Safe Shopping Online
Millions of people shop online every day without a problem. Safe online shopping is easy providing you know what to look out for and carry out a few basic checks before buying.
Tips for buying online
Know who you are buying from – Reputable traders will have a full address and contact details on their website that you can check out. They should also provide information that answers the following questions:
• How do they protect your privacy (read their privacy policy/statement)?
• Do they offer secure payments (see below)?
• What is their returns/cancellation policy?
• Can they deliver within your timescales?
• Do they provide a mechanism for contacting them with questions and complaints?
Consider paying by credit card – Buying by credit card can offer you additional protection if things go wrong such as goods not turning up. Schemes vary depending on the card you have and your country of residence so it is worth checking out what protection you have before buying.
Ensure online payments are secure – Websites should use encryption to keep your card details safe and secure. You can tell when encryption is being used because a padlock appears at the bottom of your browser when you are filling in the payment details. Double-check this by making sure the address in the address bar begins with https:// (the ‘s’ stands for secure).
Keep records – Print out and retain records to show where you have bought from, what you have bought, delivery information and proof of purchase. Also keep emails you have been sent by the company and don’t forget to save copies of any emails that you send them.
Are you buying from abroad? – Watch out for traders supplying goods from other countries. It might seem like you are getting a bargain but this can be because duties and taxes have not been included in the price. Firstly, check the physical address and phone number to see where the trader is based. If they are overseas, and you are still tempted to buy, do your homework to find out what duties, taxes and additional delivery charges (couriers will often make an additional administration charge if they have to collect custom duties) that you might incur. You should also consider how buying from abroad might affect you should you wish to return the item, liase with their customer services or you get into dispute with the trader.
Internet auctions – Auctions can be a great way to grab a bargain but there can be added risk. Minimise the risk by looking for sellers with a good user rating and positive feedback from buyers. Also look for sellers who provide information about who they are, delivery costs, their returns policy etc.
Get a second opinion – If you are not sure about a site or company then search for recommendations, reviews and information about them. Alternatively, use the TipaTipa forum boards to see what other users think!
Beware of offers that sound too good to be true – They probably are! Try doing an online search to see if anyone else has had a problem.
Useful Links
The following sites also have some great consumer advice and information:
UK: http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
USA: http://www.safeshopping.org, http://www.onguardonline.gov
Ireland: http://www.consumerconnect.ie
Canada: http://www.safecanada.ca
Australia: http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au