Know Before You Buy Online to Be a Smart Shopper

In today’s tough economy, most people have to watch their money carefully. One of the most effective ways that most people cut corners is by buying certain items online rather than going to a retail store. These tips for being a smart online shopper will help you when making online purchases.

It seems odd to think that just years ago, there were no online shopping options. Now there are so many online shopping portals that we can buy almost everything we need without ever leaving our houses. From groceries, medical supplies, and even gift cards sent to a friend for a birthday, we don’t have to venture out of the doors of our house and navigate the crowds at the local shopping mall anymore. However, you may get scammed. These tips for being a smart online shopper will give you the information to look for before your credit card gets hit with fraudulent charges.

Be warned, if you don’t know how to buy things online safely, it can be a dangerous way to save money. Fortunately, there are some very simple tips and tricks that anyone can use in order to find high-quality products at rock bottom prices with no concern for safety or ethics issues.

Shopping in the comfort of your home is one of the easiest ways to shop. You can save money because you are not limited by what shops are near you. However, online shopping also has its downsides. 

Here Are 8 Tips for Being A Smart Online Shopper:

Use a Secure Internet Connection

When purchasing online, do not use public wifi. Additionally, make sure the company you are purchasing from has an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) that encrypts data. To make sure there is an SSL, you should see a lock icon on your web browser. Additionally, the web address you are visiting should begin with HTTPS:// These security measures keep your financial information and credit card details such as credit card number, expiration date, and CVV (the three-digit number on the back of your credit card) safe.

Additional ways to handle security is to 1) never give your credit card information out through an email or text to a company. 2) Do not click on a link in an email. Instead, go to your web browser and search for the company or deal you are looking for. While you are there check out reviews of the company and product.

Ask Friends & Relatives for Reviews

We all want to get the best deal possible, and so we shop looking for the best price. However, many times, shady companies offer a lower price to get you to buy quickly and use terms like “only X amount left.” This gets you to click before you think. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably isn’t legit.

If you are on a website or purchasing items that are great deals from a company you haven’t dealt with before, don’t be afraid to ask on social media if anyone has had any dealings with the company. Friends and relatives will make sure to let you know if they have had a good or bad experience. Return the favor by posting good experiences with online companies to let your friends know about online retailers that have exceeded your expectations.

Be A Smart Online Shopper by Getting Everything In Writing

You may receive an email from a website offering a huge discount for their products. Before clicking on that link, visit their website to make sure the company is a legitimate site. In fact, I have a policy to never click on a link in an email. Also, be sure to go through their terms and conditions and FAQ pages thoroughly so there won’t be any problems when you actually make a purchase. 

This will also keep away scammers who often send fake emails and trick people into sending them money or sharing their credit card information via email phishing scams. In addition, it’s best to check out the site’s contact details. Also check the security certificate, and privacy policy, so you will be assured that deals are real.

Know Your Prices

Since you can purchase products online at very low costs, checking the same items’ prices in other stores is also necessary. Also, check if the online store offers free samples. This way, even if a product is on sale somewhere else, it would still be cheaper than buying it from websites that do not offer discounts on their products.

Additionally, before you check out know your shipping costs. Many companies that offer great prices on items don’t just charge for shipping, but also tack on “handling fees.” When you add up the hidden costs the great deal may end up costing you much, much more.

Look for a Coupon Site or a Discount Code

To ensure you are getting a great price, look for online coupons or discount codes. There are plenty of websites that stay up-to-date with coupon codes for additional discounts or free shipping. Stacking on a coupon code onto an already discounted item ensures you are a smarter shopper!

Are You Signing Up for a Subscription?

Many online retailers offer a great discount on the first shipment of an item, but then enroll you in their monthly subscription services. This is the best way to ensure two things. 1) getting a product on a regular basis. And 2) getting to know a company before you spend a lot of money. However, there are so many scams out there when it comes to subscription services. Online negative reviews will read, “I didn’t know I was signing up for a monthly product, and now I can’t cancel.” Or “I have tried to cancel month after month and I am out hundreds of dollars, and they just keep charging my card.”

While there are many great subscription services, the hallmark of these online shops is that you know immediately it is a monthly subscription. Furthermore, they detail in writing how you can cancel or skip a month. I have personally used several food services, a sensory product subscription, and even a wine box, and have loved them. However, before purchasing, I have read online reviews

Check Ratings And Reviews Of The Website

You should only buy products from websites with good customer service or those which already have some positive feedback or ratings. These sites will likely give you superb deals for their products. It helps to read comments about the website before deciding whether to make purchases there. Real user reviews will not just say, “great product,” but give pictures or details that let you know they actually used the product.

Shocking tidbit: Many companies use paid reviewers to write “good reviews.” Learning how to navigate through online websites to find relevant information is a great skill to develop when shopping online.

It may take a while to go through reviews. However, in the long run, you will be glad you weeded out the dishonest companies.

Paying By Credit Card = Being a Smart Online Shopper

Some products may be sold online only because the company does not have physical stores to sell them. These companies should accept credit cards. A red flag should go off if they only want to take “money orders” or “personal checks.” In the USA, buying with a credit card does offer you some protection against scams or unauthorized charges.

Furthermore, do not use a debit card online. Using a debit card could mean your entire account gets wiped out in a single blow. Getting your money back from your financial institution may be impossible or take months to get back.

Make Sure Your Credit Card Information Is Safe

It’s important to keep track of your credit card statements every month, especially when doing online shopping. In order to avoid any unauthorized transactions made by third parties who might get their hands on your purchased items and personal details, you want to track your expenses.

When buying things online, it is also vital for you to make sure that the website offers HTTPS or SSL encryption to make sure that your personal information like card numbers, expiry dates, and billing addresses are completely secure.

Check The Site’s Refund Policy

If you are not satisfied with the product you received or there is some problem with it, be sure to check if the website offers refunds. The usual return period for items bought online is 21 days, but the exact time could vary, so always double-check these details first before buying anything.

How Long Will Delivery Take?

It may also be best to choose websites that offer quick shipment so you can get your order as soon as possible. It could save you a lot of trouble if your ordered goods arrive late because they might not be in stock anymore or they may have to cancel your order if they are unable to send it on time.

Another thing to be aware of is that the FTC (in the United States) has set up time requirements for shipping products. If a company cannot ship the product in a certain amount of time, they are required to notify you. They need to give you the option to either 1) continue waiting for the product or 2) cancel and receive a full refund. Many companies do not adhere to these laws. They often need a reminder (or teaching them about it) in an email. This is enough to get some companies to comply as most companies don’t want a run-in with any government agency.

Read The Fine Print Of The Contract

Part of being a smart online shopper is knowing what the terms of the contract are. You may not be required to sign any contracts when making an online purchase. However, reading these legal documents will still be helpful in case there are problems with your orders or delayed shipment. 

These details could also include information about warranties, compensation for damages, or responsibility that you have if anything goes wrong so read everything thoroughly before confirming your order.

The reason for this is simple. Many retailers will use your information to make more money off of you by targeting their sale offerings toward your preferences. They are hoping that if they can entice you into buying what they’re selling with big discounts, you’ll come back again. It costs less to get a repeat customer than it cost to get a new customer. You will buy even more later, creating a steady stream of revenue for the company.

In Conclusion

As long as you remember these tips on how to do online shopping, you will ensure you are in the ranks of smart online shoppers. You can save a lot of money while purchasing products at your convenience. However, you should be very careful about keeping track of every detail because online transactions are permanent, and may have long-lasting implications to your credit, your bank account, and your sanity.

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