The Philippines is the seventh country to have Shopee, which is described as a “social mobile marketplace” where users can buy and sell products even when on the go.
The app, which is available for download for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play, was previously launched in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan.
“Anyone can be a buyer, anyone can be a seller. All it takes for you is to download the app,” Shopee regional managing director Terence Pang said during the app’s Philippine launch on Wednesday. “There’s no need for you to sign any contract, no need for you to pay any commission.”
“We’re very mobile-focused,” he added. “We believe that this is the way for us in the future, that buying and selling can happen anytime, anywhere.”
Aside from the usual display of products, Shopee offers various tools such as the Live Chat function, letting users communicate with sellers through the app if they have questions about the product they want to buy.
There is also the hashtag function, which both buyers and sellers could use to search for products or keep up with the latest trends.
But perhaps the app’s most important feature is the Shopee Guarantee. Shopee will only release the payment to the seller if the buyer has confirmed the receipt of the product in the previously agreed-upon condition.
“We are providing security and trust unlike the conventional social media platforms,” Pang explained. “We have an integrated payment system which basically lets us take full control of the whole experience, from buying to delivery.”
“It works for both the buyer and the seller because it helps ensure that the transaction is safe.”
Shopee also hopes to target first-time sellers with its Seller Assistant tool, which interprets their app data to measure store performance, organize inventory and show which products are selling well.
For more details on Shopee, visit the app’s website.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
