Just a few years ago, it was very difficult to buy things online from abroad. There were very expensive tariffs applied and it took a long, long time for you to get your order delivered at home. The shipping was also quite costly and it sometimes even cost a lot more than the product itself.
Fast forward to 2020, and here we are living in a globalized ecosystem where the internet has expanded to each and every corner of the globe thereby connecting us all together even better. And with the rise of the internet, there has been a tremendous rise in the e-commerce sector. Online Shopping from Other Countries feels just like a dream now. There are even same-day delivery options for some products that are shipped from nearby countries, this has never before been the case in our entire history.
How to Buy Overseas Products?
In the early nineties, when the internet had just begun expanding, we were stuck to buying things locally. The only way to buy things from another country during that time was to ask your friend, relative or family member who was due to visit that country in the near future and hope that they bring you the item which you wanted. These days if you need something then all you have to do is a quick google search for the item with the phrase ābuy onlineā and you can get the exact same item available in another country shipped straight to your home in a fraction of the time and cost that was taken a few years ago. Knowing How to Buy international Products has never been easier.
What is E-Commerce? And How to Buy International Products?
E-commerce is a term that is used for the new age commerce that is powered by the internet. There is a wide range of e-commerce sites that have sprung up in the past few years which makes life incredibly more convenient for millions of people. If you ever wanted to buy something very rare and specific, then it was a huge problem in the past, but not you can find literally anything with the help of e-commerce sites.
There is a wide range of e-commerce websites that sell a huge list of items. Some of the most well-known sites are Alibaba, DesertCart, Amazon, BangGood among many others.
The Ultimate Guide To Buy Online From Abroad
Now since Online Shopping from Other Countries has never been easier and since whatever you want is practically at your fingertips, you only have to worry about a couple of things when you buy things online from abroad. But donāt worry, we have created a list the things that are most important, and itis as follows;
Always buy from reputed and well-known websites.
When you buy things from another country online, there is always a risk that the website may be a scam and that they may take your order but never deliver the item. To make sure that you do not fall for this trick, always make your International orders through reputed ecommerce websites like DesertCard, Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, and such.
One way to make sure whether the website is legit is to have a good look at their privacy policy, terms and conditions, and user agreements. If they are a genuine e-commerce company then the chances are that they may have produced some good legal paperwork. Apart from this, you can also see the product reviews of the item and see if they are genuine reviews or if the reviews seem fake and manipulated. If possible, try to choose the Cash On Delivery option if available when you buy from any new e-commerce website. You can also check their FAQs to know How to Buy Overseas Productsfrom their website.
Never overlook the shipping company
The e-commerce website is simply providing you with the product, but the ones who will deliver the product to you will be another entity known as a shipping company. They are the ones who will be handling your package the entire way. So always make sure that you choose a reliable and reputed shipping company too. Some of the best shipping companies that ship internationally are BlueDart, FedEx, Amazon, United Arab Shipping Company, etc. To see a detailed guide on Guide To Buy online From Abroad through that particular shipping company then you can visit the FAQ page on their website to get detailed instructions as well as the e-commerce companies that have tie-ups with.
You will also find the reviews of the shipping on google or on other websites and blogs, which can also give you an idea about the legitimacy of the shipping company. The shipping costs and times are also an important indicator of the quality of service.
Make sure to read the product descriptions carefully.
When you are shopping online from UAE and other abroad countries then the chances are that you might not be able to return it (depending on the return policy). If that is the case then please make sure that you read the product description properly so that you may not end up with something that you did not want at all. Generally when you order something online then you are not able to return it unless you have been shipped the wrong item or such.
Most shipping companies and e-commerce websites also have an insurance policy, in which if you pay a premium then any damages or problems that occur during the shipping of your item is insured and you get a full refund or a replacement if there are any damages to your product or in case of any accidents. So if there is some kind of shipping insurance and if it is not that expensive then it would be a wise option to get it, if not then there are chances of you ending up with a damaged item. Usually, the insurance of the item is of the same price as that of the shipping.
