My first online shopping experience in Nigeria

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For the first time in history, I shopped online in Nigeria. On Friday, I decided to carry out a search on google for an affordable dual sim phone I need to use next weekend while I’m away. The search took me to Jumia’s website. So I thought, rather than have my assistant going to computer village next week to haggle over a suitable phone for me, which was the initial plan, I should as well try buying it here.

You see, I am not new to online shopping at all, seeing that I don’t really like physical shopping, and I am not much of a buyer. I usually get a lot of my stuff from amazon.com and .uk, Dorothy perkins, house of fraser online stores. etc. And when I am in Nigeria, if I really need something, I buy from Ali express. All these must qualify as a need for me to even get them since I am not exactly a spender. But online shopping in Nigeria, I have never done it. And I have never seen the need for it, because again… I hardly buy anything.

Also, I am a seller on Jumia and Konga. I’ve been with Jumia for about 3 years now. Let me say our relationship is like a regular healthy marriage. We fight and make up. We’ve had more good times than bad times, and in the end, our relationship is beneficial to both parties.

I think I was more confident to buy on Jumia because I sell on Jumia anyway, and people buy my products, so why shouldn’t I buy there too? Also, I have my own online store, where we make a lot of our sales. So I have no reason on earth to refuse to eat the food I prepare.

Anyway, I gave it a try, and placed my order. I had chosen the standard delivery because the express delivery meant I would get the next day since I ordered after 1pm. The Saturday delivery was too risky for me because I had to leave home by 12noon for a performance. So even though it was compulsory for me to get the phone in a maximum of 4 days, I chose standard delivery, which was promised for delivery of 2-7 working days, and it was cheaper than express delivery.

Since I was a first time buyer, some lady called me one hour later to confirm my seriousness. I confirmed, and told her I needed the phone asap, and explained why I couldn’t use the express delivery. She told me my ordered item was under a delivery of 1-4 days. Anyway, around 7.30am on Saturday, some guy calls me, and asks if he can deliver to me that day, to which I said as long as he makes it before 12 noon.

Lo and behold, by 9am, I got my phone. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased, that I even purposely paid the delivery guy extra. I mean, I ordered the phone past 6pm on Friday, and I chose standard delivery. So that’s how I’d have wasted extra money on express delivery.

Now, I don’t know whether everyone who buys on Jumia has such a pleasant experience. Maybe I was treated with such love and priority because this is my first time, but the stress was taken off me and my assistant completely. I mean, I went on google to search for a phone, and I ended up with a phone in my hand in 15 hours.

Please note, after placing the order on Jumia, I also went to Konga to see if I could get a better deal, but it was more expensive by 5,000 naira, so I didn’t bother. My products on Jumia and Konga cost the same, so I’m covered in that aspect, though I have more products on Konga than Jumia. You can visit my store on Jumia and Konga by clicking here and here.

Will I shop online in Nigeria again? Well, if it is an urgent need, and I get the best deal online, yes I would. If not, well, sayonara.

What of you? Have you shopped online in Nigeria? What was your experience like? Good, like mine, or terrible?

Disclaimer

I was not asked, paid, or cajoled by Jumia or anyone to do this post. In fact, no one or organisation was aware of my intention to do this post. I am just writing my personal experience. Anything that suggests the contrary is a mere coincidence. Thank you.