Online shopping is soaring these days thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. While convenience used to be the number one incentive for shopping online, safety is quickly becoming the top reason many people give for going digital rather than visiting brick-and-mortar stores.
Whether your schedule leaves you little time for in-store shopping or you prefer to stay at home where it’s safer, there are a few things you should be aware of when shopping online. Here are several questions to ask yourself before committing to a purchase.
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1. How Badly Do I Need It?
You can buy just about anything online. From groceries to loans and everything in between, if you want it, you can buy it on the internet. This brings us to our first question: How badly do I need it?
Say you’re shopping online for your next purchase be it a new dress or a replacement part for your car. Ask yourself, how badly do you need it right now? If your other browser tab is a Google search for low-interest loan providers, perhaps now is not the best time. Sure, some things can’t wait. However, if it doesn’t fit into your monthly budget you’re almost certainly better off putting aside a little cash each month until you can afford the item without incurring more debt.
2. What Are The Product Details?
Many online shoppers make the mistake of purchasing an item based on the image shown by the seller. These images are often photoshopped or a poor representation of the actual product.
To prevent a case of buyer’s remorse, be sure to read the product description in its entirety, check out reviews, and ask for clarification from the seller before making the purchase.
3. What Are The Shipping Costs?
Shipping costs vary by location, the size and weight of the item, and how fast you want your package to arrive. Some online retailers offer flat-rate shipping or even free shipping if you meet their purchase requirements.
It’s important to note the shipping costs and compare the total purchase price online with the total price you’d spend if you bought the same item in-store. While you may find the item cheaper online, shipping costs could make buying it more expensive than if you’d just bought it at a local store.
4. Have I Done Enough Comparison Shopping?
The internet is notorious for its instant gratification. You hardly have to wait for a page to load these days, which makes anything you want to do online faster and easier than ever. This includes shopping, which can be completed in less than a minute if you’re impulsive enough. However, just like in-store shopping, different retailers sell similar items for quite different prices. It always pays to compare and look for sales, whether online or in-store.
5. Am I Being Scammed?
Privacy and security are a top priority for most online shoppers. Cybercriminals are waiting around every corner to hack and steal your personal information, so you should be aware of tell-tale signs you might be taken for a ride.
Many online retail websites are disguised as trustworthy places to shop, but behind the scenes, they are portals for hackers to steal your credit card information and other personal info. If you aren’t sure that a website is trustworthy, visit Google Trusted Stores, which is a verification system of all online retail sites.
Shopping online is convenient, and since the novel coronavirus has us all staying home more these days, it’s also a means to stay safe. Before you get too spend-happy, though, ask yourself the questions above to ensure you’re finding the best, most trustworthy deals.
