New gardeners need help!

Jobs are plentiful here,, more jobs than people to fill them ! Not sure about Colorado !

 

I hear Amazon is hiring......

 

Do you have Amazon in Pakistan S-H?

 

Amazon is here, but AliBaba and AliExpress (both Chinese owned and operated online shopping sites) are more popular.

Amazon is not in much favor, as they are conforming with Western style of doing business - Like they assume that every citizen will have a credit card, (failing to realize that it is something we here frown upon).

So when Western online shopping websites don't get any business from here - While at the same time they see Chinese and local online shopping websites growing. Sites like Amazon then just keep scratching their heads, trying to figure out what is it that they are doing wrong, (but as always, failing to see the answer right in front of their face)...



We favor upfront cash, or at the most debit cards. But not credit cards, (as that's one sure way of getting into debt, which is against the religious beliefs of the majority).

Also, if you have a credit card, shopkeepers also hate you upon sight, as for you they have to make a separate checkout line. Which is why most shops started putting up signs, that payment by credit cards is not excepted here, (when our banks were trying to introduce the concept over here in the early 90s)....

But culturally as well, since we are Pakistani, we would rather die then leave any electronic trace of money exchanging hands... Or else the tax collector will come sniffing around, as you would have now made yourself into a big and juicy target.



Which is why the most popular online shopping website in my country is daraz.pk, as they offer payment at your doorstep - Meaning that you order whatever you like on their website. But pay cash to the delivery guy or girl. Which we call COD, (cash on delivery), when the goods get delivered to your doorstep, not before.

This also gives you the option of opening up the package in front of the delivery person. And so if you are not satisfied, (like if the product is damaged during shipping or they by mistake sent you the wrong thing). Then you return it instantly without losing any money... However for consumer safety, they also have a 5 day return policy too. But try before you buy seems to be a very popular trend here, (which I am sure Amazon will never agree to).

All throughout when the covid-19 lockdown was at it's peak - I was ordering everything I needed from www.daraz.pk by COD.

 

We had COD here many years ago ! We do not put our personal credit card number online at all ! I just use the Serve prepaid credit card for online shopping ! Just load enough money to make your purchases and done deal !

 

That is interesting S-H. How do you do COD if you work full-time away from your house?

 

May be like here and just give you a message in the mail and tell you to pick t up at the post office !

 

Oh

 

I am self-employed, so I am hardly ever away from home... And they give you an alert on your phone, that your package is on it's way.

So if you're not at home, then you can always call that delivery guy (or girl), to come at a time when you would be there.

Or someone else at home can receive it for you.

But say for the sake of the argument that no one was at home. Then they will make 2 more attempts again, (later) - However if this too fails, (almost impossible to fail actually). Then they will call you and say that your package is now at one of their warehouses which is closest to your location. So please go there, identify yourself, and collect it.

If you still don't, for say about 2 weeks, then they will cancel the order.

However it never really comes to this. As when you set up your profile at their website. You have 5 or 6 options to pick from, regarding delivery.

Come in the mornings only.
Always come in the afternoon.
Come in the evening, (after sunset).
Or feel free to come anytime.
Or always call before arriving, where you will tell them when to come.

If you aren't at home, they will call you several times... Actually they are always calling, as the delivery guy often gets lost, and needs directions.



Or they just tell you when your packings has arrived at their delivery center - From where you pick it up at your convenience, (during working hours). This saves you the cost of delivery also. And some who are ultra paranoid, who do not wish to disclose their address to strangers, (their delivery guys), can use this option.

Everything is configurable, (unlike Amazon). Daraz.pk also has it's own fleet of delivery guys across the country, in all major cities, (they don't trust other courier services). And since the Coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns, they deliver all sorts of groceries also.

Daraz in the Urdu language literally means drawer.

 

Another company is called Bykea, they don't have any products listed at their website. All they do is shop whatever you want. Then deliver at your doorstep, as always COD...

So be it takeaway food from your favorite restaurant, any medicine you require, (proscription or no proscription doesn't matter), or just about anything, including giving you a ride anywhere (like Uber) - You just call Bykea, and they do everything for you. And of course COD always.



Another company thriving over here is Foodpanda. They only deal with food, in the same fashion as Bykea - What's different about them is, they encourage you to get into business for yourself. Just cook from your own home, make a Facebook page of your dishes. And so ask people to order through Foodpanda. They will take it from your kitchen, deliver it to wherever. Then pay you instantly.



Or you can simply order whatever you like, from anywhere in the city. And they will deliver, (as long as it's food). And once again, everything is COD.



During the COVID-19 global pandemic and lockdowns, these companies did so well, that if I did go outside driving - Most of the time I only saw these guys on the streets, moving around on their motorcycles.

 

And in a situation where you are literally always away from home, (and no one else at home is going to receive your package on your behalf), you can change the location where your package should be delivered. Be it your place of work. Or even the street corner of any place you desire (at the time of your choice).

But this is really extreme, which people might do only if they are ordering something from to the 18+ "adult product" section, (and so don't want kids at home to know anything about it) - But still, this too will get paid in cash on delivery of course...