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Who wants a 107 inch TV for $999.99? A 400 GB iPod for $24.99? A vacuum with an alarm clock for a measly $7,415.99?
Well, want no longer! Shopping madness is just around the corner (a.k.a. Christmas). So, get the roller blades and the half-mile list ready or of course, you might want to read this first to save you a bit of hassle.
While your friends are busy packing the tents, sleeping bags, a year’s worth supply of food, 27 thermoses full of caffeinated substances and a baseball bat (just in case) you just sit there in your throne (a.k.a. office chair) and laugh maniacally while twirling your mustache.
So, why are you so happy? You do online shopping of course!
No hassle, no bribing beggars in the line, and no breaking arms while fighting over the Rock Band edition of Britney Spears (don’t ask where that came from)!
That all sounded just a bit too good to be true, but how about we make that a reality, because there is nothing we cannot do!
There are just a few things you have to know first so you don’t end up snapping your computer monitor in half due to the frustration of scammers and wishing you had never learned about that contraption known as the interwebs.
Know the seller
First of all, you want to know where you buy the stuff from. If Uncle Bob offers a mad discount on a 107 inch plasma TV for $999.99, it’s quite possible that his keg of home-brewed substance made him forget to add a zero.
Now as never before, literally anyone can set up an online store. You’ve probably seen them around while surfing the web, blatantly promising you stuff for free or for some suspiciously low prices.
Simply put, quantity never equaled quality; therefore don’t you trust them all. Sadly, millions and millions of dollars are lost each year due to online fraud and auctions. That’s why it’s important (no way) you read reviews, comments, and track the history of the seller to make sure you trust them with your purchase.
Remember: if it’s too good to be true, then it’s probably not true.
VeriSign? Buy Safe? A padlock with a key?
On most legitimate online shops you will see those funny signs somewhere on their website. A logo showing a lock with a key, “Buy Safe”, “SSL” and others that are there to make sure you don’t get robbed or have your credit card number stolen along with your home address and the name of your pet.
The United States is the number one country in the world to be attacked by spam, frauds, Nigerian scammers and fishy online stores promising a piece of the moon for two bucks a pop shipped from China. Make sure some of those signs mentioned above are present if you are thinking of buying something from an online store or you are taking an unnecessary risk.
Look for this
All Hail the Credit Card
Although this thing can bring you to the brink of a suicide or attempted bank robbery, in some cases it is more than useful. If you are considering online shopping, make sure you have one – it makes life so much easier. Head over to the Credit Cards 101 article to see what I’m talking about.
Using a credit card for all your online purchases is the safest alternative, leaving you the chance to cancel payments if you are feel you are being ripped off or charged unnecessary fees you were not aware of. Not only are you always in charge and aware of how much you are paying for a certain product, you can always have your money refunded quickly and without a hassle if the item never gets delivered.
The best alternative to a credit card would be a PayPal account, also totally secure and easily suited for online shopping. A good 90% of online stores accept either one or the other, so it’s not a bad idea to have both. The good thing about a PayPal account is that you can have it linked directly to your bank account if you are one of those people who can’t stand the thought of plastic (a.k.a. credit cards).
Your privacy
Another way to make sure an online store is not a bunch of crooks trying to rip you off? The page where you enter all your details should only contain relevant information concerning the purchase. Full name, full address and the payment option is all a store needs to know to make the delivery.
Never fill out any additional information that is not necessary, such as your age, annual income or whatever else might be out there.
Bidding for a pair of 1994 Jackson’s socks
No matter how much you think you need them – you will survive without them. The problem with online bidding is that most us bid for things we do not necessarily need. Yes, I hope that’s not a secret to anyone – we often buy things we don’t need.
Welcome to Reality
Know how much you are willing to pay for any given item before joining the bid. In most cases, bidding for that pair of socks gets you so into it that you literally can’t stop, yet the price goes higher and higher every time. Don’t forget, maybe that’s Bill Gates having fun who doesn’t mind spending a few hundred-thousand dollars on worthless crap, you never know. All you need to know is when enough is enough.
The piece of paper we always forget
The receipt. For some reason more often than not we underestimate the power of this darn piece of paper. Always print if off and keep it till you get what you are waiting for. And even after you receive the long awaited for whatever you were waiting for – keep it as a proof.
Know your rights
You have the right to know when the item will be delivered. You have the right to reject the item if what was delivered is not what you ordered. You have the right to know your rights – know your rights.
Now go buy something and make capitalism happy!
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