VIVAnews - Indonesia has apparently showed unique characteristics concerning the online-shopping culture which could only be found in a few other countries, in which one of them includes bidding.
This was explained by Vensia, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, from Bhinneka, an online store that has been operating in the country for about 10 years. “We’re offering negotiable prices. It’s one of a kind in the world,” she said at a seminar entitled ‘Innovative Ways of Doing Business in the Global Market’ at the Shangri-La, Jakarta on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.
At first, Vensia said, Bhinneka did not offer such a system. But, along with the growing initiatives of the customers to bargain, the store finally decided to apply the system.
Indonesian consumers are also still accustomed to the conventional trading method which allows them to see or try the goods they desire before actually buying it.
Therefore, Bhinneka later established an offline store to cater the needs of such customers. The store also provides various methods of payment starting from cash transfer, cash on delivery, debit cards, credit cards to “post-delivery payment” system.
However, the latter option is restricted to the goods that are worth less than Rp 2 million, and by assessing the credibility of the buyers. Vensia also pointed out the importance of being careful in making online transactions because there have been a lot of fraud actions committed.
One of the examples would be the transaction provided by Bhinneka in conjuntion with Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI). “Out of 20 transactions, half of them were fraud,“ Vensia said.
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Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
