Tips for Smart Internet
Shopping
Article about how to shop on the Internet from All About Baby: your
source for baby products and baby clothes
Over the past decade, online
shopping has evolved into an accepted and safe way to buy goods and services.
In fact, many businesses have
simply closed up their brick and mortar stores and gone ecommerce, selling only
on their company’s website.
However, some people are
still unsure about purchasing online. They are reluctant to submit their credit
card and address as they fear their information will be misused or fall into the
wrong hands. In their defense, there are lots of email scams and offers that
seem “too good to be true.” How do you make sure that a site is safe to use?
First, only
do your searching on mainstream search engines.
Just toss out any incoming
mass-marketing emails with links to shopping sites. That site that looks so
cool with great buys could exist for a few days, taking money from unsuspecting
customers, and then simply vanish.
Patronize online
businesses that give you their contact information. If a company won’t post
an address or phone number, they probably have something to hide. This
information should be accessible on their “Contact” page, or at the bottom of
their homepage. If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of a site, pick up
the phone and call them to ask questions.
Some sites will also have an
“About Us” page that will give a brief history of the company and their business
philosophy.
If something just doesn’t
“feel right” then it probably isn’t. As in all parts of life, shopping
online is really about using good judgment and common sense. If you get that
vague feeling that you shouldn’t buy from an online source, put off the purchase
until you can do some homework and find out more about the company. Never allow
yourself to be pressured into making a purchase.
How can you find out more
information about a site? Try searching the web for the company’s name or
website address and see if you find any negative feedback posted online. You
will be surprised at the amount of information readily available in chat rooms
or on blogs.
Here are a few more
suggestions:
- Ask Questions --
Send the company an email with a question and see how quickly they answer. If
you don’t receive an answer within a day or two, then I would proceed with
caution. Yes, they could be having an “email problem” but more likely it is a
sign of poor customer service.
- Query Friends – Ask
around to see where your friends are spending their money and what sites they
recommend.
- Credit Cards -- Using
credit cards online is safe if you follow some basic rules. When you enter
the shopping cart part of a site, look to make sure that the site changes to a
secure location. The secure site will sometimes display a locked icon and the
address should appear as an https rather than simply http in the address box.
- Payment Methods –
With a check or money order you have little recourse in case an item arrives
broken or if the item never arrives at all. Using a credit card will mean
that you have the ability to dispute the purchase and as the buyer you will
usually prevail. Paypal also has a dispute system, and while the process is
resolution-based, it might take longer to resolve. Be advised that you might
have to put in more effort on your part to get the matter resolved to your
satisfaction.
- Buying through auction
sites is usually safe as long as you make your purchases through sellers
with a proven track record. Look at the sellers feedback before committing
yourself, and then make sure that you can pay through Paypal or via credit
card. Pause to think it through if the seller only accepts checks or money
orders.
- Large auction sites
like Amazon and eBay have resolution channels that you can use if a
purchase doesn’t meet your expectations. However, remember that as a buyer
you will get feedback on your actions, so be fair and keep your expectations
grounded in reality.
Overall, it is important
to read the fine print when making an online purchase. If the seller has
posted a link to their return policy on their check-out page, then take a minute
to read it through.
So what does the return
policy indicate? If the product is broken or damaged can it be easily returned?
How is it returned? Will you have to pay the shipping? It is normal and
customary for the consumer to pay for return shipping if he or she has decided
that the item is simply not what they want. However, if the item is damaged,
substandard or lacking parts, then the seller should arrange for a carrier to
pick it up or reimburse you for returning it.
An exception would be
personalized products are usually non returnable. Another exception would be
certain products that are clearly labeled “non returnable.” Don’t make the
mistake and think that this policy won’t apply to you...it does!
Online buyers are rightly
concerned about protecting their personal information. Reputable companies
should never share or sell your information to a third party. Companies that
want you to return as a customer will pledge to keep your information
confidential.
In summary, the more you shop
online, the more savvy you will become and the more comfortable you will feel
about the process. Yes, you may have some online shopping experiences that are
frustrating or disappointing, but that happens in everyday life when you make
traditional purchases.
Using the
internet will allow you to experience the ease of shopping for virtually
anything from the comfort of your own home -- at any hour of the day. It will
most certainly be worthwhile.
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