1 Know who you are dealing with online. That means shopping with reputable companies.
2 Use only “secure” web sites. To make sure the site is secure, look for a small padlock icon in address bar.
3 Before purchasing an item, check to make sure the seller lists an address or toll-free number just in case you have a problem. If you are on a site that rents out “virtual booths” (like Amazon where there are independent sellers offering products along side Target and Amazon), be sure to pay attention to who you is selling the product in your cart. Check the seller’s ratings online as well.
4 Make sure the seller has a return policy that you agree with in case you are not satisfied. Get information on the site’s complaint procedures. See what the refund policy is and compare it with other companies.
5 Find out what the shipping and handling fees will cost; make sure this is the price you pay at check out (no carrot and stick or switcharoo!)
6 Print out and keep records of your purchase.
7 Paying by credit card is best; it allows you to dispute the bill and withhold payment if there is a problem.
8 Look for discount codes! It is worth your time and money to try to find offers for discounts before making an online purchase. Instead of doing a general search to find a code or discount, visit Coupon Cabin, Shopping-Bargains and Entailment and see if they have offers listed. These sites sometimes include “Success rates” so you can see which promotions work, too!
When I shop online, I either impulse buy (oh the shame) or take forever. Most of the time it's the latter -- I keep things in my shopping cart for a long
time before finally clicking “check out.” Lately it has been interesting to see
how the prices in my cart have fluctuated (especially on Amazon.com) from day to
day!
How is your shopping going?
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