Given how popular online shopping is getting, the odds are very good that you’ve already made an Internet purchase or two. Be sure to take all of this information into account before making purchases. You’ll familiarize yourself with shopping online.
Never try to shop directly from a link someone sent you in an email, unless it’s a widely known and respected site, like Amazon.com. Too many consumers get tricked into scams via hyperlinks in questionable emails. Visit the URL of the site mentioned in the mail, instead of clicking the link itself.
When shopping online, make sure that the online store offers secure checkout. This will help protect your personal information from being stolen. To ensure the site is encrypted look up into your web browser’s URL box. The site is secured if the website starts with https. This stands for hyper transfer protocol secure.
When shopping online, choose the best shipping policy. Many times companies offer expedited shipping. However, many times getting the product one day earlier can cost you as much as twice the normal shipping price. Therefore, if you can wait on the product to arrive using normal shipping instead of expedited shipping, choose standard shipping to save money.
When you are making a purchase online, ensure that you use a credit card to pay for the transaction. Credit card users are protected against fraud by federal law and are only liable for $50 in these cases. Some card agencies will even go so far as to wave the $50 for you, meaning that you will not be out of pocket.
Get familiar with the shipping facts of an online retailer. Their shipping policy should be outlined in a separate section to describe the average time you should get your items, geographic restrictions, shipping choices, possible shipping insurance, and what their shipping and handling fees are. Use all of this information to decide if these costs and options fit well for you, your budget, and your area before you place an order.
Try to make online purchases only with companies you are already familiar with. Chances are, a store you go to on a regular basis probably has a safe website. But, if you go to a website you know nothing about, you are putting your personal information, like your credit card info, at risk.
Make sure you understand who is responsible if an item gets damaged during shipment when shopping online. Some retailers will be responsible for this, while others put it on the shipping company. Make sure you know who to contact and who is responsible if items are damages or need to be returned.
Never wire anyone money to make a purchase online. This is a method of payment that is used a lot by people looking to scam you out of your money. Using a credit card is better since you can lodge a dispute if your item is never received. Wiring the money offers you no type of protection.
When you are shopping online, use reviews and ratings to your advantage and make smart purchases. If you are buying a rug and 10 out of 11 reviewers say the item was not the correct color, you probably want to look somewhere else for the item. Also check to verify that a customer had to purchase the item in order to make the review.
When shopping online, always stop to read product reviews. Other customer’s reviews are one of your biggest assets. They will tell you whether clothing sizes run small or large, if there are any common issues with a product, or if it isn’t quite what the website describes. Taking these reviews into account could save you some big headaches later on.
Shopping online can be a wonderful time saver, but make sure you are taking proper safety precautions to prevent identity and credit card theft! Always turn on the passcode for your computer or phone and never order items over an unprotected network. The few extra seconds this will take could save you much grief!
One of the best ways to save money is by only shopping at online retailers you can trust. That ensures you don’t get ripped off with a defective item you have to ship back at your own cost, or not getting the item at all and losing the money you paid.
Make sure that you only provide the bare necessities when shopping online. Usually all that is required is your name, address and credit card number. Occasionally there will be additional areas for you to add personal information and phone numbers. If these areas are not required, do not fill them out. They can sell this information to marketing companies and you will be inundated with spam mail and marketing phone calls.
Research your vendor. Online shopping should be a concern for any shopper, which means knowing who you are shopping with. Does the seller have credible reviews? Are there issues with shipping times or quality of merchandise? Most people only research the product; however, it is always good to know who you are buying from as well.
The many benefits of online shopping are awaiting you as you dive into making purchases online even more. The world of online shopping is constantly expanding, so now is the time to begin becoming a part of it. Learn everything you can from this article and begin shopping today.
