You are here: Home / Thailand Living / My Lazada Review: The Lowdown on Shopping With the ‘Thai Amazon’

My Lazada Review: The Lowdown on Shopping With the ‘Thai Amazon’

Every now and again I get sick of shopping malls, especially here in the KOK, where it seems a new one pops up each month.

I love chilling at a mall coffee shop, I must admit, but shopping weekend in, weekend out, does my nut in after a while.

Traipsing up and down escalators, navigating through the maze of skin clinics and spa shops, heavily discounted clothes shops that aren't really discounted (they just mark things up massively) and over zealous shop clerks who jump to attention and stand right in your face, as if to say,

“I'll only disappear when you buy something and, if you walk out now, you'll lose face because you can't afford to buy anything, can you”!

Jokes aside; I know they mean well, and for some reason bosses tell them that it's good customer service to hover over customers like a fly around poop, but me, I'm from the “If I need something, I'll ask”, school of thought. Though to be asked politely, once, is of course fine.

So, to escape the perils of malls, I had a thought; what about online shopping in Thailand?

I'd never done it before, but I'll try anything once, and who else to try first but Thailand's very own wannabe version of Amazon, Lazada!

lazada review

So for all those like me, who'd prefer weekends were freed up for far more fun things than shopping, and for those who perhaps live a fair way from a major mall and would prefer to shop from the comfort of their couch, here's my experience shopping online with Lazada…

What the Hell is Lazada?

Lazada is a relatively new addition to the world of e-commerce and online shopping, and made its first appearance in 2012. Being primarily focussed on the SE Asian market, most outside of the region haven't heard of it.

Lazada, however, is growing at a rapid pace. Its well-planned business structure gained a fair amount of investor interest and today the company has the financial backing of global firms such as JP Morgan, Kinnevik, Summit Partners, Tengelmann, and more recently, Tesco PLC.

This privately owned business is currently operating in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, and gaining in popularity as online shopping establishes itself as a contender to the high street.

What Do They Sell & is it Any Good?

The variety of products found on Lazada is massive, and comparable to Amazon in many ways. From jeans to headphones to aftershave, there's little you won't find here.

Appliances, fragrances, technology, home décor, fashion, baby products, travel, health and beauty are a handful of the staple categories found on the site, not to mention the subheadings that branch off these main categories.

Famous product brands include Microsoft, Apple, Philips, Maybelline, L’Oréal, Samsung, Converse, Levi’s, Rolex and tons more.

I stopped counting at 30 of the top names scattered around the homepage, as it quickly becomes apparent that ‘if it’s out there, it’s on Lazada!’

In addition, like Amazon, along with the big brand names, there’s cheaper, lesser known name versions of most products too.

lazada review

How Does Lazada Stack up Against the High Street?

Like all online shopping websites, the sellers’ overheads and expenses are dramatically reduced.

This means less money spent on shop rental, staff members and everyday maintenance and upkeep of the shop premises. All this amounts to a massive reductions in prices.

I ran a few tests on foot, comparing for example a pair of Sennheiser headphones on Lazada to those in a local mall shop.

The price saving was near on 1,000 Baht!

Of course, this won't be the case on every product, but you will definitely save on brand name goods.

Not only do you save on the product itself, but you also cut down on travel costs, and the time spent going to buy what you want.

Here's my latest parcel of baby's swimming nappies. Delivered in one day, and I saved $100 on the Mothercare price and didn't have to go to the mall!

lazada package

Is the Website Easy to Use or a Pain in the Backside?

I won't beat around the bush here. Most Thai websites are pretty poor: too many images, lots of late nineties-style animated icons and the most un-user friendly (non-mobile optimized) experience you can have. Many use flash too, which, if you use an iPad, or Safari on a Mac, always gives you problems.

The Lazada homepage is a tad overwhelming at first, due to the vast amount of products and information being thrown at you from the get-go.

Where to go? What to click? Where do I search? What specials are running?

But this is the point. They want to tickle your fancy and get you in shopping mode.

In fairness, and in comparison to others, the Lazada website is pretty good. It's fairly easy to figure out, and if you’re looking for something specific, simply use the search bar at the top of the page to get all the options quickly.

If you feel like doing a bit of window shopping (or cyber shopping in this case), use the category selector on the left-hand side.

The registration process is quick and offers sign up options through your Facebook account or Google Plus Page. The site is fully available in English too. I have come across a few product descriptions unavailable in my preferred language, but I have to say those instances were minimal.

Go Mobile for the Best Deals

Aside from shopping on your desktop or laptop via the website, I recommend the Lazada app for mobile, which you can download free to your phone or Tablet. This not only gives you shop on-the-go mobility, but also access to instant updates on specials and promotions, which sometimes don't last long.

Much of my “want list” comes to me on the fly, and I'm forever whipping out my mobile to Google prices and search where I can get my latest must-have gadget. So since I've been shopping on Lazada, I've installed the app on my Samsung phone.

Click on the image below to download the app from the store. See the ‘Save more on app' sign at the top of the page.

lazada app

Does Lazada Do Flash Deals & Special Offers?

In short, Lazada is all about the ‘Specials’ There's hundreds of deals, promotions, special offers and discounts strewn across the website on any given day, and if you've got the app, you'll never miss a flash deal. So if like me you never pay full price and would rather hold out a tad longer to get a special deal, Lazada will be your new home.

What's the Deal with Payment & is it Safe?

One thing that really impressed me about Lazada was the ‘Cash on Delivery’ payment option. This shows that Lazada is in tune with the market, as Thailand is not a place where credit cards are readily available for everyone. In Thailand cash is king and many products sold on Lazada will happily collect the cash from you when the product is delivered.

Apart from the ‘Cash on Delivery’ option, you obviously have the everyday options such as Credit Card payment via Visa or Mastercard, and payment via PayPal. The site offers a fully secure payment gateway, as certified by Norton security and PCI DSS.

lazada review

How Long Will it Take to Deliver My Order & Can I Track It?

Deliveries take place from Monday to Saturday (no Sunday delivery) and delivery time will vary depending on your location. My headphones arrived within 48 hours, which was impressive.

The specific timeframe for delivery is clearly stated before you buy; and the system uses your postcode to determine the delivery date once you have checked out. If there's a delay, you will be informed either via sms, email or both.

Delivery is free if your total purchase amount exceeds the minimum required for your order, Again, this minimum total amount depends on your location and is very clearly stated while purchasing or exploring each product. At the moment the minimum required amount for free delivery within Bangkok is around 500 Baht, while areas in the province are looking at about 2,000 Baht .

Tracking is a breeze too. Simply login, as your would with Aamzon, and you'll see your delivery progress tracked by Lazada’s online tracking system, and if you require urgent assistance, the ‘Customer Care’ section of the website is easily accessible.

lazada reviews

That Sounds Good, But How Easy is it to Return & Refund?

It's as easy as any other big online shopping site, in that if a product is faulty or damaged when it arrives Lazada offers an exchange or a refund. In some cases they will even consider exchanging items which don't fit, such as clothes or shoes.

Sellers and the products sold by them are assessed by Lazada before being listed, which protects you from counterfeits and makes for a higher quality shopping experience.

In Summary

Lazada is coming on leaps and bounds. I'll certainly be using it regularly from now on, and if you're thinking about online shopping in Thailand I'd highly recommend it.

It isn't without its criticism though – see the comments below for reference. One customer complained about a lengthy refund process, and another about a defective product.

But let's face it, with thousands of transactions each day, there's bound to be a few unhappy customers. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon International from inside Thailand, read my review of that service here.

I for one have had my ups and downs with Amazon back home, but by and large, over the years it has been a positive experience. Moreover, it isn't like we don't occasionally run into problems with  retail shopping too.

For example: I bought an 10k Baht chair from SB Furniture in Thailand and within 6 months the material was peeling off all over the floor and covering my clothes. I was refused a refund, even though it had a year's refund!

Head office ignored my emails, and the store staff would not help me in my quest to talk to a senior manager. I was absolutely helpless with no one to turn to.

Sometimes in life, stuff like this happens. I re-covered the chair and gave it to someone in need – turning a negative into a positive.

For those based out in rural areas with poor access to malls and local shops, Lazada will come as a blessing, and for those like me who'd like to spend less time in malls, Lazada takes the *sigh* out of the shopping process.

Overall it's a thumbs up. There's a great selection of products, delivery is fast and the pricing is cheaper than mall shopping.

>> Click here to visit the Lazada website



Last Updated on

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Jon says

    I have been ordering many items from Lazada this last 6 months with no major problems. Delivery is fantastic and quick. Payment couldn't be simpler. The caveat is quality of the merchandise. I purchased an ergonomic chair for about 4000bt whose armrests should have gone up and down but don't. I could have asked for replacement or refund but I let it go. Kitchen, office, home stuff all no problem. I think I've saved many thousands especially considering the time saved and taxi fare.
    Reply

    • Phil says

      let me see if I have this correct, you bought an item from lazada, lazada delivered it ok I guess. the item you purchased had a 14 day warranty. the item worked ok for 14 days. after 14 days, there is some problem with the item, but as it only had 14 days warranty, you now have a dud item. hmmmm. sounds like this is how things are supposed to be. so throw it in the rubbish bin. whats the point to your post?
      Reply

  4. Mike says

    Horrible. First time i have used it and i ordered 4 separate things. The first they say was delivered but it never was. When i call the delivery people and Lazada they say will call me back that day (5 attempts so far). One week later nobody has returned a call and still no package. the second part was cancelled by them a week later. the other two are yet to show up. I understand things happen but if you can't figure it out after a week, give me a refund. I will have to have my credit card cancel payment
    Reply

  6. Jonathan Nettleton says

    I have suffered several times dealing with Lazada who claim to give you effortless shopping!
    On three occasions they have claim goods have been delivered when they have not and it has taken over a month to sort out the problem this last time.
    Not good enough and I will no longer deal with them.
    They mean well but I have given them 3 chances!
    Reply

  7. david fisher says

    Yes very well packaged but kettle inside did not work ! A reshipped faulty item, and courier did not leave ANY paperwork, just the brown box. As stated all the return/ drop down boxes on lazada website are only in Thai. Only in Thai.
    3 damning calculated tactics of lazada to make returning goods almost impossible for farang.
    In contrast most sales information is in Thai and English.
    Reply

    • David Fisher says

      Today I am going into my local tesco/homepro to buy a kettle the merit of the convenience of lazada i.e, it efficiently delivers and invoices often substandard goods has been realised. But I know even in those stores in Thailand I have to make sure I don't get an 'open box'.
      Reply

    • Rrose says

      Sorry, but English is available. Just change the language setting at the upper right side of any page.

      My problem with their return process is that the Return Form will not print out in its entirety, regardless of my printer settings. I have tried everything, but it still cuts off part of the right side of the page. This is probably due to a setting in their computer code for the box. It appears complete on the computer screen, but will not print completely.

      I was able to speak with a Customer Service rep, in English, and will attempt to return the item anyway. They will email me a refund voucher... let's see if that works... stay tuned.
      Reply

    • Lajos Vas says

      you need to send the wrong item back in the box in any 7-11shop .. immediately. means the next two days. because Lazada has a wrong item return time of 7 days.. maybe its best to post by Post office. after i have sent back the wrong item with 7-11 and nothing happened from Lazada.. i advise you better send back by Post office.. but first, you need to fill the form where you can find in _-wrong item and refund. ---then print the form and put on the pack. the pack must be in good condition to post..There are Tracking number and a REFUND NUMBER .. good luck .
      Reply

  8. Graham Watts says

    I also had a bad experience. I found a 12-inch digital photo frame and ordered it for a Christmas present. I received a phone call shortly after and couldn't understand what the man was saying, but it seemed he just wanted to confirm that I had placed an order with them. Good customer security, I thought. So I said, yes, I placed an order. It came quickly and I kept it in the box it was delivered in and wrapped it for Christmas. When it was open, it was a 7-inch screen. Who would want a 7-inch photo frame? Just use your phone. By now it was past the return date deadline, but I tried via phone and email to get them to understand (a) that because it was a Christmas present, it hadn't been opened on arrival from them and (b) they shouldn't have shown a 12-inch version if they didn't have it. Three email replies simply told me the rules about returns. No compromise. I'll never go back to Lazada. Am trying ezbuy next.
    Reply

    • david fisher says

      Yes I have used lazada a lot and know that many of the companies that trade under the Lazada banner use it to reship substandard and open box returned goods some of which do not work, the returns dialogue on Lazada is entirely in Thai ,unlike a lot of the presale and delivery notices that are in Thai and English.
      In summary the first thing I bought on Lazada TH a Canon 50mm lens did not work had to send it to Canon for warranty service the last thing I have just received a a Hanabishi kettle does not work out the box and couriers left no paperwork.
      Reply

      • TheThailandLife says

        Do you have the names of any of these companies? Perhaps you should forward the names to Lazada so they know about this? My experiences with Lazada have still been good to date. The stuff always comes very well packaged and the delivery drivers always call when they are downstairs rather than dropping it at reception.
        Reply

        • Tortue-ninja says

          Jeez, give it a rest! Lazada sucks and everybody knows it. This weird fascination that you have for them: defending them the second someone shares their bad experience when it's clear they are bad is annoying at best or completely crazy...
          Reply

          • TheThailandLife says

            You give it a rest. I'm not defending, just stating my experience. The minute I have a bad experience, it will be posted here. I'm not trying to deny others are having bad experiences, but there are others who have posted here with positive experiences.It's no different to eBay or Amazon. I just order some headphones on eBay and was hugely disappointed. I've had bad experiences with Amazon sellers too, but I still use them.
            Reply

          • Phil Heron says

            and giving good reviews when they do something good helps people who might be considering using them. not giving that recognition is irresponsible, the same as when an internet troll posts shit. if you opened your eyes and mind, you'd see good and bad reviews. there wouldn't be any good reviews if, as you put it, they were total shit
            Reply

        • david fisher says

          Yes very well packaged but kettle inside did not work ! A reshipped faulty item, and courier did not leave ANY paperwork, just the brown box. As stated all the return/ drop down boxes on lazada website are only in Thai. Only in Thai.
          3 damning calculated tactics of lazada to make returning goods almost impossible for farang.
          In contrast most sales information is in Thai and English.
          Reply

        • spacebass says

          Today I received two Kando kettles from Tesco via Lazada, each packed in transparent plastic boxes, one kettle had a small black hair clearly visible on its plastic body, easily brushed off but wtf a new packed product ? Out the factory? box been opened?, return ? You will never know , Lazada is just an agent for Thai companies, You trust Thai companies? Tesco packing looked like it had been done by a schoolboy.
          Reply

          • TheThailandLife says

            Possibly that one had been opened by a customer in store, or perhaps someone refunded it, or perhaps it was the display model and last one in stock. Thing is, Tesco works to international standards across all its stores so I wouldn't expect this from them. I'd return the one that was open.
            Reply

  9. Remy says

    My experience with LAZADA in both Malaysia and Thailand in 2015 and 2016 has been very poor. Avoid them!
    A user-friendly website masks hidden extras (like high delivery costs in Malaysia) and poor/deceptive "customer sales service". Getting refunds on wrongly, unopened goods and malfunctioning items has been very stressful and time-consuming. It took me several hours of emailing time and phoning to secure eventual refunds after an average wait of 4 months, in one case with the help of the goods Supplier himself, who was never informed of the problem before I contacted him and did not receive the returned goods from Lazada.
    The refund run-around actually seems like deliberate policy straight out of the 'Rainmaker' movie script, with online shopping companies and budget airlines relying on customer fatigue to give the out-sourced 'customer services' a commission on unresolved refund claims.
    Reply

  10. Jay Cee says

    I've been in Thailand for a long time but just made my first Lazada.th orders.
    Chuwi HiBook 10 Pro, Netec HDD 1 TB, and a couple other IT items.
    TGF did the order and pre paid at a 7/11. No CC needed ! Very convenient.
    Quick delivery by motocy in Pattaya after mobile contact and articles in perfect condition.
    Recently TGF had a Lazada guitar delivered while we were having lunch at a local hotel !
    I'll order more.
    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

FOLLOW ME

Search TTL

Copyright © TheThailandLife.com 2024
No content on this site may be copied without written consent.

Send this to a friend