subject: Guidlines For Buying Online [print this page] Buying and shopping online has become very popular in recent years. Each year finds more websites offering us an ever increasing variety of goods and services at great prices as well as the ease of not having to go out to buy stuff. With Christmas right around the corner, many people are opting to do as much of their shopping online as possible. If you're new to using the internet for online shopping, you may have questions or concerns about the security and techniques used for online shopping. Here are some simple guidelines when buying online.
*Confirm that the site you're shopping from is secure. With such a large variety of websites around we have a tendency to concentrate more on money than the security of the website. Secure sites will use specific technologies (Secure Sockets Layers or SSL or Secure Electronic Transaction or SET) to ensure the site and the connection is secure.
Methods to make sure the site is safe may vary based on what approach is used. Look at the URL of the site. Addresses that begin with "https" are safer as compared to sites that only have "http" in the address. One more way to make certain it's a secure site is by looking at the status bar or the bottom of the screen. A locked padlock or an unbroken key is an indication that that site is secure.
*Browse around for good deals. Buying online can provide a lot of convenience over shopping at your local mall or in other stores in your area. You will save time and the stress of dealing with heavy traffic, lengthy lines in the store as well as being able to shop at your ease rather than being forced to shop during certain hours of the day. However, you still want to be able to save money. Don't buy from the first site that pops up when you search online. Surf through several sites until you find the best package.
*Look for Shipping Costs. While a lot of people shop online to save cash on their purchase, they forget about the shipping costs. Their mantra is that it's cheaper than having to drive to the stores. This may be correct, you should always check on the cost of shipping before making a purchase. Some online stores may offer cheaper shipping charges if you spend a certain amount of money while others may offer free shipping. Shop around for the best shipping choices when choosing sites for your online purchase.
*Check out Online Auctions. Online auction sites like EBay are very popular now. Amazon is another site that, although not an auction site, is very popular with online buyers. Both sites offer new and used merchandise; however, so pay attention to what you're buying so you don't get second hand merchandise when you think you're paying for new merchandise. Online auction sites are another place where you really have to look for the best shipping costs or you may find you're paying more for the shipping than you paid for the actual merchandise.
*Ensure you know their return guidelines. The biggest mistake online buyers make is not knowing the company's return policy before they make the purchase. They buy a shirt in what they believed was their size only to realize that their sizing was different and the item doesn't fit. When they try to return the merchandise, they discover the company will either only give a store credit or won't take returns at all. This may totally dissuade a consumer from shopping online in the future when simply knowing the store's return policy could have avoided the trouble and frustration.
The type of warranty a store will give with their products is as significant as their return policy. If the product doesn't work, will they honor it or leave you on your own? Learn what their warranties are and how much, if any, it will cost you to send back the product.
