Beijing - Xiao Gu, a resident of Zhangjiajie city in Central China's Hunan province, has been bothered in recent days by a disappointing attempt at shopping online.

Xiao Gu went to the Internet three months ago to order a series of volumes in the classic Chinese novel A Dream in Red Mansions, paying 400 yuan ($60). But the seller, instead of sending the package quickly, postponed the delivery, proved reluctant to answer Xiao's questions over the phone and finally disappeared from the web.

Xiao was at first tempted to report the case to police but decided against taking that step after recognizing she had no knowledge of the swindler's whereabouts. Her situation appears to be a common one among Chinese consumers who like to shop online.