Actually, to have a viable e-commerce site several things have to improve.

Within Malaysia there will indeed be a concern if your package is left behind, will you get it? Worse yet, will it actually be delivered? Pos Malaysia does not have the best reputation here!

This gets worse when talking about international shipping, ...it's very expensive to send goods abroad by Pos Malaysia or any other carrier. There are no special rates for companies using postal services to do/complete their business.

But incomming is even worse! Order something from abroad and 9/10 your parcel has been opened by customs. Depending on the contents it remains to be seen if you will actually receive your order in full or even partially.

But it is not just shipping, also online payments. Why is it it is so difficult for Malaysians to offer Paypal for example it's a big downside! Malaysia is not the must friendly country for e-biz and surely can do more to improve matters.

Apart from starting/running an e-business, I think it would be of value to know what buyers are looking for and wether or not they trust e-sales?

What would be the ideal shop for you?
What service would be a must?

Self-promotion??

You'll have to give them a break, the title of the thread invites it! At least they omitted an URL...

@Chris: Back to the topic mate, or start a thread we can all whinge "no good, no good, cannot la" on.

@Ste: That last question needs its own thread too, but you're right, the knowledge would be priceless. Or worth several RM, at least. I'm sure you'll have entrepreneurs all over your inbox soon with that info. For inward shipping, try asking your senders to use premium shipping companies. My stuff that comes by USPS/GDEx arrives fast and without hassle, they seem to have some sort of customs mojo working. If I have stuff delivered cheaply, it either doesn't arrive (credit cards!) or pos 'organises through customs' it to add weeks to its transit time. Outward, I've got no real complaints about the price of shipping. Shipping something that's worth only RM10 internationally is always going to be uneconomical. For what it's worth, Pos and Citylink have got a perfect outgoing delivery record for us. I mean, deliveries always get there in good time, even if the two companies do have remarkably different qualities of online delivery records.

@me: Oh noes, I'm off-topic. Apart from Air Asia, MAS, Dell and Farnell, I don't buy anything online from Malaysia, but there is one shop with a website that I would buy from almost weekly if only they did e-commerce: Asashi Sdn Bhd - Promotions
I cannot begin to explain how ironic I feel my life has become that I have to take a printout of an IT shop's price list to a shopping mall to explain to them why I don't want to pay the price they think my skin colour can afford. Anybody know a good malaysian IT equipment webshop?

Maybe in the next 2 generations, then e-commerce will have a foothold in Msia...
for now, most Msians/Asians prefer to walk on china-doll streets and touch/smell the goods.

The day when Msians order durians online will be the day when we can say..msia has come a long way !!

Ah self promotion is wrong? I am proud of the website even though it is not the best but it serves the function of having an online shop to educate and offer customers an alternative way to purchase things.

On the issue of e commerce, yes Malaysian are way behind developed countries like USA or even s. korea but if today you do not invest in a shopping cart online, you will be so left behind when more and more people accept shopping cart online here in Malaysia

Based on experiences as a shopper online and a seller, I do not have a problem with online shopping as for shipping we use a local courier which guarantees shipment on time locally and can even track your shipment online.

I do not target overseas customers because my products are all imported from USA mostly. Not all business hope to earn big money or their sole income when they start a shopping cart online. For me personally, it is more of an advertising tool, and for distributors to update themselves with the products rather than sending them brochures which cost printing charges.

Business today changes so fast, that printing brochures or catalogues will soon be obsolete due to fast demand of customers.

Shopping cart also makes it to easier to order things from overseas. One can view the products online, make some phone calls or emails and send payment via bank transfer. One thing we need to understand, even though we send huge amount of $$ to companies in USA/India, we have no problem getting our goods. The companies have become matured enough and willing to expand their business instead of making a fast $$ cheating customers.

I make lots of money via affiliates...via good domain names and support



The high gas prices, convenience of shopping, Excellent payment systems and reliable delivery systems all helps my online business!!

I love it!!

Welcome to Datuk Goh Website-Making Money !!DatukGoh

Catch the NEXT ecommerce eBay in Malaysia @ OObey.com

Hmmm.. The problem of card verification of Paypal do limit Malaysian to shop online. Beside even some bank employee never heard of Paypal before..Duhh!..

And I still have bad experience of 'Citylink' just throwing my parcel from outside my house breaking my stuff inside..

I just create my own e-commerce....www dot exadomain dot com ...just starting,hehe. New kid on the block.

You think you have a problem with couriers. Yesterday the supplier of the product that we do most of our trade in phoned. They say we have to raise our prices by over 60%, or they won't supply us any more. Apparently we might hurt the business of shops who sell it in Malaysia. The same product is available for the same or even less than us from other (non Malaysian) websites. As for the local shops, we've had 2 Malaysian customers in 6 months. I'd be surprised if the local shops had noticed. I think I'm beginning to see why some people on here think it's difficult to do online business in Malaysia.

Yea...online site for selling durianss!!

- Always The Best!

Is malaysian ready to buy online?

Actually credit cards is one of the safest to transact but it's hard to change the mentality.