Online shopping still poses a number of concerns for shoppers. Security and confidentiality issues are some of the main reaons (as is theft) inhibiting the growth of online shopping.
While we recognise that there are evil perpetrators out there who are looking to take advantage of the naive Internet user, it is important to remember that most reputable online shopping websites where online transactions are concluded take a very proactive stance on Internet Security. However, here are some basic safe shopping guidelines that online shoppers can follow to ensure that their online shopping experience is fun, comfortable, safe and secure.
1. Reputation: Make sure the website that you are dealing with is reputable and has a positive reputation amongst its community. See if they offer testimonials, references or a forum whereby its users can openly post notes about their experience on that particular website.
2. Ratings & Testimonials: If the website you are transacting with provides a platform whereby buyers can purchase from various sellers in an e-Commerce environment, check if the website offers a rating system that allows users to rate one another based on their experiences. The more you can find out about the people you are conducting trades with the better judgment you will have in order to make informed purchasing decisions.
3. Guard Your Password: Never give any of your Internet passwords to anyone including the owners of the website in question. While your username may be visible to everyone, your password is not and it should always remain completely confidential.
4. Beware of Phishing Scams: Beware of Phishing scam artists. Phishing is a type of e-mail scam designed to steal your personal data, such as credit card numbers, passwords, account data, or other information. These con artists design e-mail messages that appear to come from the websites that you trust, requesting you to provide them with personal information. The important thing to remember is that there is no reason for anyone to request your personal details if you have already registered on a site and disclosed this information in a secure environment.
5. Protect Your Credit Card: The most common type of online fraud is credit card theft. So make sure never to disclose your credit card details to anyone over the telephone, in e-mails or on sms. Furthermore, before concluding a purchase on any website where you disclose your credit card details, make sure that you are in a secure website. Ensure that the address in your browser address bar is an https website; this is where the https is in front of the URL indicating that you are now in a secure session. Look out for the yellow padlock icon that displays at the bottom right of your computer screen when you are trying to confirm if you are in a safe and secure online trading environment.
6. Avoid Pre-orders: Avoid paying upfront pre-ordered stock. Although to most of you this makes common sense you would be alarmed at the number of people that are caught out by this.
7. Warranties & Guarantees: Find out of the sellers or online stores offer any form of warranties, guarantees or buyer protection services. This reinforces the intention of trade between the buyer and seller and ultimately adds credibility to the seller and their items.
8. Too Good To Be True: Beware of deals that seem too good to be true. Be sure to do your research on the item that you are interested in buying and know the reasonable price range that you can expect to pay for an item. If an item seems too good to be true, it probably is.
9. Shipping Costs: Make sure that you are 100% comfortable that the seller is legitimate, that the seller's ratings are good, that the shipping charges are reasonable and that the item's description is a true reflection of what you are buying before making payment.
10. When In Doubt: The final and most important tip of all is, if at any stage you are not comfortable with any transaction, contact the website owners and discuss any concerns that you may have with them.
Online shopping is one of the most convenient and exciting ways to shop today and its ultimate explosion relies on how soon the majority of consumers get the elusive warm and fuzzy feeling about shopping online.
By: Gillian Meier. To find out more about buying or selling on bidorbuy, visit our how to buy or how to sell help sections. You can also read more about the bidorbuy safety and trust programme.
Showing posts with label internet safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label internet safety. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Smart Online Shopping
If you're like me and millions of other Internet users, you are doing more of your shopping online these days. There are many reasons more people are shopping online today. People want to avoid the crowds at the mall, find lower prices, have the convenience of 24 hour shopping and find a wider selection. There are some pitfalls and drawbacks to online shopping but these can be avoided if you're a smart online shopper.
You have an idea of a product you want to buy. You go to one of the big 3 search engines online, Google, Yahoo and MSN, to do some research. Or perhaps you use one of the many comparison shopping sites to find a store that carries the product you are looking for. Now that you've found the store and the product at the price you're happy with, what's next?
First, take a look at the store contact information. Do they have a toll free number you can call and talk to a real person if any problems arise? Perhaps they are a very small or new operation, if they don't have a toll free number, do they at least have a regular telephone number to call? The very least a store should have is an e-mail address where you can contact them. If all you find for contact information is a web form to fill out, leave quickly!
Second, take a look at the return policy of the store you're considering. Sometimes the store owners make this more difficult than it should be. If you don't see a button on the main page saying, Return Policy, look for an info page. A reputable store will give you at least 30 days in which to return your purchase for a full refund of the purchase price. Don't expect the shipping cost to be refunded. The merchant has already paid that amount to the shipping company. Look out for stores that shorten the return time to 7 or 10 days. Many of these also have a restock fee that they charge. If you return an item to them, the restock fee can range from 10 to 30% or higher. You should never have to pay a restock fee.
Third, take a look at the stores privacy policy. They should never share the information you give them when making a purchase with any 3rd party. If you have any questions or something isn't clear up to this point, call the store. You should expect to talk to a real person during business hours and after hours you should be able to leave a message and they should return your call the next day. If you contact them via e-mail, they should reply within 24 hours. If you have any trouble contacting the store before a sale, you can be assured that they won't be easily reached after a sale. So it's time to find another merchant.
One of my pet peeves is unsolicited e-mails from online stores where I've made a purchase. If they send newsletters or sale notices they should have an opt in signup. If you didn't sign up for any promotional material to be e-mailed to you, you should never be contacted by them, unless it regards a problem with your order being completed and shipped. Personally, when I receive unsolicited e-mail from a store where I've made a purchase, I contact them. I tell them to take me off their contact list and that I will never do business with them again. If enough of us do this, maybe they'll take the hint.
There are many reputable companies, both large and small, online. You can buy great products at low prices and receive wonderful service. Just keep your eyes open for the few bad actors online who try to take advantage of you.
About the Author: Christianna Mansfield has been an online merchant for the past 4 years. Her online stores offer Leather Clothing and Lingerie for women.
You have an idea of a product you want to buy. You go to one of the big 3 search engines online, Google, Yahoo and MSN, to do some research. Or perhaps you use one of the many comparison shopping sites to find a store that carries the product you are looking for. Now that you've found the store and the product at the price you're happy with, what's next?
First, take a look at the store contact information. Do they have a toll free number you can call and talk to a real person if any problems arise? Perhaps they are a very small or new operation, if they don't have a toll free number, do they at least have a regular telephone number to call? The very least a store should have is an e-mail address where you can contact them. If all you find for contact information is a web form to fill out, leave quickly!
Second, take a look at the return policy of the store you're considering. Sometimes the store owners make this more difficult than it should be. If you don't see a button on the main page saying, Return Policy, look for an info page. A reputable store will give you at least 30 days in which to return your purchase for a full refund of the purchase price. Don't expect the shipping cost to be refunded. The merchant has already paid that amount to the shipping company. Look out for stores that shorten the return time to 7 or 10 days. Many of these also have a restock fee that they charge. If you return an item to them, the restock fee can range from 10 to 30% or higher. You should never have to pay a restock fee.
Third, take a look at the stores privacy policy. They should never share the information you give them when making a purchase with any 3rd party. If you have any questions or something isn't clear up to this point, call the store. You should expect to talk to a real person during business hours and after hours you should be able to leave a message and they should return your call the next day. If you contact them via e-mail, they should reply within 24 hours. If you have any trouble contacting the store before a sale, you can be assured that they won't be easily reached after a sale. So it's time to find another merchant.
One of my pet peeves is unsolicited e-mails from online stores where I've made a purchase. If they send newsletters or sale notices they should have an opt in signup. If you didn't sign up for any promotional material to be e-mailed to you, you should never be contacted by them, unless it regards a problem with your order being completed and shipped. Personally, when I receive unsolicited e-mail from a store where I've made a purchase, I contact them. I tell them to take me off their contact list and that I will never do business with them again. If enough of us do this, maybe they'll take the hint.
There are many reputable companies, both large and small, online. You can buy great products at low prices and receive wonderful service. Just keep your eyes open for the few bad actors online who try to take advantage of you.
About the Author: Christianna Mansfield has been an online merchant for the past 4 years. Her online stores offer Leather Clothing and Lingerie for women.
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