailer’s privacy policy too, to find out if it is designed to protect your credit card information or other confidential data that people provide them. Remember that internet fraudsters often use a name that is very similar to a well-known and reputable brand, but they slightly alter the spelling, or they simply misspell words in their website name or communications. If a website looks suspicious, don’t buy from it.
Also read; 5 Ways to Shop More Securely Online in Uganda
11. Skipping reviews
Reading reviews by past buyers could save you a great deal. It is advisable to check how previous customers experience was. Check reviews on trusted review platforms such as Google My Business or Trustpilot.
However, you shouldn’t entirely make your decision based on reviews as some stores fake positive reviews to allow soft-sell the item. Don’t believe information you find in the customer review section. Weigh in on every detail provided and do your own research before making decision to buy. Compare as many reviews as you can and cross-reference that with the features of the product you are trying to buy.
Also read; How to spot an online shopping scam in Uganda
On a final note
Generally, you should feel comfortable shopping online in Uganda. However, that doesn’t mean you should click just “buy” before adequately educating yourself about what you want to buy. As long as you’re aware of the most prevalent mistakes made by online shoppers in Uganda and how to avoid them, there shouldn’t be any problem hunting down that perfect product. Stay vigilant. Don’t be a victim
Also read; Best shopping sites to buy electronics online in Uganda
