Christmas gifts must be purchased quickly, so you need to buy them. Alternatively, you can stay at home and purchase all your gifts online rather than battling the crowds at your local mall. If you plan to shop online for holiday gifts, you’ll save time as well as find the right ones at a reasonable price. It will save you from parking lot battles, help you avoid catching the flu from your fellow shoppers, and keep you away from pickpockets.
While shopping in your pajamas might seem convenient and easy, you still need to ensure that the electronic ‘purse strings’ of your purse are safe. Take a look at these tips to help make online shopping safe:
Computer security
To keep hackers’ key logging viruses at bay, update your computer’s security software and run system checks on a regular basis.
Shop from home only
Online shopping should not be done in a public place, such as the local café or airport. Your computer can be hacked into more easily when using open networks. Avoid using open wireless networks.
Observe carefully
There’s a great coupon in your favorite store! However, hurry! Always verify the location of email links before clicking them. It is not uncommon for scam emails to appear as if they came from your favorite stores, with links that appear to lead to legitimate websites. Depending on your browser settings, you may see a new address – this could be a fake site created to gather your credit card information. Using the retailer’s website directly is your best bet.
Understand thy merchant
Comparing prices is one of the best parts of shopping online. Buying from a reputable merchant can help you find a gift for half the price – but be careful to ensure that the seller is trustworthy. Check out online reviews if you have not done business with the merchant before. One good way to ensure your merchant won’t take you for a fraudulent sleigh ride is to use aggregators like Amazon.com and Yahoo Shopping.
Secure your site
Look for “https” before the website address when visiting a retailer’s site. This “s” – along with the tiny gold lock in your browser’s lower right corner – indicates added security when you shop online.
Verify that you have stored your payment information. Shoppers on some websites may be asked whether they want to store their payment details for future purchases. If you use that site frequently, it can be handy to save your information there. On lesser-known sites, however, you should be careful.
Check the ‘real’ price
If you buy something online, you should know how much shipping will cost you, as well as any taxes or fees that will be charged. Consider the ‘extras’ when you’re comparing prices, as they can quickly accumulate. Holiday shopping can be a bit more affordable when retailers offer free shipping or allow free in-store pick-up.
Get to know the return policy
Before purchasing, make sure you read the merchant’s return policy. Shopping online pubg uc is one of the downsides because you can’t physically try the item on before purchasing, so be sure your merchant allows you to return or refund your purchase if it’s not what you expected.
Don’t choose debit – pick credit
When you make an online purchase, use a credit card. If you commit fraud, you are only liable for $50. You can also benefit from fraud protection and detection programs offered by many credit card companies that waive this liability.
Watch out
Keep an eye on your account and credit card statement if you shop online a lot to make sure all charges are accurate. You should contact your financial institution if you have inquiries about a transaction or suspect fraud.
Organize your receipts
Online shopping receipts should also be saved, just as with store receipts. Receipts you receive via email can be saved on your computer or printed out.
2018 ·
Leave a Reply