Trust seals on online shops seen to promote better e-commerce

Over 200 complaints against online shops were lodged before the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last year. The true figure might be even higher, as many people do not bother filing complaints against online stores. Nico (not his real name) is one of them. He bought a bouquet of flowers days before Valentine's Day but never received his order. “Finollow-up ko naman, pero I never received a reply,” Nico said in a text message. With more and more Filipinos choosing to buy goods via the internet, Trade officials are developing a trust seal for on online stores to boost efforts in improving best online selling practices, GMA's Victoria Tulad reported. In Tulad's report, avid online shopper Aran shared why he prefers buying online. “Mas merong mga discounts. So, pwede akong bumili mga anim, pito...Mas convenient siya,” he said. DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said in Tulad's report, “Kadalasan problema is nagbayad na sila di naman nila nakuha yung serbisyo, ang produkto either delayed yung delivery or it's not exactly what they saw online.” Tulad reported that talks between DTI and the Digital Filipino Commerce Association (DCOM), which has at least 60 member online shops, are already underway to finalize details of the trust seal. The trust seal will be awarded to online shops that comply with certain rules covering service given to consumers in line with the promotion of growth of e-commerce transactions. Earlier, Maglaya said that talks with DCOM are set for next month. Moreover the DTI, with the help of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and local governments, will slap online shops that violate consumer laws with fines ranging from P5,000 to P150,000.  While such initiatives are still in the pipeline, DCOM vice president and founder of CashCashPinoy-Moonline Inc. Frederic Levy advised online shoppers, “Go to websites where everybody is going. When a deal is too good—it's not a good deal.” — Siegfrid O. Alegado/BM, GMA News