What it takes to buy things online in Nigeria

Posted by Felix Okoli on Sunday April 2, 2017 at 19:40:45:

One way Nigerians are going shopping nowadays is through the internet. Yes, they no longer have to leave their homes or offices just to buy the thngs they want as they can do it now more conveniently by shoppinh online.

Therea re a lot of things which Nigerians can now buy conveniently while using their computer or mobile phones as the 21st century has given rise to a good number of reputable online shopping websites. They can buy clothes, shoes, books and groceries online. Yes, they can even buy ready to eat food delivered to their office while hot and within a few minutes.

While there has been a growing number of Nigerians buying things online, there are also some Nigerians who barely do it or know what it takes to do it. What does it really take to buy things online in Nigeria? Why should someone buy things online? Well, it's quite easy and I'm going to list the basic requirements below.

Things needed to buy things online:

1. Internet connection
2. Funds
3. Shopping website
4. Order and Delivery

As you can see from the above list. there are basically 4 things you'll need if you want to buy things online in Nigeria and everyone can do it.

Internet connection:
This is the basic thing needed as you need to be connected to the internet at least before being able to place and order for an item or service. You can connect to the internet with your mobile phone, tablet and an internet service from your provider. Once connected, you'll be able to go through a lot of sellers who have internet platforms from where you can buy things. Personally, I like using a Wifi modem that comes with a really fast connection. The internet connection doesn't just have to be available, it also has to be reliable so that you can use it without having a bad online shopping experience.

Funds:
You need money to buy things online in Nigeria and it can be cash in your hand or at the bank. You can pay with cash on delivery, bank transfer or even a credit or debit card. Many online Nigerian sellers accept a variety of payment methods. You can pay in advance or after delivery. For me, I prefer the cash on delivery option except when the cash is over N10,000. I don't want to start paying someone with N50,000 for an item I bought online since I consider that to be of high value. It's best to pay cashlessly when buying high value items or services online. In the past, many shopping websites in Nigeria accepted only advance payments before delivering but now they've grown bigger and accept payment after delivery and in some cases also offer items on credit.

Shopping website:
To shop online in Nigeria, people need to visit the online location of the seller's store and view what is actually being offered and the conditions attached to it. A shopping website or platform is where potential buyers would visit before making a buy decision. As a buyer, you need to know the location of the seller's website and visit it to buy the things you want. You may be asked to register as a member before using the website and this is normally easy as long as you have an email address.

Order and delivery:
After visiting the seller's website where goods and services are offered, one needs to make a purchase if he wants to get what he wants and this is what it called an order. Once an order for the item has been placed, the next step is for it to be delivered to you. It may be delivered digitally/electronically if it's a virtual item or it can be delivered physically if it's a physical item. A buyer would normally be made t provide his delivery address and choose a mode of delivery when placing the order so that it can be delivered to him after the order has been accepted. Some orders will be brought to the buyer's physical address or he may choose to pick it up at a local distribution store of the seller.

It's easy to buy things online in Nigeria and many people have already embraced it.