Things You Need Before You Think of Buying Items Online
Just like every other thing, there are necessary things you need in order to start buying online, especially from the overseas.
What it takes to buy things online in Nigeria is quite different from what it takes to buy from USA, UK and other foreign countries of the world. In this article, I will tell you the requirements you have to meet before you can buy from the overseas. Some of the things may be required in other countries while in some other countries they may not be necessary. So it depends on the country where you are buying from.
Bellow are the necessary things:
1. Buyer account: This is the account you create on the seller's website. This account is similar to what we have on facebook and other online avenues that require our profile information.
2. Computer or a GPRS enabled mobile phone: In order to buy things online, computer like laptop or desktop PCs are not necessary. With your GPRS enabled mobile device you can make your purchases on the go.
3. Money: This is the principal of all the requirements because without money you can not even think of buying anything online. Even if the seller is offering pay on delivery service, you must have your money readily available when the items arrive so to avoid embarrassment.
4. Internet access: You need internet access to be able to visit the website of the seller, create account, sign in and make your purchases. Here, the cyber cafe is not necessary. You can buy data plan from any GSM network provider to browse the seller's website and make your purchases. Gone are the days when the cyber cafes were necessities for such transactions. Thank God for the GSM network providers.
5. Bank account and Debit card: You must also have a bank accoount in case the seller is not the type that offers pay on delivery service. Without a bank account and Credit or Debit card, you will not be able to effect payment the seller's website.
6. Valid billing and shipping addresses: A billing address is the adress associated with your bank account - the account you are buying with, while a shipping address is the adress where your orders are coming to.
7. Custom clearance fee: There are times when Custom will hold your consignments untill you pay Custom duty for them. When you plan to make purchase from overseas, budget for Custom clearance fee also. It is very important if you don't want stories that touch.
8. A valid US address: A US adress is necessary if you are buying from US, UK and other overses countries that do not ship items to Nigeria. Your shipping agent wil provide you with a valid US adress with a unique customer identification number after you have signed up on their website. After that, you will be using the information as your shipping adress in US whenever you are buying on shops like amazon.com, ebay.com and others. When your orders arrive your US adress, your shipping agent will inform you, then you will instruct them to ship your items to you in Nigeria.
The last item is not necessary if you are buying from Nigeria. So, if you have the listed criteria in place, you are good to start buying online.
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