Online shopping still in its infancy in KSA

DAMMAM: About 5 percent of Saudis shop online, and online marketplaces occupy 25 to 30 percent of the total market, according to recent statistics.
Online shopping has a number of risks relating to poor credibility, fraud and delivery delay by some companies and websites. This is true because of the absence of legislation and laws that organize cyberspace and can punish those trying to abuse this way of shopping.
Experts confirm that there are no laws in the Kingdom to protect e-shoppers. They call on the Ministry of Commerce to enact strict procedures to protect them, especially with regard to payment on foreign shopping sites, and identifying specialized companies, not banks, to supervise the payment process.
Recently, 26 accounts on social networks were closed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s teams responsible of combating counterfeiting and commercial fraud. Those accounts published about 20,000 ads for counterfeit and fake products.
The ministry called on consumers to avoid dealing with those unauthorized websites, and confirmed its follow-up on the distributors of counterfeit and fake goods to prevent their marketing through social networks. It stressed that there is no hesitation in the application of statutory procedures for offenders and those involved in the fraud and counterfeiting, and anything that puts the health and safety of consumers at risk.
Naif Al-Sharif, associate professor of commercial law at the Faculty of Law at King Abdulaziz University, said: “There is no law to regulate the means of e-commerce, as the existing law is just a draft.” He said that the goal of e-commerce law in general was to strengthen confidence in the authenticity and integrity of e-commerce transactions, provide the necessary legal protection for consumers, as well as supporting and developing e-commerce.
He said that the draft obliges the e-seller to disclose important information to the consumer, including the merchant’s name or trade name, the means of communication, proof that the seller is registered on the website and confirming that the e-seller is obliged to present the consumer with a bill containing the price and date.
Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, a member of the Saudi Economic Association, said: “E-marketing is a rapid method for purchasing goods, but the Chambers of Commerce should organize workshops and educational seminars to increase awareness for those interested in this kind of shopping.” He noted that e-commerce is spreading around the world and includes all kinds of products and services.