People like Bogajewski and his online clientele are Poland's e-commerce pioneers. Like many Eastern and Central European countries, Poland has severe disadvantages when it comes to e-commerce, including low PC penetration, high telecom costs, few credit card users, unreliable delivery systems and widespread suspicion of the security of online transactions. But things are starting to change, albeit slowly. More people are getting PCs and more businesses are taking the Internet seriously. Wanda Rapaczynski, president of the management board of Agora, publisher of Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland's biggest-selling daily, wants to be there when the boom happens.
Agora plans to offer e-commerce opportunities next year.
Agora's strategy reflects the uncertainty with which the Internet is still regarded in Poland. In June the portal will add financial news from the daily Parkiet. Marek Borzestowski, president of Wirtualna Polska, the country's No. 2 portal, doesn't understand why so many companies waited so long to get into the game. Maybe they think they can't compete. Though Borzestowski admits business has been slow, he's convinced e-commerce has a bright future.