Introduction
Today, it’s easier than ever to shop online. That’s good news if you’re in need of a new pair of shoes or want to avoid the crowds at your local mall. But it also means that hackers and scammers are getting better at targeting people who want to buy stuff online. If you want to stay safe while shopping online, here’s what you need to know.
Online Shopping: Do’s And Don’ts
DO: Shop at large websites when you can
When it comes to shopping online, one of the most important things you can do is shop at large websites with a good reputation. It’s hard to tell if an individual website is reputable or not, but some websites have reputations that are nearly universally good. These companies should be your first choice when shopping online:
- Amazon
- Walmart
- eBay (for items like electronics and computer parts)
- Newegg (for computer parts)
DON’T go to eBay unless you’ve been there before and know what you’re doing.
While eBay is a great place to find items, it’s not always the best place to buy them. While the platform advertises itself as an auction-style marketplace and Amazon is more of a fixed-price marketplace, eBay has no protection for sellers or buyers from fraud or scammers.
This means that eBay is not regulated by any local laws—it’s up to you as a buyer or seller to decide how much risk you want to take on when it comes to buying your products. If a seller sells something that doesn’t work or never arrives in the mail, there are no regulations about refunds or replacements in place for this type of situation.
If you’re looking for something specific and don’t mind waiting until the last minute before making your purchase (eBay only offers 24 hours worth of bidding), then eBay can be an excellent resource for finding deals on hard-to-find products like rare video games or limited edition sneakers. Just make sure that whoever you’re buying from has good reviews before making any purchases!
DO: Shop at different places instead of just buying everything on Amazon.
Amazon is not the only place to shop, despite what you may have heard. The e-commerce giant is great for some things (like clothes and books), but there are plenty of other sites that offer better deals and customer service in certain areas.
For example, if you’re looking for a new pair of shoes in a specific style or size, it’s worth checking out other shoe websites first before making your final purchase from Amazon. And if the item you want isn’t available in your nearest warehouse—which could be hundreds or even thousands of miles away—than it’s probably not worth paying extra for shipping costs and time delays just so you can save $10 by buying it all online.
DON’T shop on your phone if you don’t have to (too many popups and ads).
Just like you’d never go grocery shopping with a toddler hanging off your arm and grabbing at things, you shouldn’t shop on your phone. Not only are there ads everywhere (seriously), but they’re also getting more and more aggressive these days.
If a site has popups that take up the whole screen or videos that autoplay automatically when you visit the page, leave it alone. That said, if you have to shop on your phone (due to lack of time), be sure to hit mute buttons before visiting any sites so that they can’t bombard you with all kinds of ads as soon as they load.
DO: Look for coupons & discount codes
When you’re shopping online, always look for coupon codes. These are usually available on social media and the store’s website. If you can’t find one, try searching for it on a coupon site like RetailMeNot or Coupon It Now.
DON’T use your credit card if you don’t trust the site.
If you plan to use your credit or debit card on an online shopping site, make sure the site is legitimate. If you’re not sure about a site, don’t use it—and don’t feel obligated to check out just because you’ve started the checkout process. The best way to avoid being scammed is by not giving away any personal information at all.
If this isn’t possible and you want to proceed with confidence, here’s something that can help.
Never use your actual personal identification number (PIN) when paying for something online; instead opt for “CVV2” protection where available. This code helps ensure that only authorized users can access their debit or credit cards’ information during transactions by requiring them to enter both their PIN and CVV2 before completing payment in some cases.
However since this method does not involve typing out personal details directly into forms or transmitting them over the internet through email addresses or usernames/passwords (which themselves could be compromised), there is less risk associated with making purchases from an unfamiliar websites.
DO: Use a separate email address for shopping.
Here are some other tips to help keep your information safe:
- Use a separate email address for your shopping.
- Use a different password for shopping than you do for any other account.
A simple way to avoid this problem is by using a password manager, which will generate and store unique passwords for each site you visit. You can also use two-factor authentication on your phone or smartwatch when possible. This will make it much harder for hackers to access your account because they’ll need both something you know (your regular password) and something physical that only belongs to you (your phone) before they can log into an account.
DO: Try a VPN to change your IP address.
A VPN, or virtual private network, can help you to browse the web anonymously. By using a VPN, you can also avoid censorship and get around geoblocks. Additionally, using a VPN can help you protect your privacy when using public Wi-Fi—which is particularly important if you’re shopping on unsecured networks like those in coffee shops or airports.
Also Read: 5 Tips to to Improve Ecommerce Customer Experience
DON’T leave things in your cart for too long, especially with bigger ticket items (the store may sell out).
But if you leave things in your cart for too long, the store may sell out and you’ll be stuck with nothing. Or worse yet, if you’re waiting for a sale and don’t check back often enough, the item could go on sale while it sits un-purchased in your virtual shopping basket.
Also consider that if an item doesn’t sell out right away, stores increase their prices on items that are going fast—or at least they’ll mark them down less than they would have normally. So even though something was cheaper before you added it to your cart, it might not be by the time you actually buy it!
DO: Look for extra-long return windows
Stores sometimes offer these during the holiday season, or include them as part of their perks programs.
When you’re making online purchases during the holiday season, it’s important to remember that returns and exchanges can be a hassle. This is especially true if you plan on returning an item purchased from a store with limited hours that doesn’t have the same return policy as other retailers.
To help alleviate this problem, look for stores with longer return windows. Stores like REI and L.L. Bean have generous return policies that last for up to one year after purchase — but some stores offer even better perks! For example:
- Amazon offers free returns (with no restocking fee!) year-round
- Zappos offers 365 day free returns
DO: Check social media pages for special offers.
That’s where many stores post flash sales and deals that are only good for a few hours.
Many of these promotions come with strict limits on how many items you can buy, who can participate in the deal, whether you need to be in a certain area or not, and other restrictions.
Be sure to check the fine print before you spend your money because some of these deals aren’t worth it unless you’re going to use them within their time frame or if they fit your needs perfectly!
Online Shopping Do’s And Don’ts: Conclusion
Online shopping is a great way to save money and get the things you need. But there are some important things to keep in mind if you want to make sure that your online experience is safe and secure.
The most important thing is to choose the right website, because scammers will try every trick in their book to steal your personal information or money.
Another tip is to use a VPN whenever possible (or at least when shopping on unfamiliar sites).
You should also be careful when using credit cards online, since thieves could drain funds from them without ever leaving their homes!
Finally, always check social media pages for special offers before making purchases so that you don’t miss out on any hot deals!
