Top 9 Online Shopping App Students Visit for Retail Therapy

Can you imagine a world without an online shopping app? Even for 1 person to not have an online shopping app on their phone is hard to imagine! At least to do some online window shopping, come on, be honest! Especially since we had a Covid-19 pandemic, online shopping may already be most of our pastime.

But, you might not know all the online shopping app there is! Each offers a slightly unique shopping experience and categories of items. Some can even be better at hunting for rare items you can’t find anywhere else. You might need some items while you’re studying here in Malaysia as an international students. Such as household items, electronics, etc.

So, here is a list of Online Shopping App and their strengths you as a student can use to purchase school or personal items.

Lazada

As of January 2020, Lazada was Malaysia’s most-searched online shopping app. It was founded in 2012 and purchased by Alibaba, China’s largest online retailer.

Three sorts of sellers are available on Lazada. LazMall merchants have authorised representatives of official brands. In contrast, LazGlobal sellers are based in Asia and not necessarily in Malaysia. Consumers benefit from having access to an extensive range of products. In addition, if you don’t feel at ease purchasing from merchants you don’t know, you may always stick to purchasing from official brands.

How can we pay: Lazada Wallet, credit card, debit card, online banking, Maybank instalments, Touch’ n Go eWallet, cash payment at 7-Eleven.

Great App to Find Home and lifestyle products, electronics, health and beauty and fashion.

Shoppee

In Malaysia, Shopee is the most popular e-commerce platform, and it’s even the most popular in Southeast Asia. As of 2015, this platform has a reputation for being slightly more affordable than other internet services.

Shopee has three sellers: regular sellers recommended sellers and Shopee Mall vendors. For example, Shopee features preferred vendors with a great sales history and high product reviews. Shopee Mall merchants are either official brands or the most popular sellers on the platform.

You can also earn Shopee Coins as a reward for your purchases. Purchasing from Shopee Preferred and Shopee Mall retailers or participating in special events makes you one Coin for every ringgit you spend. You can exchange 100 Coins for RM1 off your next order. Up to a maximum of 3,000 Coins or up to 25% off – the equivalent of a 1% cashback.

How can we pay: Credit or debit card, ATM/bank transfer, online banking, ShopeePay, cash payment at 7-Eleven, Maybank/Public Bank credit card instalment.

Great App to Find Home and lifestyle products, electronics, health and beauty and fashion, food items.

Mudah.my

Mudah.my is a well-known Malaysian online classifieds marketplace that was founded in 2007. Carousell, an online marketplace site, has since purchased it.

According to Mudah.my’s homepage, “nearly anything” may be found there. In other words, it’s more than just a catchphrase. Even live animals can be found for sale (we believed you’d have to pick them up yourself, but we saw a few dealers providing delivery).

Individuals and businesses can be sellers. With no buyer protection programme, it can be challenging to identify dishonest vendors when purchasing goods from individuals. There is no way to tell if a seller has had previous successful transactions, and there is no rating system. Consider using cash on delivery when making a purchase so you can view the merchandise in person before making a payment.

How can we pay: Liaise with seller

Great App to Find: Secondhand items

Taobao

Taobao has been around since 2003, yet many Malaysians probably didn’t know about it until recently. Although it primarily caters to Chinese consumers, it is equally popular with international customers.

The site offers a wide selection of goods at reasonable costs. Consumer gadgets, fashion, and home and leisure products are popular.

Individuals and small enterprises can sell their wares on the Chinese marketplace Taobao. In contrast, official brands and manufacturers can sell their goods on Tmall. Products sold on Tmall are guaranteed to be authentic by Taobao.

For overseas customers, the biggest drawback is that Taobao is only available in Chinese. Making a purchase is difficult if you don’t understand the language. A Taobao agent, such as ezbuy, can help you make a purchase, but they charge a fee for their services. Even if you’re not fluent in Chinese, you can still shop on Taobao with our step-by-step instructions.

How can we pay: Credit or debit card, online banking, Boost, Touch’ N Go.

Great App to Find: Home and lifestyle products, electronics, health and beauty and fashion.

Signature Market

It’s no secret that Signature Market, an online retailer of healthy snacks, has become a favourite destination for those looking to eat more healthily. Gift sets and skin care and grooming products are also available at the store.

Even though its costs may be greater than those found in most supermarkets, it frequently offers discounts. They also provide bulk snacks that are a little less expensive than buying individual packages.

Signature Market accepts Boost and GrabPay payments, so you can earn Boost and GrabPay points when shopping there.

Currently, it is offering free shipping on all purchases made.

How can we pay: Credit card or debit card, online banking, MAE wallet, Boost, Touch’ N Go, GrabPay.

Great App to Find: Healthy snacks, gift sets.

Carousell

Carousell, a new and secondhand goods marketplace, was started in 2012.

There are many individuals on the platforms that are selling resale things. Among the items for sale are clothing, consumer gadgets, sporting goods, and even cars and real estate. The popularity of fashion and health and beauty items can be attributed to their attractiveness.

It’s a good idea to meet the seller face-to-face before purchasing a used item to verify its authenticity and condition. If you’re looking to buy a high-ticket item, look for sellers with good ratings.

A Carousel Protection function is also available. Paying with an approved payment method is possible. Still, the seller will hold your money until you confirm receipt of the item as described. Carousell Protection is a feature that applies to specific items.

How can we pay: Arrange with the seller for items without Carousell protection. For items with Carousell protection, pay with GrabPay, online banking, credit or debit card.

Great App to find: Secondhand items

eBay

Is there anything you need to know about eBay? It was one of the world’s first prominent e-commerce websites founded in 1995. While interest has dwindled, eBay remains one of the most widely used auction sites in the United States.

If you’re purchasing from outside Malaysia, you could look at hundreds of ringgit shipping costs. eBay is less prevalent in Malaysia because many vendors are based in the United States. However, more local and Asian sellers have joined the site in recent years, resulting in faster and more cheap shipping times and lower prices for customers.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for on Lazada or Shopee, chances are you may find it on eBay. If you’re looking to find rare or odd items, this is the place to go. The virtual window shoppers will enjoy skimming through the listings to locate fantastic prices and hidden gems that aren’t available on other e-commerce sites. On the other hand, many of the products will be up for auction, so you’ll have to place a bid rather than just buy them.

How can we pay: Credit or debit card, gift cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal.

Great App to find: Secondhand items, antiques, collectables.

Amazon

Since its inception in 1994, Amazon has grown into a global e-commerce powerhouse. Propelling its creator Jeff Bezos to number one on Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest people for the past three years.

Amazon isn’t as famous in Malaysia because most vendors are located in the United States. Individuals, small businesses, massive brands, and even Amazon themselves are sellers on Amazon.com. The site is sure to have what you’re looking for, but you may have to fork over a lot of money for shipping. Certain vendors won’t ship to Malaysia at all.

When searching for hard-to-find things in Malaysia, such as rare DVDs or specialised electronics, Amazon is still a terrific option. As long as you’re willing to pay a little more.

How can we pay: Credit or debit card, gift cards.

Great App to find: Products that are hard to find in Malaysia.

Happy Online Shopping via these Apps!

Let us know if you have any other online shopping apps not listed here! Also, do share which is your favourite in the comments below.

Check out about other useful tips studying here in Malaysia here!