India’s Nascent E-Commerce Market Likely to Draw Global, Local Players

Craigslist could learn a thing or two from Quikr. The Indian equivalent of the free classifieds service publishes product ratings, handles payments and shipping and crucially releases payment only after a buyer gives their purchase a once-over and a virtual thumbs-up. In so doing, the site that lists for sale everything from smartphones to cars is trying to solve problems familiar to every local flea-market bargain-hunter: the typically loud and messy business of haggling, unwieldy transport, and a distrust of smaller merchants. The app’s manifold services illustrate the extent to…

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Uber, Ola Face Off in Battle for India’s Booming Taxi Market

Aiming to wrest control of India’s booming taxi market, two cab-hailing smartphone apps – Uber and Ola – are promising hundreds of millions in new investment while also facing off with one another in court. San Francisco-based Uber reportedly plans a $500 million (roughly Rs. 3,318 crores) infusion of new funds, apart from the $1 billion (roughly Rs. 6,637 crores) already committed over the past nine months, according to Indian newspapers. The company declined this week to comment on those reports. Meanwhile, Ola Cabs promises to add another 2,000 cars…

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Amazon Named India’s Most Trusted Online Shopping Brand: TRA

World’s largest e-retailer Amazon is India’s most trusted online shopping brand followed by home-grown Snapdeal and Flipkart, a survey said. Other firms to figure in the top 10 trusted online shopping brands are eBay, Myntra, Yepme, Jabong, Naaptol, Shopclues, and Askmebazaar. The survey was conducted among 2,500 respondents – aged 21 to 50 years – across 16 cities and its findings have been compiled in The Brand Trust Report, India Study 2016. The report is issued annually by TRA (formerly Trust Research Advisory). “Amazon is India’s most trusted online shopping…

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