Online shopping: what to expect this holiday season
Online shopping is fast approaching the half trillion dollar a year mark. That’s a lot of trading! You can find almost anything online… but everything. If it’s sellable, you can bet it’s somewhere on the web.
From all these sales and transactions, you can be sure there will be problems ranging from credit card fraud, identity theft, spyware uploading, and just plain theft.
Online shopping, for the most part, is the easiest and safest way to shop. By being vigilant and alert, you can find amazing deals and save tons of money.
Online shopping offers:
– Better possibilities of safe and secure purchases
– Professional customer support online
– Unlike auctions, returns and refunds are accepted
– No need to bid on items and spend more than expected
– Articles and products delivered immediately
– Emergency gifts for friends, spouses, family members and business partners
– Gifts delivered directly to third party recipients
– Credit and debit card buyer protection security
– Possibility to buy at any time 24/7 at your convenience
– Avoid the hustle and bustle of indoor or outdoor malls.
– Precious time saving and possibility to buy from home or anywhere
– Less trips and energy consumption.
– Best deals and offers from selections of larger stores and retailers
As you can see, the advantages of online shopping are phenomenal. However, when you look and pay attention to the following, you will certainly have the best shopping experiences.
credit card security
You really don’t know who is viewing your credit card information with online purchases. As we all know, credit card numbers, social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and other sensitive personal information can wreak havoc in the wrong hands. When you buy online check the security. If in doubt, check out sites like The Better Business Bureau – http://www.bbb.org, Hacker Safe – http://www.hackersafe.com, Safety Tips for PayPal Purchases – http://www. paypal.com , Federal Trade Commission Shop Safely Online – http://www.ftc.gov. It is always a good practice to obtain as much information as possible about the store or retailer you are about to do business with.
online payment security
Every time you use your credit card online, make sure it’s transferred to a secure server. You will notice that the site address starts with https:// and will have a padlock graphic at the bottom of your computer screen. Never send credit or sensitive personal information through unsecured servers.
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
It is a good idea to read the privacy policies and terms of use of the websites. I know this sounds like a mumble of legalese, but you can get a good idea of how your information will or may be used. Most reputable retailers won’t sell your email or sensitive information because of issues that can later come back to haunt them. If you do not want your email used for spam or general marketing, please send the retailer a note from your contact page making it clear that you want your email and personal information to be private.
Return and Refund Policies
You should be aware of the return and refund policies in advance if you are dissatisfied or wish to cancel a purchase. Professional retail websites will have a customer service section that outlines returns, refunds, shipping, taxes, international orders, warranties, and a store FAQ section. Reading the policy information before shopping is sure to make everyone happy!
Contact
Be alert when a site does not have a contact page or section. When you see email addresses ending with free service extensions like hotmail, yahoo, gmail, or the like, send them a message asking for a phone number, contact name, address, and then check validity before making purchases. This will give you an initial hint in case something goes wrong.
order confirmations
Look for a confirmation of sale after purchases. After your credit card has been charged, the confirmation receipt should be displayed immediately or emailed to you directly. It is recommended that you print your confirmation receipts and keep them for your records. It will show the date, time, place of purchase and give you a good backup.
Retailer Background
If you’re ready to buy from a retailer you haven’t done business with, check with the Better Business Bureau and check buyer reviews. You can find reviews by doing a search on your favorite search engine, Google, Yahoo, etc., and enter XYZ company review. If there are, they will appear and you will be able to read horror success stories where you will be able to make informed decisions for your purchases. If the review is bad, contact the retailer and ask questions. If they don’t respond promptly or to your satisfaction, skip them and continue.
Delivery times
When purchasing items, please make sure you know how your product will be delivered. Shipping rates may vary, with overnight being the most expensive. The standard is 2nd or 3rd day UPS. Also, when sending gifts or products to a third party, it’s a good idea to let the recipient know something is on the way so they can keep an eye out for it. Make sure the delivery service has a tracking feature, so that if any problems occur, you can effectively find and track your product.
Website Reviews & Testimonials
Reviews and testimonials are a great way to learn about the experiences of others. You can use the reviews to know what to expect and have an outside contact to ask questions.
Site function and offers
The website you are shopping on should be easy to navigate and find what you are looking for. Site layouts vary widely, but the presentation should be clean and clear. Load times vary with high usage, Internet connections, and the information contained on the pages. Sites that load moderately are fine, depending on your patience. If you have suggestions or recommendations about the site, please contact the site’s webmaster or customer service department. They will be delighted to hear from you.
Be vigilant and alert this holiday season and you will have the perfect season for giving and receiving gifts.