Shop Safely Online This Holiday Season
Digital marketing research firm eMarketer estimates that U.S. holiday season online sales will reach $38.5 billion this year excluding travel purchases. It is important when shopping online to take a few simple precautions to make sure you are shopping on a safe site that protects your data.
- Update before you shop: Make sure your Web browser and anti-virus protection has been updated. Avoid shopping over an unsecured Wi-Fi connection which could allow thieves to eavesdrop and steal your payment information.
- Know who you're dealing with: Make sure you know the email address or phone number for customer service if you run into a problem with your order. If you have never heard of the retailer, check sites such as Epinions.com and BizRate for customer reviews, and check sellers' ratings on auction sites.
- Shop in private: Check the site's privacy policy to see what information the site collects such as purchases and account numbers and if they sell it to third parties. If you can't find the policy or don't like what you see, take your business elsewhere.
- Going, going, gone: If bidding in an auction, make sure you understand the site's policies regarding refunds and warranties before bidding. Read the descriptions carefully and look for items that have pictures of what you are buying. The Federal Trade Commission cautions terms like “refurbished,” “vintage,” or “close-out” may indicate less-than-mint condition, while name-brand items with “too-good-to-be-true” prices could be counterfeits.
- Shop around: You aren't paying for gas to drive from store to store so spend a little time checking for your item at different sites. Visit sites like retailmenot.com, couponcabin.com and promotionalcodes.com to see if there are any special offers available for the items on your list or the site where you are shopping.
- Understand your options: Read the policies on returns and refunds to understand if you receive store credit or a refund as well as who pays for return shipping. Also check to see if the site will match another site's low price or if there is a policy to offer you a refund or credit if the site you are purchasing from offers it at a lower price within a specified timeframe.
- Add it up before you check out: Include any shipping and handling fees as well as taxes that may be applicable on your purchase to find out the exact price you will pay.
- Pay safely: Credit cards are the most secure way to pay online yet try to limit your online purchases to one card to reduce your vulnerability to theft.
- S stands for safety: Look at the browser bar at the top of your screen to make sure the address starts with https://. The "s" on the end means the site is secure and encrypted. While not every page on the site may begin with https://, checkout pages should be secure.
- Print and file: Print out a copy of your receipt as well as confirmation emails and any information on return policies. The Federal Trade Commission requires sellers ship items as promised or within 30 days after the order date if no specific date is promised.
- Look it over: Inspect your purchase when it arrives and contact the seller as soon as possible if you discover a problem with your order. Read your credit card statements as they arrive for any unauthorized charges.
