Is Shopping Online in Palestine possible?

By Dusan / June 20, 2024

Is shopping online in Palestine possible? In Europe and America, delivery vans have become an integral part of daily life on the streets, seamlessly blending into the urban landscape as they ferry packages to and fro. Especially since the onset of COVID-19, the demand for online delivery services has surged, transforming e-commerce into a cornerstone of modern living. How does this relate to those who travel to Palestine?

For those accustomed to the convenience of ordering anything from groceries to electronics with a single click and having it delivered to their doorstep within days, this rapid and reliable service is a given. However, in Palestine, the sight of a delivery man with a van brimming with packages is a rarity. Major e-commerce giants like eBay, Amazon, and Alibaba have yet to establish a significant presence in Palestinian society. This begs the question: can an online shopping enthusiast still thrive in Palestine, and what alternatives exist for those who rely on the convenience of online retail?

Streets

The idea of online shopping is not very popular among Palestinian customers. The Palestinians at Travel to Palestine were unanimous in their preference for live shopping over online shopping. ‘Something that looks good online may disappoint in real life,’ Marwa says. So Palestinians instead shop traditionally: they go to the markets where they take the time to look and examine the goods, whether it is clothes, shoes, food, or electronics. The attempts by Palestinian youth to establish websites where people could buy what they need online gained some success during the Corona pandemic (for example, https://loqtat.ps/?skip_ck=true ), but now the streets have returned to number one.

Delays

Besides not being able to make sure the product is what you want, ordering online may also take a long time. ‘My husband ordered something for our car, and after two months he received something meant for a bicycle,’ Marwa tells us. Again, the possible delays are due to Israeli checks. Since all mail deliveries to Palestine must pass through international crossings and borders before reaching their destination, it may take time. In addition, Israel controls all entrances and exits to the occupied West Bank and can prevent goods from passing through as it sees fit.

No Address

A third problem you may encounter with online shopping in Palestine is that Palestine does not work with addresses. ‘To order, you have to describe where you live with the help of popular places nearby. When the delivery man is close, he will call you and you can explain where you are at’, Nada explains. This makes the process of ordering online somewhat less carefree.

Negotiating

Another disadvantage of online shopping is the absence of the possibility to negotiate. Many shops in Palestine do not work with fixed prices, so there is always the possibility of paying less than a seller. Especially when you become a returning customer, the case of negotiation is attractive. However, online you will not have this option, and thus, chances are you miss out on buying more or less the same product for cheaper.

Support

Despite these limitations, online shopping in Palestine is possible. Stores such as AliExpress, SHEIN, Alibaba, and Amazon ship to Palestine. The latter, however, only began delivering in Palestine for free in 2020, after it was revealed that Amazon did have settlements free of charge but not to Palestinian customers. Because of such incidents, it is always good to check who and what you are aiding with your online delivery order. Being in Palestine, your money is arguably spent better on local companies to strengthen the Palestinian economy than on American multinationals.

Local Companies

The local companies will not disappoint: Palestine is full of markets and shops that offer any product you wish for, either produced locally or imported from China, Turkey, or elsewhere. Palestinians are known for goods manufactured or harvested locally, such as wax, olive wood, seashells, glass, textiles, ceramics, pottery, metal crafts, floral stickers, beadwork, embossing on eggs, soap, and shoes. Hebron specifically is famous as the powerhouse of the Palestinian economy. It is responsible for 40% of the GDP. The city houses 30,000 companies and one-third of the livestock production in the West Bank. So the chances are that you will find what you are looking for in the many shops in Palestine, and buying from them has the benefit of supporting the Palestinian economy and people.

Adventure

Part of the adventure of traveling is trying new things and buying from different shops and brands. Maybe you will find your holy grail for your favorite day creme or shoe brand. If you need a specific product, you may want to take the reserve to Palestine. If not, you can order online in Palestine, but you have been warned ;-).

Concluding Thoughts on Shopping Online in Palestine

Shopping online in Palestine is possible, but few Palestinians use the option. There are some notable disadvantages to shopping online in Palestine. Firstly, buying things online always risks receiving something other than expected. Secondly, orders in Palestine may take a long time to deliver due to Israeli checks. Thirdly, in Palestine, the idea of an address is mainly absent, and thus you have to make a bit more effort to make clear where you want your order delivered.

And finally, negotiating is an accepted practice in Palestine, but this option is not available online. Something that advocates for buying from local companies is that you will support the local economy, which suffers from the occupation and can use all the help it can get. Last but not least, part of traveling is trying new things, and buying from Palestinian shops and brands is part of that. To conclude, online shopping in Palestine is possible, but there are reasons to buy from the streets and shops in Palestine instead.

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