We've all heard how great Internet Shopping can be; that you can get things far cheaper as the shops don't have to pay expensive overheads. How convenient it is - you can shop when you want to. How there's a much broader range - you can find specialist items on the Internet you'd never find on the high street. How it's easy to compare prices, and how there are no queues and plenty of parking online!
But before you start shopping on the Internet there are a n
umber of questions you have to ask yourself.
- Do you trust the vendor?
- Do they have a 'secure' server?
- What are their delivery times?
- Can you contact them if the order goes wrong?
- Are there any hidden charges?
- Most Internet online shopping sites use some sort of shopping cart - this is your virtual trolley into which you can place items, then take them to the checkout when you want to pay. The checkout must be in a secure server in order for your transaction to be secure.
Safe Shopping Advice
Just like giving your credit card to a waiter or paying for petrol at the garage, so long as you take some basic precautions shopping online is safe to do. You should:
- Always print out your order confirmation.
- Check the delivery times and prices.
- Pay by credit card - this can give you extra protection.
- Don't leave the computer unsupervised while shopping online.
- Log out properly at the end of a transaction.
- Make sure you can contact them if the order goes wrong, and that they have an after sales policy.
- If you see a shopsafe logo on the web site then you know we've done the hard work for you, checking that the site is safe to shop at.
Any Other Safe Shopping Hints?
- Order more than just one item at a time to save on delivery costs.
- Try and get your goods delivered at a time when you will be there, otherwise your package might get left with the neighbours from hell!
- Become members of web sites - this might entitle you to a discount as well as being notified about special offers.
- Don't get carried away and spend too much!
"I love Internet shopping - In the last few years I've bought so much online, from books and CDs to trainers and a TV" says Graham Miller, one of the founders of Shopsafe. "So long as you take some basic precautions you shouldn't have to worry. Don't rush in to anything - there are hundreds of shops and stores out there, and try to enjoy yourself - you can still feel the excitement of finding a bargain sitting behind a computer screen. Just don't get carried away and fill your credit card up in one go!"
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