Comparison tools lead the way for price transparency in e-commerce

Online shopping has become increasingly popular amongst South African consumers. Convenience, competitive pricing, and a wide choice of products make online purchasing a no-brainer for tech-savvy shoppers, but retailers need to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to standing out against the competition.

Over the past year, a couple of popular South African retailers’ pricing has come under scrutiny where products were advertised as discounted from inflated list prices to give customers the perception of a bigger saving. In both cases, the advertising was ruled to be misleading. While unscrupulous practices like this may get consumers all riled up, the benefit of these kinds of cases being brought to the fore is that consumers have become more discerning when it comes to finding a bargain online.

Comparison tools and aggregator sites take the hard work out of shopping around and comparing prices. According to PriceCheck Founder, Kevin Tucker, comparison tools are just as important to retailers as they are to consumers. “Retailers are able to monitor price changes, price drops, promotions from competitors to allow them to stay relevant.” With more than two million visits each month, PriceCheck is South Africa’s number one product discovery and comparison platform.

Online purchasing behaviour indicates that consumers tend to go for trust over price point, particularly in the case of lesser known and international retailers. Consumers would rather pay a little bit extra at a reputable retailer than find a great bargain only to have to wait longer for delivery time, experience delays, or deal with poor customer service and a sketchy returns policy.

For this reason, comparison tools have become an invaluable tool for discerning shoppers, helping customers make informed decisions about their online purchases. Consumers love a good bargain, especially in tough economic times, and daily deals, sales and discounts create a sense of urgency and encourage impulse purchase behavior. By listing retailers that offer a benefit to consumers, especially those that don’t have the financial backing of the big players in the e-commerce space, comparison tools add value to consumers while at the same time sending the listed retailers good quality traffic and qualified leads.

While building trust with consumers goes beyond fair and competitive product pricing, retailers need to consider the customer journey from start to finish. Tucker advises retailers to invest in online support through live chats or chatbots. “Real-time support can go a long way with consumers.”

He believes that providing as much information for the consumer to review is essential for retailers to maintain their credibility. “Delivery and returns policies, shop reviews, and payment methods all need to be clearly indicated to manage expectations and ensure that consumers are able to make the best buying decision possible.” he says.