Where are the shops online?

Was browsing through the web for books and DVDs, and i realize that its actually very stange, that internet shopping is something that has not really picked up in SIN, and books of all things! Talking about a cultured nation, yet, not only it is not really convenient or easy to find books, books in SIN are grossly over-priced.

One does not even have to talk about the over-charging of books over the reccomended retail price, but in UK or US, the option of online shopping provide customers with the access to new or upcoming books, or to books at highly discounted prices. It is not uncommon to find books which are given a 2-5GBP discount, which may be as much as 20-40% of the price of the book. That price is based on the reccomended retail price.

If I am correct, the only books that are any cheaper in SIN, are the textbooks used in Universities. But why is it that these books are cheaper, and others are not? Because Singaporeans only buy books if they are examinable? Cannot be right?

Just rather disappointed, that if we claim this island as an advaned economy, the failure of internet commercial activities to take off, is something worth thinking about. If you want to encourage people to drive less, maybe one way is the provide the oppotunity for people to shop more online. Online grocery shopping, online bookshops, online DVD retal or retail, or maybe even online retail for electronic equipment, furniture, household appliances etc... Just a look at Ebay Sin, and you can tell how pathetic it is. Its it quite amazing the no. of people in Singapore who shop online, but they would go to Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Ebay.com, Froogle.com etc... and that is because, there is very little options in Singapore. Maybe this is an aspect which Sin retailers should give some thot to.