{"id":303,"date":"2021-10-30T13:24:14","date_gmt":"2021-10-30T10:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/condala.com\/?p=303"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:53:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:53:49","slug":"annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/","title":{"rendered":"9 annoying things about shopping online in Uganda"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The advent of eCommerce has seen more Ugandans start\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">shopping online<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0for items they used to\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">buy<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in traditional\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">shops<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. There\u2019s nothing more magical than making a few taps on your smartphone to order an item online, and a few hours later, the item gets delivered to your doorstep. You don\u2019t have to leave your house when you want to shop for anything. What you can\u2019t find in one online store will be available in another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/online-shopping-in-uganda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Shopping online in Uganda<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is the trend, but the process is not streamlined yet, and wrong and unprofessional people have infiltrated the trade. To prove my point, visit Buyer Beware Ugandan groups on Facebook and see the number of scams and unprofessionalism of Uganda online stores that are reported daily.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Also read;\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/how-to-stay-safe-while-shopping-online-in-uganda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How to stay safe while shopping online in Uganda<\/span><\/strong><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#Annoying_things_about_shopping_online_in_Uganda\" >Annoying things about shopping online in Uganda<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#1_The_delay\" >1. The delay<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#2_Sellers_who_demand_payment_before_delivery\" >2. Sellers who demand payment before delivery.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#3_What_you_see_is_almost_always_not_what_you_get\" >3. What you see is almost always not what you get.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#4_Out-of-stock_alert\" >4. Out-of-stock alert<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#5_Snail_pace_customer_service\" >5. Snail pace customer service.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#6_Getting_a_refund_is_a_war\" >6. Getting a refund is a war.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#7_Sellers_whose_delivery_team_has_a_poor_sense_of_direction\" >7. Sellers whose delivery team has a poor sense of direction.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#8_High_delivery_fees\" >8. High delivery fees.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#9_Expensive_products\" >9. Expensive products.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/annoying-things-about-shopping-online-in-uganda\/#Summing_up\" >Summing up!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Annoying_things_about_shopping_online_in_Uganda\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Annoying things about shopping online in Uganda<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In addition to scams and unprofessionalism, these are the 9 most annoying things that have made many Ugandans shy away from online deals in Uganda.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_The_delay\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. The delay<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A Ugandan online store can promise same-day delivery, but the item arrives 2-3 days later even when you are located in the same area where their warehouse is. Most of them don\u2019t provide order tracking services. You won\u2019t know the status of your order, which creates a lot of anxiety in case delivery takes longer than the estimated time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Sellers_who_demand_payment_before_delivery\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Sellers who demand payment before delivery.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When a seller demands payment or delivery fee before delivery of the item, it sounds scandalous. We Ugandans believe after seeing. Why would I pay for what I have not seen? The worst scenario is when the item delivered turns out to be faulty; chances of getting back your money are slimmer than zero as the seller can decide to ignore or block you if you remain persistent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Also read;\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-an-online-shopping-scam-in-uganda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How to spot an online shopping scam in Uganda<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_What_you_see_is_almost_always_not_what_you_get\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. What you see is almost always not what you get.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Product descriptions and images are supposed to explain the value for money. However, some crooked sellers in Uganda display images stolen from other websites. In most cases, these images are deceptive and do not reflect what they exactly have in store.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Out-of-stock_alert\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4. Out-of-stock alert<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Have you ever placed an order for an item, and received a notification about a delivery, only to be told later that the item is out of stock? Some sellers order items abroad and start marketing them using free stock images without indicating the items aren\u2019t in their store yet. That is wrong. It is very annoying to add an item to the cart, and complete an order, only to be told it is out of stock. Don\u2019t just sell what you don\u2019t have.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Snail_pace_customer_service\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5. Snail pace customer service.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you want to start your day angry, call the customer service line of a Ugandan online store or inbox them on social media. They won\u2019t pick up the call, or if they help you pick up, the customer representative will respond with burning moods as if you are their co-wife. Social media messages go unanswered, and if they answer, they will do so after ages and, of course, with totally unhelpful responses. One may think these online stores are on the payroll to frustrate their customers!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Getting_a_refund_is_a_war\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6. Getting a refund is a war.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If the product delivered is defective, damaged or wrong, a long, arduous process begins as you request a refund or exchange. Online sellers in Ugandans are interested in making sales but not giving value to their customers. They do not have clear return and refund policies. Others have them simply for formality. You might be forced to involve the police to recover your money for an order than went wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Also read;\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-buying-fake-products-online-in-uganda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How to avoid buying fake products online in Uganda<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Sellers_whose_delivery_team_has_a_poor_sense_of_direction\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">7. Sellers whose delivery team has a poor sense of direction.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A delivery boy can get lost in your neighborhood because he misunderstood your directions. You are forced to walk around the hood or peep from your balcony, looking to locate him. The time and airtime you waste in such a treasure hunt is enough for you to visit a traditional store and forget about online shopping in Uganda.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_High_delivery_fees\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">8. High delivery fees.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">High delivery charges suck, and most of the time, they do not equate to the value or weight of the product you have purchased. Many crooked online sellers want to profit from delivery fees and the item itself. You wonder whether they deal in the business of logistics or eCommerce. And none of them offers combined shipping; they will charge delivery fees for every order you place!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Expensive_products\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">9. Expensive products.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Buying online is not cheap. Sellers hike product prices moreover with fake discounts. Online sellers assume buyers are ignorant and know nothing about product price trends, thus hiking prices. Sometimes it is cheaper to take a boda, go to Kikuubo Market, and buy an item than ordering the same online. Online products are more expensive than those in the local market.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summing_up\"><\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Summing up!<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Online shopping in Uganda is a trade that\u2019s just a few years old. It is still in its teething stage. However, mega-developments are expected in logistics and online payments, which will give a flawless experience while shopping online in Uganda. But for now, we can only shop and pray!!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The advent of eCommerce has seen more Ugandans start\u00a0shopping online\u00a0for items they used to\u00a0buy\u00a0in traditional\u00a0shops. There\u2019s nothing more magical than making a few taps on your smartphone to order an item online, and a few hours later, the item gets delivered to your doorstep. You don\u2019t have to leave your house when you want to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":304,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[20,21,22,23,24,25],"class_list":{"0":"post-303","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-insights","8":"tag-cons-of-online-shopping-in-uganda","9":"tag-disadvantages-of-online-shopping-in-uganda","10":"tag-online-shopping","11":"tag-online-shopping-in-uganda","12":"tag-pros-of-online-shopping-in-uganda","13":"tag-shopping-online-in-uganda"},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1080,"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303\/revisions\/1080"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/condala.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}