Buying online means you can get what you need in just a few clicks, without having to visit a store. However, it can be difficult to verify the reliability of a website, and there are many scams out there. Here s a guide to help you make the right checks before buying online.
1. Consult consumer reviews
Consumers often head for well-known sites to minimize the chances of being scammed, but it s possible that you re interested in a site you re not familiar with. In this case, it s essential to consult the reviews of consumers who have already bought from this site.
- Type the name of the site into your search engine and consult the various reviews.
- If you notice that the site has collected more negative reviews than positive ones, it s not advisable to go ahead with your purchase, as you risk a bad experience of your own.
2. Check for legal notices and general terms and conditions of sale
Websites are obliged to publish legal notices and General Terms and Conditions of Sale.
- Thanks to the legal notices, you can consult crucial information about the company, such as the address of the registered office, the registration number and the company contacts.
- The GSC establishes a legal framework between buyer and seller.
3. check the product
Not being able to try, touch or see the product you want to buy can be a disadvantage.
- Read all the product features described by the seller. Be suspicious if essential details are missing.
- Read consumer reviews of the product you want. Today, many e-commerce sites offer consumers the opportunity to illustrate their review with photos of the product, which can make the review more reliable.
4. check the shopping cart before making payment
Once the basket has been filled, a few details remain to be checked before payment.
- Check the composition of the basket and make sure that no items have been added that you don t want.
- Check the quantities of your order: if the basket shows a higher price than you ve selected, check whether a duplicate item has been selected.
5. secure payment
When all the checks have been carried out and there s nothing to report, proceed to secure payment.
- When you pay on a secure page, you can see that the url of the “http://” page changes to “https://. The addition of the “s” stands for “Secure”.
- The merchant site may redirect you to your banking application to validate your purchase.
Once you have made your purchase, you should receive a confirmation e-mail giving you all the delivery details for your order. Keep a record of the confirmation e-mail and the order number, and check that the amount debited from your account corresponds to your order.