Jordan: Local Retail Bears the Brunt As Online Shopping Rises

Jordan: Local Retail Bears the Brunt As Online Shopping Rises

The rise of online shopping in Jordan amid the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered concerns among local retailers and industry representatives, especially after the lockdown and the late reopening of the stores, according to President of the Textile and Readymade Clothes Syndicate Muneer Deyeh. 

“The growth of e-commerce stores has created an unlevel playing field for traditional retail traders by offering better shopping deals that put local vendors out of business,” Deyeh told The Jordan Times over the phone on Sunday.

“Bold decisions and swift measures” should be taken to ease the financial burden on the sector, Deyeh said, noting that consumers are getting deep discounts and predatory prices because online retailers do not pay 50-60 per cent taxes and fees on clothes, unlike traditional store owners.

“Everything is moving online and shopping is