Comments on: E-commerce in Nigeria: We’re back to the stone age! http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/ Personal blog of an Internet Entrepreneur & Technology Enthusiast Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:43:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/gb.png" alt="United Kingdom" /> Becka <small id="gs_author_location">from Bradford, United Kingdom</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-44866 United Kingdom Becka from Bradford, United Kingdom Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:01:16 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-44866 Though its been long this happened or that u posted this link but i believe that you got the wrong information about you not getting a refund with your zenith websurfer card. I've also had that experience and my money was refunded back to me. Also it depends on the website you visited. I make purchases on line with my zenith websurfer card, mastercard and visa card. Just make sure that Nigeria is amongstthe countries that is listed on the website before you start making your orders. I've reserved hotel rooms, paid for some products and services online with my card and believe me it works without a hitch. Better still you can call their customer service. The number is provided at the back of your card and they will follow up on it. Though its been long this happened or that u posted this link but i believe that you got the wrong information about you not getting a refund with your zenith websurfer card. I’ve also had that experience and my money was refunded back to me. Also it depends on the website you visited. I make purchases on line with my zenith websurfer card, mastercard and visa card. Just make sure that Nigeria is amongstthe countries that is listed on the website before you start making your orders. I’ve reserved hotel rooms, paid for some products and services online with my card and believe me it works without a hitch. Better still you can call their customer service. The number is provided at the back of your card and they will follow up on it.

]]> By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/gb.png" alt="United Kingdom" /> www.morakinyobeckley.com <small id="gs_author_location">from Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-36390 United Kingdom www.morakinyobeckley.com from Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:53:44 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-36390 Its high time that m-commerce is developed to overtake payment solutions for e-commerce purposes especially in places like Nigeria. Simply put, m-commerce is the ability to make payments for proudcts using your mobile phone. Currently in active deployment in about 25 Western countries at the moment, it will be integrated as a means of attracting people who do not feel comfortable with paying with thier cards online and offers several options for persons who use either pay-as-you-go packages or even contract lines. In other words, if you needed to pay for a book online, all you had to do was to load the value of the cost of the book on your mobile phone (if you use pay-as-you-go) which you will get in your local currency (at the going exchange rate) and send a text to a desgnated number. You will recieve a text with a code and enter that code on the website where you are making a purchase. That effectively completes your transaction and eliminates or reduces the ability to carry out fraud. It is a novel idea which will no doubt change how e-commerce is done in Nigeria. You can take your time to fill out this survey with regards to e-commerce in Nigeria http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=CwDKTRblmf4F8A5e8VxseA_3d_3d Cheers Its high time that m-commerce is developed to overtake payment solutions for e-commerce purposes especially in places like Nigeria.

Simply put, m-commerce is the ability to make payments for proudcts using your mobile phone. Currently in active deployment in about 25 Western countries at the moment, it will be integrated as a means of attracting people who do not feel comfortable with paying with thier cards online and offers several options for persons who use either pay-as-you-go packages or even contract lines.

In other words, if you needed to pay for a book online, all you had to do was to load the value of the cost of the book on your mobile phone (if you use pay-as-you-go) which you will get in your local currency (at the going exchange rate) and send a text to a desgnated number. You will recieve a text with a code and enter that code on the website where you are making a purchase. That effectively completes your transaction and eliminates or reduces the ability to carry out fraud.

It is a novel idea which will no doubt change how e-commerce is done in Nigeria. You can take your time to fill out this survey with regards to e-commerce in Nigeria http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=CwDKTRblmf4F8A5e8VxseA_3d_3d

Cheers

]]> By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/gb.png" alt="United Kingdom" /> Toye Akande <small id="gs_author_location">from London, United Kingdom</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-36228 United Kingdom Toye Akande from London, United Kingdom Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:03:27 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-36228 Hi, I can only but echo your sentiments on InterSwitch's issues. I think it needs to get worse before it gets better though. We have a few trust issues to get through first. When the stigma associated with the few bad egg's proficiency at 419 starts to abate, we might see Nigeria truly coming on-line in the 21st century. Not all the systems are in place yet to allow cross-referencing and address checks nationwide as there isn't a fully functioning credit-rating system yet. Once this happens and is in place look for these restrictions to begin to ease. For now the best way for people to get stuff on-line consist mainly of getting their friends and relatives in diaspora purchase the goods or services online on their behalf. I think we'll get there in the end; it's just so frustrating to have to get through these issues as an entrepreneur. Hi, I can only but echo your sentiments on InterSwitch’s issues. I think it needs to get worse before it gets better though. We have a few trust issues to get through first. When the stigma associated with the few bad egg’s proficiency at 419 starts to abate, we might see Nigeria truly coming on-line in the 21st century.

Not all the systems are in place yet to allow cross-referencing and address checks nationwide as there isn’t a fully functioning credit-rating system yet. Once this happens and is in place look for these restrictions to begin to ease. For now the best way for people to get stuff on-line consist mainly of getting their friends and relatives in diaspora purchase the goods or services online on their behalf.

I think we’ll get there in the end; it’s just so frustrating to have to get through these issues as an entrepreneur.

]]> By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/za.png" alt="South Africa" /> Bernard <small id="gs_author_location">from Gauteng, South Africa</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-36057 South Africa Bernard from Gauteng, South Africa Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:43:45 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-36057 Hi This is a very unfortunate situation. With such poor efforts from the financial sector ecommerce will never take off, limiting online entrepreneurship. In South Africa (my home country) the situation is much better, but even here there are barriers to ecommerce (like no proper access to Paypal) Hi

This is a very unfortunate situation. With such poor efforts from the financial sector ecommerce will never take off, limiting online entrepreneurship. In South Africa (my home country) the situation is much better, but even here there are barriers to ecommerce (like no proper access to Paypal)

]]> By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/ng.png" alt="Nigeria" /> Augusta <small id="gs_author_location">from Nigeria</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35529 Nigeria Augusta from Nigeria Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:59:57 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35529 I read your issue on Nigeria atm cards and GTB. What you said about GTB is correct. I applied for GTB master card and loaded money in it but was declined on every website i tried using it to purchase. The issue now is that i can't withdraw the money through any ATM machine. I also went to GTB branch to see how they can credit my balance back to my dom account and they told me it is impossible to have my $100 credit back. I can't withdraw and i can't have my money back. I also experieced the same thing with Zenith Bank. I got thier web surfer master card and it was declined on every website i tried using it to purchase and when i went back to them, they told me that my $120 that was in it is not refundable. It is realy frustrating. I read your issue on Nigeria atm cards and GTB. What you said about GTB is correct. I applied for GTB master card and loaded money in it but was declined on every website i tried using it to purchase. The issue now is that i can’t withdraw the money through any ATM machine. I also went to GTB branch to see how they can credit my balance back to my dom account and they told me it is impossible to have my $100 credit back. I can’t withdraw and i can’t have my money back.
I also experieced the same thing with Zenith Bank. I got thier web surfer master card and it was declined on every website i tried using it to purchase and when i went back to them, they told me that my $120 that was in it is not refundable.
It is realy frustrating.

]]> By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/ng.png" alt="Nigeria" /> mrs Olonade Vivian Oluwafemi <small id="gs_author_location">from Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35484 Nigeria mrs Olonade Vivian Oluwafemi from Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:59:12 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35484 l bought some plots of share with Treasureline at lbadan last yr March bt till 2day they haven't pay me mysh capital l bought some plots of share with Treasureline at lbadan last yr March bt till 2day they haven’t pay me mysh capital

]]> By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/ng.png" alt="Nigeria" /> Mike Awoleye <small id="gs_author_location">from Nigeria</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35330 Nigeria Mike Awoleye from Nigeria Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:12:55 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35330 It is very easy to criticise and bring rubish efforts, but i will like to say that there is no perfect system. If you read how mastercard, paypal and other payment solutions started and the problem they are facing even up till now, you will agree with me that we only need to encourage interswitch and others to tighten any loophole that our people may take advantage of. Kudos to interswitch, i have enjoyed this facilities provided by interswitch both locally and abroad without a hitch, at least for almost two years now. I have shop online on local sites and foreign sites with it without stress. Reducing the cost of integration will help Nigerian business to get online in a quick time. It is very easy to criticise and bring rubish efforts, but i will like to say that there is no perfect system. If you read how mastercard, paypal and other payment solutions started and the problem they are facing even up till now, you will agree with me that we only need to encourage interswitch and others to tighten any loophole that our people may take advantage of. Kudos to interswitch, i have enjoyed this facilities provided by interswitch both locally and abroad without a hitch, at least for almost two years now. I have shop online on local sites and foreign sites with it without stress. Reducing the cost of integration will help Nigerian business to get online in a quick time.

]]> By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/us.png" alt="United States" /> Blogger Laments State of eCommerce in Nigeria - AfricanLoft <small id="gs_author_location">from Utah, United States</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35252 United States Blogger Laments State of eCommerce in Nigeria - AfricanLoft from Utah, United States Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:20:00 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35252 [...] David Ajao laments the state of e-commerce/Internet banking in Nigeria. His experience with Interswitch, one of the major platforms for online transaction led him to declare e-commerce in Nigeria is “back to the stone age”. Read full text [...] [...] David Ajao laments the state of e-commerce/Internet banking in Nigeria. His experience with Interswitch, one of the major platforms for online transaction led him to declare e-commerce in Nigeria is “back to the stone age”. Read full text [...]

]]> By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/us.png" alt="United States" /> imnakoya <small id="gs_author_location">from Minnesota, United States</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35251 United States imnakoya from Minnesota, United States Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:09:53 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35251 This is not good! I have been reading up on the Interswitch API and about ready to implement the system in one of my projects. So other options are there for online transactions then? The best solution to Nigeria business woes is competition. When a better system comes on board, the slackers either sit up or die. Unfortunately, it appears the competitive spirit is either not there or simply frustrated. This is not good! I have been reading up on the Interswitch API and about ready to implement the system in one of my projects. So other options are there for online transactions then?

The best solution to Nigeria business woes is competition. When a better system comes on board, the slackers either sit up or die. Unfortunately, it appears the competitive spirit is either not there or simply frustrated.

]]> By: <img src="http://www.davidajao.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/geosmart/flags/ng.png" alt="Nigeria" /> Kayode <small id="gs_author_location">from Oyo, Nigeria</small> http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35245 Nigeria Kayode from Oyo, Nigeria Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:49:07 +0000 http://www.davidajao.com/blog/2008/02/20/e-commerce-in-nigeria-were-back-to-the-stone-age/#comment-35245 To be sincere, Interswitch is just like your typical Nigerian company (No foresight). How could they not have seen this coming? While the likes of Paypal continue to increase the security features of their system to reduce fraud, Interswitch has remained the same since its inception. I guess Interswitch took the issues of Fraud lightly despite the nasty reputation Nigeria has in cyberspace. For now, the temporary remedy will be for Interswitch to promote its Cashcard brand. Cashcard is just a card account that is not attached to any Bank Account; you simply reload at any participating bank, and spend. I got mine from Skye Bank and it works perfectly online. To be sincere, Interswitch is just like your typical Nigerian company (No foresight). How could they not have seen this coming?

While the likes of Paypal continue to increase the security features of their system to reduce fraud, Interswitch has remained the same since its inception. I guess Interswitch took the issues of Fraud lightly despite the nasty reputation Nigeria has in cyberspace.

For now, the temporary remedy will be for Interswitch to promote its Cashcard brand. Cashcard is just a card account that is not attached to any Bank Account; you simply reload at any participating bank, and spend. I got mine from Skye Bank and it works perfectly online.

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