A few years ago, it seemed to me that risk-takers or those who have extra money can make purchases in online stores. For a long time I could not decide on such an adventure. The very idea that I would inform some site about the number and CVV code of my card seemed absurd to me. And I could not believe that the ordered item would be the same as in a beautiful advertising photo.
That was about 10 years ago. Since then, I have radically changed my mind about online stores, I have gotten favorite sites on which I often shop, and online shopping has long ceased to seem to me something out of the ordinary. Overcoming fear and learning how to make profitable purchases helped my friend - a real shopping guru on the Web. Her advice can come in handy both to the one who first decided to buy, and to those who already have some experience.
Collect maximum information
The web has a huge number of thematic forums with real photos and reviews, where you can easily find links to the product you are interested in. If you are planning a purchase in an online store, be sure to use such resources!
Many people are happy to share their impressions of their purchases and write what sellers are silent about. You probably came across on the Web funny photos of unsuccessful purchases, which are strikingly different from what buyers expected to receive. There is no point in taking risks; someone else's experience may come in handy.
By the way, some online stores themselves provide customers with the opportunity to share their opinions. An example is the beloved AliExpress by many. On the product page, you can easily find the Reviews tab.
Take a look at the seller
Of course, if we are talking about the brand’s online store, this advice is not useful. It works when it comes to multi-brand retailers that provide the opportunity to sell goods to many sellers.
If the seller has few reviews and no stars, this does not mean that you will certainly be deceived. Perhaps a person has just opened his own business. But remember that there are risks. Want to minimize them - choose a seller with a high rating and many good reviews. True, prices in this case may be slightly higher.
After receiving the goods, do not forget to help other buyers: share your opinion, rate the seller’s work.
Pay attention to the address
In order not to run into scammers, make sure that the store’s URL matches the name of the website itself and starts with HTTPS. The first step to a safe purchase is to make sure that you are working with a legal store.
Delivery and spike
Make sure that the store provides the opportunity to bring goods to your area. Pay attention to the cost. Many stores mean free shipping, but even there, some products may have a so-called spike.
Never rush to click on the "Pay" button. Send the goods to the basket, and then look at the total amount. It may differ from the price of the goods. In some cases, the spike even exceeds the purchase price.
Feel free to write to the seller
Many sellers, especially on Asian platforms, are very sociable. They will be happy to answer your questions. Let not in literary Russian, but you can understand.
If any details are not completely clear to you, ask the seller, ask for real photos. A definitive reluctance to make contact should alert.
Secure payment
Reputable stores provide ample opportunities for payment: from PayPal and WebMoney to Visa or MasterCard bank cards.A page with multiple payment options confirms the seriousness of the store.
If you pay with electronic money, try to make a payment from a dollar wallet. It will also go from ruble, but the commission is usually quite high. Exchange money in advance.
What is phishing
This type of fraud continues to gain momentum. It implies the illegal extraction of confidential information for the purpose of further use.
In no case do not enter the card data on the page if there is no green lock next to HTTPS. Such resources are not protected from phishing.
Protected equipment
Don't underestimate hackers. You can steal your data in many ways.
You should not make purchases in a hotel or cafe, connecting to a "strange" Wi-Fi network. Be sure to use an antivirus. Many experts advise making purchases using the latest version of the browser.
Many web browsers warn users who try to visit fraudulent websites or download malware. Take these warnings seriously, do not ignore them.
Use secure password
If the password 1234 is used to enter your personal account, the computer is vulnerable to hacking. Use a phrase with numbers and special characters. For example, Fuegomoz68fox is a strong password.
Date of birth and last name are bad sources of inspiration for those who puzzle over thinking up a password. Experts advise switching the keyboard to the Latin alphabet and writing the name of your favorite dish or memorial place as you would write in the Russian layout. For example, dumplings will look like gtkmvtyb. Guessing such a password is much more difficult than pelmeny.
Price adjustment and cashback
When using the official shopping app, you can count on cashback. This is a refund of part of the cost of goods - a kind of bonus to attract customers.
An even more interesting practice is price adjustment. This is a price reduction insurance. If the purchased product has fallen in price, feel free to write to the seller and ask if price adjustment is provided. Many reputable sites, such as Amazon, return money to the client without problems in such cases.