Ecommerce in India – a research report from a buyers viewpoint . I have purchased more than 100 different products/ services from 80+ different suppliers / service providers over the last few months as research for this report. The report includes the following information:
Buying from some of the most popular online shopping websites in India like :
- eBay.in (100+ completed orders from 80+ sellers) mainly as a buyer , but also completed a few sales. Refund mechanism, experience of eBay guarantee program for replacement of faulty DVD player.
- Flipkart ( Ordered and received 30+ books)
- Infibeam (Ordered & received 4 books, 1 watch, Infibeam Pi , clothes )
- Landmark on the Net ( Directly ordered and received 11 books, 4 more books purchased through eBay)
- Indiaplaza ( Ordered & received 10+ books)
Review of other ecommerce websites :
- Rediff shopping
- Indiatimes shopping
- Homeshop18
- ITDepot
Smaller ecommece websites:
- Chilliguard
- Iken comics
- Magazinemall
Payment gateways in India, which are used by online shopping websites, features, user interface
- Paisapay (only available at eBay.in) both as a buyer and seller
- CCAvenue
- EBS
- BillDesk
- ICICI Payseal
- HDFC bank payment gateway
Courier companies in India – delivery time, usage by ecommerce websites, reliability, service level, COD option (have personally received / signed for all the items)
- Bluedart
- Deccan360
- AFL
- Aramex
- DTDC / DTDC Plus
- Vichare
- Professional Couriers
- TNT express
- Firstflight
- Trackon
- Maruti Couriers
- Indian post / speed post
- AFL
Level of service of courier companies
- Timely delivery
- Damage to goods
- harassment faced during delivery .
Price and availability comparison
- Electronic goods – memory cards, electronics , online prices vs prices at Retail stores like Chroma
- Books – at Flipkart, Infibeam, Landmarkonthenet, eBay
- Lifestyle products
Buying from charities online, product quality , delivery times:
- Cryindia
- Womens India Trust(WIT)
- Aseema Charitable Trust
- Save the Children
- Committed Communities Development Trust
- Kushala Kala Kendra
Services:
- Domain registration – online vs offline payment
- Telephone bill payment
- Internet subscription – Hathway, Tata Indicom, Photon+
- Mobile prepaid recharge
- Mutual fund purchase/ redemption
- Web / email hosting
Peer to peer lending websites
- Rangde – concept, user interface, repayment rates, borrower profiles
- Dhanax – concept, payment method
The report is currently being updated, and a new version will be available post April 2011. For more details you can contact using any of the following methods
- send an email to websites@useful.in
- leave a comment
Since I do not ask sellers for free “review copies” and unlike other websites pay full price for every product ordered, so that my reports are unbiased, please indicate how much you can pay for the report or a section of it.