10 Things to Remember
(eShopping Check list)
1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Sure it's a corny old saying, but its age denotes it's accuracy. You should never be pressured to believe that you're passing up the deal of a lifetime, there's always a better or at least another deal around the corner. Your never "have to" buy.
2. Learn about the products and services you want to purchase, especially online! Make yourself acquainted with products, services, warrantees, guarantees, legal terms, refund policies and other information before making a purchase. If you're dealing with an auction site check up on rules observed by the site and laws concerning online auctions.
3. Check the price again before finalizing the transaction. Be sure to comparison shop for the best prices. The best prices are not always online, don't overlook offline goods and services. After figuring-in shipping and handling, it is not unusual for goods to be more expensive online than offline.
4. No privacy policy, no sale! Find and read religiously the privacy policy of the seller. They might want to solicit you after the sale by e-mail, snail mail, phone or other. Furthermore they may want to sell your contact information to others. They may even want to keep your payment information. Whether or not you agree or disagree with these practices is not the issue, you need to be aware of these issues and have the right to the information concerning them. Only do business with sites that provide this information and only if you agree with their methods of dealing with your personal information. If you have the option of choosing or refusing certain seller practices concerning your information, be sure to keep a print out of their practices of handling your personal information.
5. Information concerning returns, refunds, and the shipping and handling policies of the seller as well as the other legal terms should be read and printed. If you can't find them, ask the seller through an e-mail or telephone call to indicate where they are on the site or to provide them to you in writing.
6. Only make transactions on secure connections. Many online merchants allow you the ability to choose a secure connection. Other merchants establish a secure connection automatically at some point when you decide to make a purchase online. Regardless of whether it is chosen or automatic, a secure connection is absolutely essential to your online purchasing decision-making process. Check to see if the URL of the Web site starts with (https://, the (s) is for secure). Your browser may have features that tell you (Icons) whether or not a connection is secure. Check your browsers help features.
7. Select a pay type with the most protection. Although it's not full proof, a credit card is still the best method for purchasing online. It provides the highest level of protection when compared to other pay types.
8. Print all important purchase data. You should print out and date a copy of terms, conditions, warranties, item description, company information, even confirming e-mails, and save them with your records of your purchase (credit card bills, bank statements, exc.)
9. Check the seller's delivery policies. The seller can instruct the shipper on how to handle certain affairs concerning the delivery of a package, such as: (What to do with packages when the recipient is not at home! Whether or not a signature is required for package delivery and other concerns.)
10. Inspect your purchase immediately after delivery. Physically inspect the goods; look for damages broken seals and other physical defects. Check the inventory and make sure all items ordered were included. Make sure each product came with all components and papers that were a part of the purchased products inventory. Contact the seller immediately if there are problems. Contact the seller in writing and ask for a repair or refund. Keep a copy of your correspondence.