Tips for safe shopping online so as not to be deceived, it is important to take the following steps for safety and comfort.
Before the internet, to shop for basic daily needs, secondary to tertiary needs, it was usually done directly to the place where the seller was located.
The positive thing when we shop directly is that we can better guarantee the condition of the goods purchased with certainty. And, the item is immediately in our hands after it is paid.
One of the negative things about buying something in person is a matter of time and effort. This can then be overcome with online shopping activities thanks to internet technology.
The problem is, shopping online has the potential to raise issues of security and trust.
Online Shopping Tips to Be Safe and Not to Be Fooled
By shopping online, we cannot be sure what items will be purchased directly. Whether it is genuine or imitation, do not know the seller and so on.
Shopping online can also threaten security if not done carefully. In order to avoid unwanted things, consider the following important tips:
1. Find out the seller’s reputation
Before deciding to buy something online, especially on the marketplace. It is important to do research in advance of the shop that sells the goods to be purchased.
Some steps you can take, namely checking the status of the store whether it is active or not, the length of the shop’s life, so that the testimonials are more positive or negative.
2. Check Product Reviews
After making sure the seller can be trusted, check the product reviews that you want to buy from other users who have bought it first.
Look at the reviews one by one to the photos that are embedded to make you more confident about the product to be purchased.
3. Is the Price Reasonable?
Don’t be tempted by cheap prices, because this could just get you trapped. Compare the price of the same product with several stores at once.
Is the price reasonable? If the price comparison is slightly with each other is a natural thing. It would be suspicious if the price was too cheap or even exceeded the recommended price.
If it is too cheap, there could be an intention to commit fraud or the goods being sold are not original products.
4. Read the Product Description
If you have confirmed the store’s reputation and product prices are fairly reasonable. Read product descriptions carefully.
First, adjust the title with the description on the product page. Make sure the name of the item, variant, specification to the completeness offered is appropriate.
If the information is incomplete, you can ask the seller directly via the message feature.
5. Pay attention to the Terms and Conditions
Each shop has its own terms and conditions. Whether it’s the warranty period, the return time agreement and so on.
By looking at the terms and conditions that each store applies, we are ready to accept what the seller has promised.
6. Avoid Direct Transfers
We recommend that you choose a marketplace platform if you want to shop online. Because with this, when making payments there will be parties in the middle between the buyer and the seller.
So, the buyer does not immediately send the payment to the seller. But it is accommodated first by electronic commerce (e-commerce), and will only be sent to the seller after it is confirmed that the goods arrive safely.
Now, there may be sellers who are ‘naughty’ by asking the buyer to transfer the payment amount directly to their account. If this happens, don’t be willing to accept the request.
Because this is most likely a con. By sending payments directly to the seller’s personal account, it means that it will be difficult to ask for funds to be returned if the goods do not arrive.
7. Save Proof of Payment
After a successful payment transaction, keep proof of payment carefully. This may be necessary if things are not foreseen.
8. Ensure Device Security
When shopping online, prioritize using a personal laptop or smartphone device. Avoid shopping in places and using public devices, because security is not guaranteed.
In addition, try to install the best antivirus application that is able to ward off various threats in cyberspace that can attack at any time.
9. Check Packages and Eliminate Data Traces
If all things have been confirmed properly and the transaction goes smoothly. So we just have to wait for the ordered items that we buy arrive at their destination.
After the package arrives, is it finished? Of course not. The first thing to do is to open and examine the contents inside the package.
Do the items in the package match what we bought? And, also make sure there is no damage to the product. If there is damage, we can immediately report it to handled further.
It’s not enough, usually when the goods are sent there will be a buyer’s identity containing personal data. Like names, addresses to telephone numbers.
So, don’t let your data just throw in the trash. Before discarding the note paper containing the data, cut it out or crush it so that it is not read.
This is to avoid fraud that could be on behalf of ourselves, armed with the data listed on the shipping package.