ONLINE COMPETITION
The online durian game has grown partially due to the convenience of delivery, said Dr Samer El Hajjar, a senior marketing lecturer at the National University of Singapore’s Business School.
“The key to stand out is trust (and) to give good prices, good photos, honest descriptions (and) good reviews,” he added.
“So, a reliable online source with good prices … will stand out in this competitive online space now.”
He warned that there are downsides to online retail, as consumers cannot see, touch or smell the pungent fruit before making a purchase.
“No one wants to pay a premium for an item that’s not good enough, and that’s actually the fundamental of purchasing behaviours in the online game,” Dr El Hajjar told CNA.
“That’s why they go to the more trusted sellers.”
Physical businesses such as Combat Durian appear unfazed by online rivals.
The family-run firm, which has been selling durians for 60 years, said it is more than just price and quality – it is also about giving customers an experience.
“For online (vendors), they don’t have physical shops. For us, people can come into our shops, sit down, relax, and (enjoy the) feeling of opening a durian,” said Combat Durian owner Linda Ang, who is not looking to venture online.
“If there’s anything wrong, we can change (the fruit) immediately, whereas online, I heard that you can complain but no replacement is done,” she added. “It’s a one-time business. For us, it is long-term.”
