By
CNET staff
22/04/2003
URL:
http://asia.cnet.com/digitalliving/tips/0,3800004921,39128520,00.htm
As a result of SARS, more and more people are avoiding malls and turning to online shopping instead. After all, it is convenient and you don't have to worry about getting infected with the virus. But shopping online is not without its caveats. So before you make your first e-commerce transaction, check out some of the tips we have here to reduce your risks of getting burned.
Get the best deal
Shopping smart to find the best product at the best price.
Avoid scams, rip-offs, and hacks
What you can do to prevent getting ripped off by unscrupulous vendors and scam artists.
Cover yourself
Some precautions you can take to ensure a pleasant online shopping experience
Get the best deal
Savvy PC buyers have long known the financial advantages of buying online, but now the rest of the world is joining in. Before you venture into the ultimate free market of the Internet, here are some tips to help you make sure you're
really getting a good deal.
1. Know the retail price
This may seem obvious, but many e-shoppers take claims of "big discounts" at face value without researching them. Before logging on to make a purchase, call local stores that carry the same or similar items, and uncover the retail price. If it's a rare, used, or antique item, consult an expert source in your community or find a print guide or periodical publication that lists reasonable prices. This is particularly important for Net auctions. Some bidders get caught up in the competition and forget that they went online to hunt for bargains.
2. Comparison shop online
The old way of comparison shopping was to hunt down as many sites as possible selling the same or similar items, and then to check prices. It's still the most accurate way of finding bargains on many items, particularly obscure or unusual finds, but it's kind of a pain. One-stop price clearinghouses can ease the process. However, take note that price guides seldom editorialize about the itemsthey're listing, so you'll need to know exactly what you're looking for--make, brand, and model--before beginning.
3. Be aware of hidden costs
Factor in shipping and handling charges when you calculate the total, and remember that you often pay for the convenience of shopping from home. If you can't get specific charges in writing (or printed from a Web site), shop somewhere else. Many e-retailers, particularly computer and peripheral sellers, will also charge you when you return unsatisfactory merchandise. Read the fine print carefully.
4. Shop for a good warranty
Sometimes the lowest price doesn't mean the best deal. For big-ticket purchases such as computers and electronics, a warranty is your best protection if something goes horribly wrong. But all warranties are not created equal. Expensive products should be covered for at least a year, including parts and labor, and should come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked, and no restocking fee. There are extras to consider as well: Will the company take back a defective product and repair it, and will it pay for shipping? If not, will it at least ship replacement parts, or will you be stuck waiting for the necessary rubber grommets to come into the local repair store? If the product can't be fixed, will you get all your money back, or will you just get a similarly shoddy replacement product? Get the details, and consider a good warranty to be part of the purchase.
Avoid scams, rip-offs, and hacks
Many first-time Net shoppers worry about hackers, unscrupulous vendors, and scam artists. But the hype outweighs the actual danger. Follow these commonsense tips, and you'll have little to fear.
5. Weed out unreliable vendors and individuals
Be smart and check for a physical mailing address (not a P.O. box) and a phone number; if neither is listed, send an email requesting them. If the company refuses, be suspicious. And never trust a vendor who asks for highly personal information such as your bank account number or mother's maiden name. The Net makes it easy to do extra research as well: post a message in a relevant newsgroup or chat room asking if anybody has had an experience with a particular e-store or individual. Call the Better Business Bureau in the city where the seller is located, and see if it has any negative reports. If you're at an online auction site, check out what other buyers have said about the individual you're buying from. And if something still bothers you, trust your intuition and shop elsewhere.
6. Don't fall for traditional suckers' games
People sometimes have a blind spot when it comes to the Internet, falling for schemes and hoaxes they'd never believe in person. Treat every site and email message as you would a stranger in the street. Would you give a stranger a bunch of money for some "secret sales technique" or an unnamed "product" to resell without details, references, or written documentation? Other red flags include repeated pressure to buy before supplies run out and requests to send a credit card number or to fax a check right away.
7. Avoid illegal or questionable products and services
Don't even think about illegal drugs, pornography, or weapons, unless you relish the idea of prison. Net transactions aren't as anonymous or untraceable as you may think, and sting operations abound. Nor is it advisable to buy products or services that are in a legal "gray area," such as prescription medicine or a potential renter's personal information. Think about the kind of people who have access to this stuff. Would you trust them, sight unseen, with your credit card?
8. Make sure sites are really secure
To be safe, submit sensitive information only onto a secure form. Just because a site says it's secure doesn't always make it so. Your browser can help: look for a small padlock in the window (to the lower right in Internet Explorer 4.0 or later; to the lower left and in the toolbar in Netscape Navigator 4.0 or later). If the lock is open, the site's not secure. (You can click on the lock for details about who runs the site, what kind of encryption they use, and so on.) URLs that begin with https:// usually denote a secure form as well. Finally, to minimize your chances of being ripped off by hackers, stick with well-known vendors with a demonstrated record of reliability. And always shop with a credit card to limit your liability and make fraud easy to track.
Cover yourself
You found what seemed to be a reliable online vendor. But something has gone wrong. The product wasn't what you thought it would be, or maybe it never even showed up on your doorstep. Somebody got your email address, and they're deluging you with spam. Or even worse, there are unauthorized charges all over your credit card bill.
If you follow these simple precautions, you'll minimize the chances of your worst nightmares coming true, and you'll also be able to control the damage if something does go wrong.
9. Safeguard your privacy
When you buy something online, you'll have to offer some personal information, such as your address and credit card number. Worried? Maybe you should be. Unless there's a specific privacy policy stating otherwise, a site is perfectly within its legal rights to turn around and sell this information to marketers. Shop only at sites that post a privacy policy, or prepare to face the consequences--a flood of junk mail, unwanted phone calls, and spam.
10. Get shipping policies in writing
Find out how long it's going to take for your order to arrive, then get the number of days in writing or on a printout from the company Web site. Companies that refuse to provide shipping times could be having business troubles (and good luck getting a bankrupt company to honor your warranty). They may even be up to some kind of scam, delaying your imaginary order while they take the money and run.
11. Always pay by credit card
Many cards also offer some measure of consumer protection, letting you challenge charges for unsatisfactory merchandise. If you fax a check or--even worse--mail cash or a money order, your money is probably gone forever. If you're a serious Net shopper, consider getting a separate credit card for all e-commerce. That way you can pick out unauthorized charges more easily, and if something goes wrong and you have to cancel the account, it won't put your entire life on hold.
12. Keep all your records
Even though you're shopping in the wondrous digital world of 1s and 0s, it's vital to keep records on old-fashioned paper. If the company site has any sort of guarantee--about shipping time, customer service, return policies, or anything else--print it out. (It's very easy to change Web pages on the fly, and you'll want a copy of the agreement as you first see it.) Write down details of all phone conversations, including dates, times, and the name of the person you spoke with. Save any paperwork that's shipped to you, including receipts, canceled checks, and even business letters. This paper trail will be crucial if something goes wrong.
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