Not every product can be sold over the Internet, and for the domestic consumer, international delivery costs for anything much larger than a book will off-set any price advantage that might result from purchasing over the Internet. There can be no doubt that some interesting legal battles will also be fought in the near future regarding issues of support, legal authority and taxation. Not only will this become an issue for people wishing to evade taxation, but also for large multinationals who will register their trade in the country with the most favourable tax regime. Local customs officers will also have to move into cyberspace if they are to track electronic payments, and with the sheer volume of traffic flowing on the Internet, they will have their work cut out for them. There are many factors that need to be thought about before you take the plunge into e-commerce.
Security is the main concern for retailers and consumers alike.
Retailers need to be sure that the individual placing the order is bona fide and has the ability to pay, and customers need to be sure that their credit card numbers will not end up in the hands of hackers. Surprisingly, the speed and flow of information across the Internet works to the advantage of the consumer. Security flaws are well publicised and the patches to fix them are released often within hours of the flaw being identified. Netscape , the leading Internet browser supplier, is even offering a cash prize for anyone who can break the security features built into their browser. It is being backed by many large credit card and software companies and will allow financial transactions to be processed through regular banking channels.