Shopping
Over the past few years, more and more companies have started to sell their
products online. The good news is that there is more choice than ever
and you can buy products at any time of day. However if you have never
bought anything online it can be confusing knowing where to start. Here
at About Online you will find sites that offer tips and advice about shopping
online.
Points to consider when shopping online include:
• Check that the website that you are buying from is legitimate
- many sites may look good but make sure that there is a contact address
and a telephone number so that you can contact customer service should
you have any problems.
•
Security - it is important to make sure that the site you are buying from
uses the latest encryption technology to ensure that your payment details
are completely safe. The easiest way to do this is to look for the padlock
symbol. This should appear as soon as you are asked to enter your payment
details.
•
Consider making your payment with a credit card as these usually offer
more protection should you encounter any problems.
•
Find out if you are able to cancel your order within a specific time span.
• Make sure that you check whether there is a refund policy - and
find out how long it remains valid for.
•
Ensure that the company provides you with a delivery date.
•
Have a look to see whether there is a complaints procedure in place.
•
Make sure that you know how much you will be charged for post and packing.
•
If you can you should always print out a copy of your order - this way
you have proof of purchase should any problems occur.
Resources
Office of Fair Trading
Citizens Advice Bureau
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