6 Simple Tips to Safe Shopping Online

Thu, 27 Aug 09

Do you find it daunting to shop online? Have you ever been ripped off using your credit card online? If so you maybe asking how can I shop safely?

Well most of us have made a purchase online once in our lives, or made a transaction via net banking? (Statistics show that over 70% of internet users in Australia have shopped online before). However, people are now realizing that the convenience of shopping online does have some drawbacks, forcing people to avoid utilising these services.

In fact, I have also had a bad experience with purchasing a product online?. I once paid for an item I won on eBay using a payment gateway PayPal. The transaction went through and I received the goods. I was shocked to find out a couple months later that my credit card was charged a couple a hundred dollars without my authority. Looking into the matter it was found out that some thief had stolen my details from PayPal and used it to pay for some junk.

Despite this experience I have since made hundreds of purchases online, as I have found there our huge benefits. These benefits include: convenience, savings, time, greater product range and best of all its available 24/7.

After purchasing many products online and conducting further research I have come up with the following tips on how you can shop safely.

1. Buy from sites that have some credibility and seem trustworthy? (i.e. Look for physical address and phone numbers).
2. Read the terms and conditions (i.e. delivery and return policies) (is there a 30 day return policy?).
3. Watch out for currency conversions, taxes, customs, package and postage.
4. Make sure payments are secure, look at the address bar for "https://", or the Pad lock symbol located in the bottom right hand corner.
5. Read the products clear description, watch out for fakes, make sure it's legal in Australia, and if in doubt ask for further information?
6. Don't store your credit card details online, including major payment gateways (paypal), instead re-enter when making a purchase.

By Adam Pasfield, New Business Media (NBM)

New Business Media assist Shirt Studio in the development of our website. NBM are a web development and design company based on the Gold Coast, specialising in web development, web applications and online marketing. Using their exclusively designed HQ software products and the most effective web strategies and systems, the have successfully an impressive portfolio of clients online.

Shopping online has many benefits and as long as you follow simple guidelines your online shopping experience should be a good one.