Nothing beats shopping online because all of the great deals are at your fingertip and you never need to leave the house!  It is important though for all shoppers to know a few simple rules before they plunk down their hard earned cash to buy something online. 

One of the first cardinal rules of shopping online is only shopping on SSL designated sites.  The SSL designated stands for Secure Sockets Layer technology.  You can simply verify if this technology is in place by checking the web address of the page you are on.  SSL sites begin with “https://” instead of http://.  There are also two other ways to tell if the web site you are shopping at have taken security measures on their site: 1.) There is a padlock icon at the bottom of your screen or an unbroken key icon when you are using Netscape Navigator or 2.) There is a lock icon at the bottom of your screen when using Internet Explorer.

Second, consider how well you know the seller.  If you received an unsolicited email asking you to make a purchase online, check out the business first at the Better Business Bureau’s website (http://www.bbbonline.org).  You can also research a business through your state’s attorney general’s office found on your state’s official website.  You can also get a feel for a seller’s reputation if they have an area where you can check feedback from other buyers.

Third, make sure that you have contact information for the person you are purchasing merchandise from.  Unlike a store that you know will be there the next day, unscrupulous merchants can shut down their web site in the blink of an eye.  Make sure that the merchant you are buying from provides you with a physical address, not just a P.O. Box and a phone number in case you have problems with the merchandise you purchase.  In addition, if you purchase something from an international seller you may not have the same rights as if you purchased an item within the United States.  Check your credit card statement to see what your rights are before you make a purchase abroad.

Fourth, know the terms of your purchase before you buy.  Make sure that you read the terms of your agreement before you click a button that says agree or you submit an order.  Many sites offer a disclaimer that must be agreed to by clicking a button.  Other sites may have the disclaimers or legal terms on a separate web page.  Disclaimers may include information such as waiving your right to return an item or limit the amount of time that you have to return items you aren’t satisfied with.

Fifth, know if there is a warranty for your merchandise.  This is very important if you have purchased electronics online.  If there is a written warranty, it must be provided to you before you purchase the item.  Warranties should include the following information:  the time which the warranty covers, whom you can contact if something goes wrong with the item you purchased and is there a limit to the merchant’s liability.  Under federal law, if the item costs more than $10 the merchant must state whether the warranty is “limited” or “full.”

Sixth, know the expected delivery date of your item.  At checkout, most merchants will provide you with the expected delivery date of your merchandise.  Under federal law, if you don’t receive the item within 30 days of the purchase date, the merchant has to notify you.  You then have the right to wait for the merchandise or to cancel the order.  Exceptions are when you agree to a longer shipping time due to a special order.

Follow these shopping tips and you are sure to have a safe and satisfying shopping experience online.

 

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