BIZCHINA / Biz Life
Shopping through online agents
By Cao Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-12-26 11:08
SHANGHAI: The Internet has ushered in yet another tool to help people
save time and money, only this time there's an actual person at the other
end of that mouse click.
Enter the age of the online shopping agent.
Their mission is to find bargains for shoppers by tracking down items
overseas or sizeable discounts here at home. The only catch is that the
agents also charge for the service.
Fiona, an experienced 24-year-old online shopper from Shanghai, recently
purchased a pair of boots from the United States, some lip balm from
Japan, a handbag from South Korea and a pair of shoes from a local store
with help from an online shopping agent.
"Many of the products I buy through agents are not available in the local
market," said Fiona. "And because of the taxes and duties, almost all of
the international brands are expensive here in China."
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