E-payment in online-shopping improves in China: Survey

The latest survey results released by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) show that postal order, online payment and payment on delivery represent 43.2 percent, 41.8 percent and 34.7 percent respectively in payment means among Chinese citizens who shop on the Internet. The proportions have increased compared with last year indicating that e-payment situation in China has improved considerably.

Online-shopping as a new business mode has advantages over traditional shopping modes in that prices are cheap, shopping is made more convenient and there is a greater variety of goods. The China Internet Hotspot Survey Report released by the CNNIC on Tuesday shows that 17.9 percent netizens have had online-shopping experience in the last six months. Of the netizens 53.9 percent believe delivery at doorsteps is more convenient, 50.1 percent believe prices are cheaper with online-shopping and 44.8 percent believe they can buy things unavailable in their vicinities through the Internet.

The survey also shows that 62.4 percent of those who have not tried online-shopping are afraid of being cheated due to distrust of websites; 47.4 percent are worried about the quality of the goods and 42.3 percent have doubts over the security of online-shopping. Question such as the security of personal information, bank account password and funds during transfer have become the greatest concerns among netizens.

According to inside authoritative figures China's online payment system has the most advanced establishment in the world. No matter it is a debit card or a credit card any personal information of its holder cannot be seen on the commercial websites during online shopping.

Experts predict that as the living standards of Chinese citizens keep improving and online-shopping itself is maturing it would have two different developments: one is the course of low price. Like supermarkets it would offer commodities which are cheap but good. The other trend is selling of top-grade consumer goods.

By People's Daily Online