According to statistics, Internet usage in India doubles every month. But the growth of e-commerce in the country is not that encouraging. For a nation with a population of more than one billion, a handful of online shops is all that we know of. Here are some of those that I found.
This is a ‘living’ post. In case you know any other websites, do let me know in the comments. I will update the post.
Computer Retailers
Computer Warehouse: Bangalore based company having a website at http://www.apnacomp.com. Though the website design has nothing to write home about, you can find an excel sheet of the current prices, which is pretty useful for comparison purposes even if you have no intentions of buying anything. Look for the spreadsheet link on the top right hand corner. Prices are probably the best when compared to competition.
IT Depot: Another retailer with a better looking website than Computer Warehouse. The website though, requires a revamp, as most links with multiple pages do not work properly on most browsers. Its a shame that the owners of this site are not looking into this problem. This is a Chennai based company. http://www.theitdepot.com.
BWIndia: Probably designed by a bunch of 7 year olds during their summer holidays, this is one of the ugly looking websites which reminds you of the internet of early 1990s. You may not be able to make an order from here, but you can check the prices for comparison with competition. http://www.bwindia.com. By the way, does anyone know what that Red Indian is doing on the website with an big but empty callout ? And what about that ginarmous LG logo?
Dell India: The official DELL store is almost an exact replica of its US counterpart. Hence highly usable and navigable. http://www.dell.co.in
Lenovo India: Excellent online store like the DELL. http://www.lenovo.com/in/en/.
Croma Retail: Again, not an online store, but you can view the entire catalog of products offered in croma retail stores here. Website: http://www.cromaretail.com
Electronics/Gadgets
GadgetsGuru: A good collection of Gadgets and Electronic goods. http://www.gadgetsguru.in
Gadgets.in: Known primarliy for their sale of iPhone in India. Pretty good site and these guys seem to know very well about their products. http://www.gadgets.in
CafeGadgets: Another website which has the name Gadgets in it. Prices seem to be slightly on the higher side. http://cafegadgets.com/
JJMehta: If you are a photography enthusiast in India, you most likely know JJMehta. The Mumbai based retailer’s website is at http://www.jjmehta.com. If you have a PayPal account, you can buy things online here. The prices are a bargain if you compare it with any other online or local retailer. Their iPod prices are the cheapest in India, just a fraction more than the US prices.
Update 27-Feb: JJMehta now has an online e-Commerce site. You can buy using credit/debit cards issued by Banks in India. http://www.jjmehta.com/webshop/index.html
IndiaPlaza: You can also buy electronics among a gamut of other things from this pretty decent looking website. http://www.indiaplaza.in/
Rediff Shopping: A great source of imported, cheap chinese electonic goods. You will find branded products too. http://shopping.rediff.com. Buying process is a bit complex with an elaborate verification process if you buy anything for more than Rs. 5000.
Mobile Phone Retailers
Univercell: Another website desperately needing a redesign. This is the best place to check if you want to see which is the latest handset in the market. http://www.univercell.in
TheMobileStore: Official website of the “The Mobile Store” retail chain. http://www.themobilestore.in/
Important: I am not an affiliate to any of the websites mentioned in this post. These links are of informational value and I am not responsible for any good/bad or negative experiences you may have with these vendors.
