Online Buying Tips

One of the best things about the internet is being able to buy stuff without ever leaving your room. For the most part, people in the US get the most benefits because they have well developed support infrastructures (delivery logistics, secure payment systems, etc).

Doesn't mean that us Pinoys can't take advantage of what the worldwide web has to offer though. Just recently, the 2 biggest drawbacks for Filipinos ordering online were: 1. How to send payment abroad the most cost effective way 2. How to ship to the Phils the most cost effective way.

Last August, #1 was effectively solved when the Philippines became an eligible Paypal country. So anyone with a credit card can just log on and register at www.paypal.com and in a few days be able to pay for most online purchases without having to pay costly money order fees, as in ZERO fees, save for the forex. To top it all off, the seller gets the money instantly, and this means they can ship out your order immediately as well. Used to be the only way to pay for online purchases in sites that don't directly accept cards was to use Western Union ($14 charge or P800 for up to $200 purchase!!!), and the seller has to be contacted to pick up the cash in a Western Union branch in their area. Paypal can be used for sites like Ebay, Barnes & Noble, etc, and can even be used to pay for non-online purchases for other services or goods.

For #2, I will not dwell on shipping details but the best advice I can give is to either get a reliable forwarder or hassle your friends or relatives to consolidate stuff for you and fill up a balikbayan box. Considerations are ocean (cheaper but 30 days delivery time) or air (charge per kg,but fast like 4-7 days) freight. The alternative is having your seller ship direct to your place in the Philippines but shipping costs for this is OUTRAGEOUS and customs taxes are unpredictable. The only times shipping to Manila direct make sense are purchases for just a few books, magazines, CDs, or DVDs. The key is FEW and value should not be over $50 total.

As to web merchants, Amazon and Ebay still lord it over everyone else simply because of the breadth of options they offer.

Amazon accepts credit cards so you wont need Paypal for this, and most of their items qualify for FREE shipping for delivery to within the US as long as you meet the $25 minimum. Moreover, great bargains abound. Majority of books and DVDs actually sell for far less than retail price in US stores. This is why I said that US residents have it great, no travelling needed (save on gas, parking, time), and the price you get is even cheaper and you get it delivered to your doorstep!! They have thousands of other items as well — electronics, toys, baby items, clothes, etc, and all are excellently priced and reviewed. The reviews are crucial because you will hear from people who have actually used the product and can offer unbiased opinions.

Another underrated feature of Amazon is the marketplace section. Here, 3rd part sellers offer new and used stuff at prices different from Amazon but still fall under the wing of the Amazon site. One example, a DVD boxset sells for $79.95 at a retail store, sells for $71 at Amazon, but sells for $9 at Amazon Marketplace, plus $3 shipping, brand new! Unbelievable, but true. These sellers have feedback ratings as well so you can see how recent transactions turned out before buying. Some books even go for as low as $0.03, some are used but do not actually look used at all.

As for Ebay, because of the wide open nature of the buyer-seller system, the risk of fraud is much higher but the variety of products available is close to infinitesimal. Just be sure to check the feedback rating of the seller before you bid, and have patience in planning your purchases. The best way to save is to buy more items from the same seller to as they can combine shipping costs and give you a very significant discount. You just have to look hard — what's not there today, might be there next week for much less. Don't be afraid to contact the seller if things are unclear before bidding. The worst thing you can get is negative feedback for not clarifying before bidding.

My last advice is to make sure you have self-control before registering at Paypal!