Shopping online

Shopping Online

Get the Details

Know who you're dealing with.

Anyone can set up shop online under almost any name. Confirm the online seller's physical address and phone

number in case you have questions or problems. And if you get an email or pop-up message that asks for your

financial information while you’re browsing, don't reply or follow the link. Legitimate companies don't ask for

information that way.

Know what you're buying.

Read the seller's description of the product closely, especially the fine print. Words like "refurbished," "vintage,"

or "close-out" may indicate that the product is in less-than-mint condition, while name-brand items with bargain

basement prices could be counterfeits.

Know what it will cost.

Check out websites that offer price comparisons and then compare "apples to apples." Factor shipping and

handling into the total cost of your purchase. Do not send cash or money transfers under any circumstances.

Keep Records.

Print or save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt,

and the emails you send and receive from the seller. Read your credit card statements as you receive them; be

on the lookout for charges that you don’t recognize.

Protect Your Information

Don't email any financial information.

Email is not a secure method of transmitting financial information like your credit card, checking account, or

Social Security number. If you begin a transaction and need to give your financial information through an

organization's website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a URL that begins https (the "s" stands for

secure). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some fraudulent sites have forged security icons.

Check the privacy policy.

Really. It should let you know what personal information the website operators are collecting, why, and how

they're going to use the information. If you can't find a privacy policy - or if you can't understand it - consider

taking your business to another site that's more user-friendly.

Think about your goals before you shop.

Do you want the top-of-the-line product? A particular brand? Are there “must-have” features? What’s your

budget? If you decide what’s important to you up-front, you’re less likely to make an impulse purchase that

could lead to buyer’s remorse.

Get to know the products in the category.

Often, the key features of a basic product and the top-of-the-line version from the same manufacturer are the

same, and “add-ons” account for the difference in price. For example, you might have to pay extra for a toaster

with a clock and fancy chime even if it turns bread into toast just like a less expensive model. Manufacturer

sites often have the most information about product features.

Use Search Engines

If you think you’ve found a good deal, but you aren’t familiar with the product or the company selling it, dig a little

deeper. Type the company or product name into your favorite search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint”

or “scam.” If you find bad reviews, you’ll have to decide if the offer is worth the risk. After all, it’s only a good deal

if you actually get a product that works.

Check Comparison Shopping Sites

These sites connect you to many retailers selling the same product, sometimes at significantly different prices.

Compare your total purchase price, including shipping and handling, and taxes, rather than just the selling price.

Different sites also have different return policies. Check the policy and find out whether you’ll be charged extra

shipping or restocking fees for returns.

Some sites let you sign up to get alerts when prices change.

Consider Coupons

Some companies offer discounts to online shoppers via email; other sites collect and list codes for free shipping

and other discounts. Keep in mind that a coupon price isn’t always the best deal.

To look for discounts, enter the web site or company name and “discount,” “coupon” or “free shipping” into a

search engine. Stay away from sites that make you download software or enter financial information to access

the codes.

Read Reviews and Be Skeptical

When considering a review, think about the source of the information: is it from an impartial expert organization,

one consumer, many individual consumers, a columnist?

You can get a good idea about a product’s performance from reading user reviews on retail or shopping

comparison sites. But they may not represent the experience of all purchasers: The FTC has sued companies

that posted “fake” positive reviews. Some negative reviews may come from competitors.

You also can look for websites that specialize in reviewing products. These sites don’t sell products but offer

expert reviews and comparisons.

Evaluate what you see on retail sites.

Some scammers set up “specialty” sites selling a particular type of product. Those can be full of glowing reviews

from “shills” who are compensated for their posts, and may not include any mediocre or negative reviews

because they’ve been deleted.

What do you know about the photo?

A product photo is meant to cast the item in the best possible light. Could it have been doctored? Will it look as

appealing in your home or office?

What If There's a Problem?

Ask yourself a few questions: Does the brand have a reputation for good products and excellent customer

service? What’s the promised delivery time? How will you contact the seller if there’s a problem? Will the

company accept returns? If so, will you be charged restocking fees?

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