近年来，网络购物越来越流行，因其方便快捷赢得了诸多消费者的青睐，然而，产品质量和欺诈等问题也不容忽视。

The Annoyances of Online Shopping

Nowadays, online shopping is anything but new to us. Its comparative advantages of convenient shopping and quick product deliveries have won over the hearts of more people.

Figures from the China Internet Network Information Center, CNNIC, suggest that one in four netizens shopped online in 2009 for a total of 100 million.

Han Miao, Director of the customer complaint call center at the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, says online shopping is still in its takeoff period, so some unexpected problems may occasionally pop up.

"Online shopping is an original consumption pattern. It's in a fledging stage, so it comes as little surprise that inappropriate operating behaviors would make their way into the process."

Figures released by State Administration for Industry and Commerce also echo this point. Among the top 10 complaints related to consumption in 2009, those involving the internet totaled 2,200, an increase of 117 percent over last year's number. A big chunk of those complaints centered on online shopping.

Online shoppers are frustrated by such problems as low product quality, difficulties in requesting refunds for faulty goods and misleading information on websites.

"I shopped online once, but the product delivered to me was not what I expected according to the information on the website. I was hoodwinked. What am I supposed to do with that unwanted merchandise?"

Given that the number of complaints related to online shopping is escalating, the government has signaled it will crack down on malpractices in internet commerce.

Liu Jian, Deputy Director of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, says Beijing will probably introduce "real name web registrations" soon.

"In the near future, online sellers as well as shoppers will be required to register in their real names. If something disconcerting comes about, people involved would be pinned down and have to take responsibility."

Understandably, online shopping, still in its infancy in China, will be subject to some misconduct. But with the refinement of related management systems and education of online retailers about proper business practices, online shopping will embrace a future of promise.

XYee, CRI news.