ART of Online Shopping

Advice To Online Shoppers and Merchants

This chapter contains general advice about online shopping. Click here to access the chapter and the references included.

Reviews By Online Shoppers and Experts 

This chapter contains reviews and comments about online shopping. Click here to access the chapter and the references included.

• Word of Mouth

TIPS for Online Shoppers

General Tips on Avoiding Fraud, be extremely cautious if 

• any offer that sounds too good to be true 

• any site that asks you to send personal or financial information before disclosing an offer 

• the site promises a valuable prize in return for a low-cost purchase

• any offer that includes pressure to send money to take advantage of a special deal 

• any loan offer that requires you to send money as a condition of obtaining the loan

• the site offers investment schemes (Don't invest without carefully checking out the investment, product, service and investo. 
  

Resources for checking out international Internet fraud: 

Better Business Bureau (U.S. and Canada): http://www.bbb.org/ 

Federal Trade Commission (U.S.): http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-internet.htm 

National Fraud Information Center (U.S.): http://www.fraud.org 
Competition Bureau, Industry Canada: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/competition 
Ontario Provincial Police PhoneBusters: http://www.phonebusters.com 
RCMP Latest Scams: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams/scams_e.htm 

General Tips for Online Shopping on Shopping Manners

• Watch out for commercially sponsored online shopping sites especially those having limited availability
  of merchants, products and services. (sites with lots of Ads)

• The non commercial sites with broad availability of merchants, products and services especially those updating information frequently are more trust worthy shopping sites. (MWS Online Shopping Mart is a non-commercial site)

• Always inform the shopping site even your purchase is taking place at the merchant's site directly (Shopping site is generally on your side if you have dispute with a merchant, you are a client of the shopping site)

• Get familiar with the merchants you're dealing with. (browse through company information, watch out for sites with skimpy info)

• Always look for detailed product information. (prefer third party reports) 

• Read the contract's terms and conditions and print or save them. 

• Check for quality assurance certificates or seals or industry awards or media awards 

• Verify the merchant has a fair and clear complaints-handling process. 

• Ensure you're comfortable with the merchant's purchasing process and that you know how to cancel your order. 

• Make sure the merchant has a secure transaction system to protect your financial information. 

• Review the merchant's policy for protecting personal information. 

• Remember buying internationally involves more risk and more complication in resolving dispute.

• Check that products meet safety standards and import regulations before purchase. 

• Know how much money you're willing to spend and avoid impulse buying.

• Avoid busy and peak buying season or time to shop (for instance shop before or after x'mas) to ensure successful transaction and delivery.
  

Tips for Online Shopping on Savings

1. Do your homework (read third party reviews and comments)
2. Bookmark online savings Web sites (especially large shopping mart offering discounts and sales)
3. Remember using promotional codes, a popular and easy way to save (sometimes they are explicitly stated) 
4. Let your personal information work for you (offer them only to desired merchants) 

5. Become a seasonal shopper (join as a member to a large shopping site)

6. Be aware of where you compare (third party organized shopping site tend to have unbiased comparison information)

7. Avoid shipping and return policy frustration by understanding them before purchase

8. Keep records of all your online transactions to know how much you have spent and to resolve dispute if occurred

9. Search for discount and rebate coupons offered (large shopping sites tend to have more competitive offers)

Tips for Online Shopping on Process

* Be knowledgeable about web-based shopping sites (build confidence and trust in shopping site)
* Always double check pricing (compare with similar stores or merchants) 
* Review the return, refund, and shipping and handling policies, contact info and other legal terms 
* Check that security software is used to protect your Internet connection.
* Use the safest way to pay on the Internet -- via credit card (avoid cash deals)
* Print out a copy of the invoice, terms and conditions of the transactions.
* Insure the safe delivery of your item if it is valuable
* Review any confirmation email about the purchase (validate the correct purchase)