Don’t make these online shopping mistakes
Many people in the UK are doing everything from home these days, whether it is working, schooling or shopping. Online shopping has been a huge trend for years now, but it has definitely skyrocketed over the past 12 months.
People even order their groceries and take-out meals online these days, along with toiletries and just about anything else you can think of. After all, you can find anything online, so why not?
It’s important to be careful about how you buy things online, though. Not every website is safe, and there are a few keys tips that will help get good deals, protect your identity and not be taken advantage of as you shop the web.
Not using an encrypted site for shopping
This one may seem very technical, but it is probably the most important tip we can give you about staying safe online. You want to be sure that the website you are shopping on encrypts its data. This simply means that they protect the information transmitted, like credit card numbers, phone numbers and address info. If they are not protecting that by using a decent encryption program, then it is very easy for outside parties or unscrupulous website employees to take your data and use it illegally.
It’s really easy to make sure that the site is encrypted and that your data is being protected. If you are using Firefox or Google Chrome, just check at the top of the website’s page to the far left. In the URL bar, you should see a lock symbol. If that is there, then you will be protected. It will be very hard for anyone to steal your information.
Forgetting about coupons
Before making that purchase, check for deals. Whether you are buying a handbag, ordering flowers or playing blackjack live, you want to make sure that you get the best possible price. There are a ton of coupon services out there that you can use, so even if the site isn’t currently running a visible promotion, you may be able to save money.
It’s possible to use coupons on the first purchase on many sites; it’s also possible to get free shipping or to use them to save on larger purchases. These are just a few examples, but just know that there are lots of opportunities to save money. Use sites like Coupon Cabin, RetailMeNot, Swagbucks, Groupon and Coupons.com to enjoy low prices on hundreds of websites and millions of items.
Not paying attention to the shipping
You can end up paying much more than you think for any items purchased online if you aren’t watching the shipping costs. If you are shipping internationally, the costs can skyrocket, sometimes adding up to double the price of what you bought. Pay attention to where the item is being shipped from and what the seller is charging for shipping. If you take your time to compare options, you can get items shipped internationally for a good price sometimes.
Also watch for the shipping time. Long shipping times probably won’t affect the price of your items, but they can be very inconvenient. Some sites will rush items to you if you pay more. Others will take their time sending you anything you order from them because they have a large backlog. If it’s important that you get the item quickly, be sure to check the shipping time before you place that order.
Ignoring reviews
Customer reviews and professional reviews are invaluable tools. They save you time and money by helping you determine if an item is worth your purchase. You’ll waste less money and buy the right kind of item for your needs more often if you take the time to read some reviews and do your research.
It’s a good idea to look at multiple reviews to ensure you get more than one opinion about anything you plan to purchase. You may even want to look at multiple sites to read reviews from them, just in case there is a problem with fake reviews on one of the websites.
We hope these tips help you to shop smarter and safer and to save money when you buy something online.
The editorial unit
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