Nov02
How to Master Online Shopping this Holiday Season
Online shopping has become the shopping method of choice for millions of Americans, and understandably so. After all, what could be better than relaxing in the comfort of your home instead of braving the weather and the crowds to make out on holiday deals?
Retailers are getting in the act, too, offering online customers competitive deals on online purchases. In fact, some of the deals expected to be offered online this year trump any deals you may see in stores.
Although shopping online is a relatively safe process, provided you have a good firewall and are shopping off a secure site, there are a number of ways to further ensure that your online holiday shopping experiences are positive ones:
- If you are shopping off a website of which you are unfamiliar, it is best to do a little research regarding the company. There is no shortage of websites and blogs out there that allow consumers to sound off on online retailers, whether good or bad, so take a moment or two and research the website from you want to shop before making any purchases. Some things to look for include: return policy; customer service; quality of merchandise; and shipping costs.
- Before making an online purchase, take the time to read the online merchant’s privacy and security policies. These policies will let you know if the merchant sells their buyer’s information and what they do to protect your privacy.
- Even if you’ve shopped with a particular online retailer in the past, make sure the website is secure before making a purchase. There are two ways to ensure that the website is being protected: a padlock icon near the website address and a website address that starts with “https” instead of “http.” Anytime you receive a notice that the website’s security certification is either not updated or not active, do not place an online order!
- Decline the merchant’s offer to save your credit card information, as this may provide a weak link of which identity thieves often take advantage. Although it may be a bit more of a hassle to re-enter your credit card information every time you make a purchase, it will protect your credit card and your identity in the process.
