Wish vs Mercado Libre: which is the best platform?
Electronic commerce continues to grow in the world and Chile is no exception. There are many platforms available to buy and sell online and from Hispanic Entrepreneurs we compare two of them: Wish vs Free Market. Know the characteristics of each one to decide which is the best platform.
Leaders in e-commerce
The degree of penetration of electronic commerce in Chile is 16%, placing it above the rest of the countries in the region. Growth has been driven by quarantines, which led to an increase in online shopping.
It is possible that by the end of the year it will remain at a similar figure, according to the general director of Mercado Libre in Chile, Alan Meyer, in an interview with Bloomberg. However, it still has the opportunity to grow much more and could do so in the coming years.
With this growth of e-commerce in Chile 2020 It is also evident that consumers are more familiar with the different platforms to buy and sell products.
For this reason we want to analyze two of those that are among the most used. Below we compare the characteristics of Wish and Mercado Libre Chile.
Wish vs Free Market
All the internet sales went up, therefore, also the use of e-commerce platforms. Consumers of all ages are making use of these to purchase their products and services. In Chile these two stand out, which we will learn more about in the following paragraphs.
Mercado Libre is the leading e-commerce company in Latin America. It has a presence in more than 10 countries, including Chile. It was founded in 1.999 by the Argentine businessman Marcos Galperín.
Wish, on the other hand, was founded in 2010 by Peter Szulczewski and Danny Zhang. Its headquarters are in the United States, but the products are sold to and from many countries. In contrast, Mercado Libre is only marketed in the country where it is located.
In addition, Wish has a website and a mobile application.
What can I buy on Wish and Mercado Libre Chile?
Both sites offer a wide catalog of products. Categories include clothing, footwear, electronics, decorative items, toys, among many others.
For buyers who do not have much experience in e-commerce, the Latin American platform may seem neater and easier when browsing the marketplace.
One significant difference is that only tangible products can be offered on Wish. While Mercado Libre, in addition to articles, real estate, vehicle parts, services are also sold.
Transaction security
Both platforms offer security when making purchases. In Mercado Libre the data remains protected and only the name, e-mail and telephone number are sent to the other party so that they can be contacted.
It also has the Protected Purchase service. This means you have up to 30 days to return a product if you have a problem or regret the purchase, and your money will be returned. It also protects you for 21 days in case of not receiving the order.
As for Wish, the seller does not receive any financial data from the buyer either, but the name and delivery address. Payment information remains encrypted and secure.
Payment methods
Mercado Libre has Mercado Pago to carry out transactions. With this alternative, the money is transferred immediately to the seller and they return the money if you are not satisfied with the product.
Other payment methods on this platform are credit cards, debit card with RedCompra, Khipu and ServiPag. In some cases it is also possible to agree on a payment method with the seller.
To understand how to buy on Wish from Chile You should know that you cannot pay in pesos but in dollars. Among the payment methods accepted by the platform are: debit and credit cards, Google Wallet, PayPal, Android Pay, Apple Pay, among others.
If you do not have an international credit card, you can register at MultiCaja and associate the RUT account with PayPal. In this way, you can pay dollars safely and make your purchase with this payment service.
Delivery times
In both cases the shipments are in charge of the sellers. In Mercado Libre it is free and can be completed in one or days. Keep in mind that transactions are made within the country, which allows it to be fast. If the client prefers, he can request that the shipment be made through a private service.
With Wish, delivery times will be longer as they are international shipments. Sometimes the delays can be significant, so it is not a good idea to make a purchase in an emergency.
As for the cost, on the platform you will only pay the price of the product and the shipping. Customs taxes are not included here, which are the responsibility of the buyer once they arrive in the country.
These are the main aspects of Wish vs Mercado Libre. If you have used these platforms, do not hesitate to tell us about your experience.