Shopping online has become a primary source of commerce for many in Pakistan. But it is riddled with problems, scams, misinformation, and much more. In this episode I go over what are the common issues you will face, how commerce works online, and what you can do to stay protected in the ever growing digital commerce landscape of Pakistan.

Hosted by Saqib Tahir
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Read full show notes here: https://sknexus.com/ep21/
Read companion article here: https://sknexus.com/e-commerce-in-pakistan/

Chapters
0:00 - TMF 021 - Shopping Online in Pakistan - Complete Guide For Aam Awaam (Average People/Mango Insaan)
0:21 - My Background in Commerce and Selling Tech
0:52 - Emergence of Online Shopping during 2010-2020
2:55 - Transition to Marketplace platforms
3:54 - Important Disclaimer: There is no promotion in this episode
4:57 - Explanation 1: Marketplace vs Direct to Consumer vs Groups/Communities
7:12 - Explanation 2: What is Escrow?
8:47 - Explanation 3: What is COD (Cash on Delivery)?
9:36 - Explanation 4: What are Digital Wallets?
10:46 - Explanation 5: Difference in shipping services
12:23 - Issue 1: Fake reviews on Marketplaces
13:38 - Issue 2: Fake reviews on Direct to Consumer sites
14:12 - Issue 3: FOMO and fake discounts/pricing
16:05 - Issue 4: Fall of privacy and protection on Marketplaces
18:02 - Issue 5: Fake and generated product descriptions that spread misinformation
20:10 - Issue 6: Using SEO hacks to appear on top of search results
21:06 - Tip 1: How to find real reviews
22:14 - Tip 2: Finding actual discounted products
22:54 - Tip 3: Being safe using debit/credit cards to pay
23:28 - Tip 4: Being safe when dealing with new sellers
24:18 - Tip 5: Avoid direct contact with sellers on Marketplaces
24:49 - Tip 6: Make habit of leaving reviews, help others in need
26:01 - Why do sellers try to establish direct connection?
27:32 - Need to be a smarter buyer in this landscape
29:12 - Tip 7: Learn to verify existence of sellers
32:13 - Question for you
32:26 - After show - Tech ke Totkay: How TCL Smart TV SSO is abusing their access

Further learning and references
12 reasons Pakistanis avoid buying things online — and how that can change

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