We live in the age of information. With the Internet, virtually any question we might have is easily answered with a click of the mouse and a quick run through Google. With so much information in our fingertips, our day to day routines have changed significantly. Running errands such as a trip to the bank, shopping mall and the local McDonald’s doesn’t even require us to leave our seats.
Here’s what I mean.
BEFORE YOU START SHOPPING
Imagine this scenario: You’re about to embark on the great kitchen makeover, yet you don’t want to go through the hassle of driving across town to a showroom with rude sales personnel who barely help you, so you consult the Internet for information instead. You source your kitchen equipment through the various online retailers and merchants who have created a niche for themselves via their websites.
If we want to know the quality of a certain product, we can easily research online with the help of one of the best decision-making tools of all: the voices of the people like you and me. Via the Internet, everyone’s opinion counts. Everyone’s voice is heard.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
If we want to voice out our opinions, there are many ways on the Internet where we can do just that. Want to talk about the low quality material of a kitchen countertop? Want to praise the quick service provided by the people who installed your stove? You can let everyone know via your chosen online platform, such as social media, or website forums. The sad thing is, some people overlook the power of the World Wide Web, and often do not realize what they’re missing.
Even with the help of the Internet, part of being a savvy consumer is using your head before making a purchase. Virtually anyone can make a website these days, and you may even find yourself a victim to an online scam if you aren’t careful!
10 TIPS FOR SMART SHOPPING
Exercising good old common sense and caution will definitely help you to make wise purchases online. To make sure you’re getting your money’s worth before you shop online, we’ve compiled our own list of top 10 tips to keep you from getting ripped off.
1. Make sure the website is legitimate. Checking for a valid UK postal address or consulting Google Maps will confirm this. Be wary if the only contact details include a PO Box and email address.
2. Do not deal with a company that does not have a working telephone number and an employee on the other end of the line. Make sure that you can contact the seller so you can get to know their products, services and how they run their business.
3. Doing a background check on the company you are looking to purchase products from will help you greatly. Check how long they have been in the industry to see if they are reliable. Beware of some sellers who do not even know what they are selling!
4. Make sure the company has a legitimate payment method. Most retailers will accept credit cards, which provide you with consumer protection laws that allow you to dispute a charge if your product is damaged or does not arrive. If a retailer requests money via wire transfer, avoid the transaction altogether.
5. Deal only with reputable retailers. If you stumble upon a bogus price-comparison site, you will only see a handful of unfamiliar names. Do business only with names you trust, and with sellers who only have positive feedback. Most price comparison sites will have a list of retailers with positive reviews and customer feedback.
6. Make sure the online shop is secure. Companies that are backed by Verisign and TrustE are usually safe. Just to be sure, click on those links to lead you back to the company that offers the security seal. If not, walk away.
7. If the website does not have any terms and conditions before buying, odds are it’s a scam. Most websites will have a list of terms and conditions the customer must understand before doing business with the retailers. Exercise caution if the website has none.
8. Be extra cautious when putting your personal information on websites. Make sure to log off websites that store your information, especially on public computers. The risk of your personal details being compromised runs high if you forget to be careful.
9. Sometimes a deal is too good to be true. If the prices are so low that it’s unbelievable, you should let common sense take over, because it’s most likely a fake.
10. Research, research. With a world of information at your fingertips, it wouldn’t hurt to do a little bit of fact checking with the company you are about to buy from.
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