Buying online doesn’t have to be difficult or risky, there are a few ways that can help you make smart shopping online. These ways help you become smarter consumers.
Say thanks to anyone who has developed the internet and created the opportunity to do online operations online, but that also includes many risks consumers can take. There are a wide variety of websites, especially those designed for online shopping. The number of different sites and opportunities also includes significant risks, ignorance of the law, problematic sites, unreliable sellers, transaction cancellation issues, and various shipping and payment issues.
All of these risks cause many consumers to reconsider when they want to make purchases again online. Next time consumers will worry and be afraid that this is again a sting or a scam, so they will prefer to call the deal by phone or even physically while on the spot.
So today we will not explain to you how to measure clothing and footwear products online because there are solutions to it. We will talk about smart shopping online, how to avoid future problems and what is important to do before making a purchase.
Do online shopping planning
The purchase process should be easy and simple and we would even add that it should be fun. However, one step before purchasing is the design phase. In other words, be decisive about the product you want to purchase and don’t be tempted to buy any other product.
You need to purchase the product you really want and need, so the planning phase may put insights into your mind and help you understand what you really need.
Assign a maximum budget
For some of us, the financial matter is a critical issue, and therefore it is important to treat it seriously. When buying a product in general and the Internet in particular, it’s important to determine the maximum budget you will pay for the product, including the associated costs.
Budget allocation allows you to meet your returns or your revenue side, purchasing beyond your ability can hurt you in the short term and this also has implications for the future.
For example, if you made a decision to purchase a specific product with a budget of up to $ 500, for that matter, meet this goal and do not go beyond that. Certainly, if you have seen a product whose cost is $ 510, and another product at $ 480 is significantly lower in quality, then you should consider whether the difference is worthwhile. However, purchasing a product for $ 600-700 when you set a $ 500 budget is incorrect.
Wait for purchases on days of sales and holidays
It turns out that buying on end-of-season or holiday days is highly affordable. Many sellers want to take advantage of the holidays or end-of-season deals to sell as much of the same product or products as possible.
On the Internet, it is even more efficient, and most of the stores that have websites that can be bought there when a holiday comes, such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Chinese Bachelor’s Day, and others, update the prices on their website and offer significant benefits.
So it’s worth waiting for these days to take advantage of them.
Compare prices
Price comparison is the most basic action in the consumer world. We like to compare everything, especially when it comes to similar products or for the same purpose. The same is true on the Internet, you will be surprised to find that the same product can be sold to several sellers at completely different prices, and there are many reasons – from wanting to sell as much as possible to get a cheaper price from the supplier and therefore easier to lower a price.
Sometimes a similar product can be tested with the same features or designed for the same purpose, thus streamlining the price comparison process.
Ask for a discount
As consumers – price is what you pay, value is what you get. It is not a shame to ask the seller for a discount on the product, even if the product is quality and reliable, everything is possible online.
When you buy through e-commerce sites like AliExpress, Amazon, or eBay, it is very easy to reach out to sellers and ask them for a discount on the product. If the seller refuses, try to at least request a coupon or supplemental or additional product at a significant or even free discount.
For example, if you are purchasing a mobile device – ask for a discount on the device, and if there is no option, ask for a screen protector and/or back protector as a gift or at least for a significant discount.
Make sure these are official sites
There are various fake and malicious websites that try to fish consumers while making false representations. Avoid going to websites you don’t know or ones we didn’t recommend :). Instead, go to the most official e-commerce sites, which can be found through search engine search, social networks, and even the Shopikal website.
Check the seller’s credibility
E-commerce sites (marketplaces that bring together sellers and buyers) offer the option to rate the seller and see what their credibility is. Before purchasing the product, make sure that you purchase the product from a seller who is trustworthy and has good reviews. The audit is not a sure indicator of the credibility of the seller, but it can certainly be considered an important measure of the matter.
Be sure to purchase on a secure site
It seems pretty banal, although some stores/sellers have not yet internalized that they have to migrate their website to secure servers or at least use the HTTPS encryption protocol in the browser. When you enter the store’s website, make sure that a website is insured and there is a closed green lock icon next to the address bar.
Failure to show HTTPS before the URL means that transferring the information and data between you and the website is unsafe and may be exposed to hostile parties.
Calculate the final price
The price of the product is far from the final price you pay, in some cases it is true. But that does not mean that the assumption is that all other products. The final price includes the cost of the product according to its features and uses, complementary products, shipping costs, and of course tax costs such as customs and VAT.
You will be surprised to find that sometimes buying such a product may cost you dearly, with all the additional expenses associated with the product price.
Understand the regret or cancellation process
Check out the terms for canceling a transaction. What happens when you are not satisfied with the product, can I return it? What about the shipping price? Is it possible to regret and more?
Websites follow the Consumer Protection Law if there is and usually present the different cancellation options through their website. For international websites, especially in trade arenas, you can see the different cancellation terms and how the trade arena protects you as a consumer.
Try purchasing with a prepaid card or PayPal
Anyone who is scared to make purchases using a regular credit card can buy a prepaid card or create a PayPal account. Most sellers on the Internet allow credit card purchases, which is a standard credit card for all intents and purposes, but is limited in the amount of the deposit and cannot be purchased beyond the balance.
Not every site allows the use of a PayPal account, although the company provides additional protection for the seller’s website or shopping scene, thus preventing the fear of data leakage.