During the frantic rush of the holidays, online shopping can often save us time, money and gas. Crowded malls, parking lots and stores are sure to scare off even the most die hard shoppers. Still, while online shopping has its perks, it does also have its downfalls.
The main problem with shopping online is the simplicity of setting up an online storefront. What this means is almost anyone with decent computer knowledge can set up an online store to rival some of the most well-known names in the business. Therefore, looks can be deceiving in the world of the web.
The following are a few tips to help you ensure the site you visit will actually deliver the promised results.
1. Stick with businesses you know. Almost all brick-and-mortar stores these days also have a web presence. Therefore you can shop at your favorites and still avoid the crowds.
2. Compare prices, but don’t always go with the lowest. The Internet allows you to easily comparison shop for the best price. This is one of the best features for shopping online. BUT, it does you no good to order a product at the best price and never receive it, or worse, have extra fees/shipping or poor quality merchandise. Look for the best price, but try to stick to websites with a good reputation too.
3. Look for appropriate information on the website. A quality retailer will be upfront about shipping costs. They will also have an easy to use site with access to customer service phone numbers, company addresses and more. If the site is low on typical business information, that is a definite red flag.
4. Follow up on any shipments. Track your shipments and follow up quickly if they are late. If anything seems fishy, you do have the right to cancel if they don’t make their ship date. The same goes for poor quality or damaged merchandise.
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