Cross-border, or foreign sales, is a strong trend in Polish e-commerce. Some of the most popular e-commerce destinations are the Czech Republic and Slovakia. What is the specificity of online markets in our southern neighbours? Is e-commerce popular in the Czech Republic and Slovakia? What products are most popular there? What integrations will help you sell to the Czech and Slovak markets? We explain in the article below.
*90 percent of payments for purchases in online shops in the Czech Republic are "cash on delivery".
Czechs have become accustomed to shopping in online shops. Out of a population of just 10 million, 43,500 e-shops are active there. Czechs use price comparison sites such as Heureka and Zbozi (with which IdoSell has an integration) or Google (Meet Google Ads from IdoSell to help advertise your products in the search engine). The Slovak market is smaller (for a population of more than 5 million, there are 12,000 online shops), but e-commerce is growing at a very fast pace there.
IdoSell integrations with Zbozi and Heureka comparison sites
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, no single strong marketplace has emerged. Two sales services are present on the market: Alza (marketplace with electronics) and Mall (Allegro plans to acquire Mall Group in the first half of 2022).
90 percent of payments on the Czech market are so-called "cash on delivery". Czech customers are accustomed to paying on delivery (they pay much more often in cash - 60 percent than by card - 40 percent). Consumers also appreciate the possibility to open and check the contents of the package at the collection point. This helps build trust and a relationship with the customer.
E-commerce in the Czech Republic, despite the large number of online shops, is not yet mature. E-commerce is just starting. If the customer decides to pay in advance (only 10 percent of all transactions), they pay with credit cards, pay-by-link (instant transfer) or Apple Pay / Google Pay. (active links)
IdoSell shops have integrations with eCard, PayPal and PayU, which are available on the Czech and Slovak markets.
Our merchants, thanks to the integration with eCard, can accept payments in Czech crowns to a Czech crown account (similarly in Slovakia - euro to a euro account), without additional currency conversions.
Czechs and Slovaks most often order goods to pick-up points, they have their favourite places where they pick up their goods, but also make returns. Home delivery is a rarely chosen option, because in the Czech Republic and Slovakia it's difficult to agree on a delivery time with the courier and you have to be available.
By integrating IdoSell with Packeta, you'll be able to sell to the Czech Republic and Slovakia easily. Packeta is very popular on those markets. It offers a convenient way of returns, so that your customer doesn't have to print a return label. As Tereza Nováková of Packeta Group explains, for customers the most troublesome thing about returns is actually printing the label.
- With Packeta, if a customer wants to return a purchased item, they only need to generate a nine-digit return code. It's simple and fast," says Tereza Nováková, "so the customer doesn't need to print a return label. He just needs to go to any pick-up point or parcel machine and enter the return code. Returns in Packet are free of charge.
Packeta is expanding its network of parcel machines in the Czech Republic and is the clear leader in this field (1000 machines). Besides Packeta, Alza and Mall also have their parcel machines.
Integrations with couriers in IdoSell:
What can you do to win the hearts of Czech and Slovak consumers in your shop? Check out some tips:
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