China’s e-commerce sector is still facing significant challenges, as many people in the mainland show little interest in online shopping. This is despite the fact that the number of Internet users in the world’s most populous country has surpassed 100 million, according to a survey conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.
Among the 2,376 individuals surveyed across five major cities, a staggering three-quarters had never purchased anything online, and about 10% of those who did engage in online shopping only made purchases about once a month.
The range of goods purchased is also very limited, with the majority being entertainment services such as music or movies, along with phone cards and computer hardware or software.
The primary reason for this reluctance is that Chinese consumers have little confidence in the quality of products sold online. “People prefer shopping in stores because if they are not satisfied with a purchased item, they can easily return it,” said Guo Liang, an Internet expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.
H.TRUNG
