Shopping online is fast, convenient and fun, but before making any purchases online, there are some things you should be aware of to protect yourself and your wallet.
First… Who are you dealing with?
Make sure you know all of the necessary information about the merchant and get the address, email, phone, and contact details so that you can check their reliability and verify credibility. Whenever I am dealing with an unfamiliar merchant, I always request info from their customer service to see if and how they respond to support request. No response or untimely responses tell me immediately that they are not consumer “friendly” or supportive and I’m off to find another merchant that does value their customers.
How much is this going to cost?
Check product pricing, and be sure to look for hidden charges. Shipping, taxes and the like are usually standard but sometimes there are hidden handling charges or currency conversion fees if buying internationally. Be aware of the TOTAL costs before committing to any purchase. If the pricing and fees appear to be inflated, do a product comparison search and see if you can get a better deal.
Am I ordering the right product?
Product identification is crucial when buying online. Since you can’t hold or see the actual product yourself, you can easily choose the wrong product. Verify the product details, be clear as to exactly what you are ordering by checking the product description carefully. If you are unsure, contact the vendor and request more information (this is also a good way to check their customer support at the same time). Guessing can be costly.
Is the product “In Stock”?
Before ordering, check stock availability. Whether or not the product is in stock and available should be clearly displayed on the website. If not, contact customer service to verify and be sure. Hot selling items may be on back order and may take a long time before being shipped. If you’re willing to wait, then order, otherwise, look elsewhere for that particular item. If it’s a hot seller, there’s sure to be other merchants offering the same product.
How is it going to be shipped? And when?
Delivery options vary from merchant to merchant. Some offer many different shipping options, and some may only ship via one method provider only. With the different shipping options come different fees and time constraints. Make sure you are aware of the costs and how long it will take before it is shipped or delivered. Most merchants will post this information with option forms either with the product or on the Shopping Cart. Always look for tracking information and whether or not insurance is offered. You should also receive a shipping confirmation via email when the item is shipped. If buying a high priced item it is recommended that you insure your purchase in the event of shipping damages or loss for your own protection. Not all vendors will replace or refund your purchase if that happens. And once again, be aware of any additional fees.
Payment Options… How are you paying for your purchase?
First, before entering any payment information, make sure you are on a SECURE PAYMENT PAGE. Look at the URL address in your browser and make sure the prefix is “https”. If there is no “s” the page is probably not secure or encrypted. Use at your own risk! You will find that payment options vary from vendor to vendor, but most always offer credit and debit card processing of some kind either through their own shopping cart or that of a third party like Paypal or 2Checkout etc. Many will also accept checks and money orders. If you feel more secure “snail mailing” your order and payment, many sites will offer a form for you to fill out, print and mail. Whatever you choose, be sure it is SECURE.
Protecting your Identity and Personal Information
Be aware of the personal information you are being asked for and what they are going to do with it. If you are asked for your personal information there should be a proper explanation as to what and how the information will be used. Most times this will be clearly stated in the Legal or Policy Area of the website. Privacy Policies are a must for any vendor and can usually be found in the footer of the website. There may also be a FAQ page, where they address customer questions and concerns. Be sure to read through both of these. If you feel they are requesting information not related to the purchase itself, do not enter it. Things like Social Security numbers etc. should never be asked for or entered. Protect your identity.
Did you receive a confirmation or receipt?
Once you have made your purchase and entered all of the necessary payment information and submitted, you should immediately receive a confirmation of some kind with a follow up confirmation to your email address. If you do not receive a confirmation CONTACT THE MERCHANT. Sometimes glitches occur and either the payment didn’t go through or the website may be having script problems. Always make sure you receive a confirmation and receipt for your protection. A clearly defined ordering process should be available for you on the website so you know what to expect and how to contact them in the event of any problems.
Do they have a return or refund policy?
Even under the best of circumstances, sometimes the product you ordered is not what you expected or wanted. Maybe it is defective or missing parts. Whatever the case may be, it’s important that you know the Return or Refund Policy before ordering in the event you have to return your item. Some merchants may charge a restocking fee, require you to get a RA# before returning and then there are those that will not accept any returns or give a refund. Refund Policies should also be stated on all merchant websites. If you do not see one, once again, contact customer support and request the information. Knowing all of this beforehand will save you a lot of grief if in the end if you have to send your purchase back.
Shopping online is much easier and much more secure these days than it was just a few years back. Technology has improved and security encryption software makes credit card processing quick and safe for both you and the merchant. With just a few clicks of the mouse you can purchase just about anything and have it sent to your front door. Just use your head, spend wisely and do it safely.
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