Tips For Those Who Buy Stuff Online?

Jeane Level 1

October 24, 2018, 3:57 am

93

Write the reason you're deleting this FAQ

A thread by another member who had a complaint about being ripped off on aliexpress had me thinking . . .

When looking for the best deals on the net, we might make mistakes. Those mistakes will be costly so here's how you can avoid being scammed:

1. Buy Only From Reputable Websites

You'll find great deals on many reputable websites. However to find the best prices you'll need to install a plugin or add ons in your browser that will find you the store selling what you are looking for at the lowest price. You'll save money and won't lose any of it because the product you buy won't be defective.

2. Look at Reviews

Especially the negative reviews. While yes you'll see many fake reviews on the net, most of the time the negative reviews are legit. If they say an online store's customer service is poor buy nothing from them. Why?

Should anything go wrong, you won't get any help.

3. Dispute Resolution

Do the owners of the store promise they'll resolve any disputes that arise regarding the quality of the goods sold there? Have others had positive experiences with the dispute resolution process? This again involves digging through social media posts to find what you are seeking.

If you regularly shop online what advice can you offer those who don't?

Comments

Please login or sign up to leave a comment

Join

vhinz

vhinz

If you're buying a physical product and Cash on delivery is available, choose that payment option. Make sure that there is a return policy in case the product delivered is different from what you ordered or it is damaged.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Youngshark

Youngshark

I also like the pay on delivery option. you are guaranteed of getting the real product that you purchased. Conmen are live on the internet and accepting to send cash for anything that has not been verified yet is not advisable.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

rlpzbeermoney

rlpzbeermoney

I'm never home when the delivery item arrives so this option isn't for me. Plus it's added security on the home if no one comes to deliver your order asking for your money. I always prefer picking up the order at the branch of the courier. You can actually do that by putting in the address of the branch as your shipping address.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Youngshark

Youngshark

That is a great option and I have done that numerous times but only when I know that I will be passing by the pickup shop as I go about my own business. There are periods when I am too busy and the shop gives an option of having someone meet me within town so that I do not have to wait to go to their shop.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

rlpzbeermoney

rlpzbeermoney

The Philippines doesn't have a good online shopping infrastructure yet to be honest. There's still many packages being lost, damaged or stolen. It's not just the packages from foreign countries but the local ones as well. I do get the occasional call from the courier, when they can't find my house because they aren't familiar with the place. Which I think they should considering it's their job.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

I would prefer it if they should deliver it to my door step so i can get my goods and lock my door because when my goods goes to the courier in my area, I do pay to get the good even after paying for shipping, it's really bad and annoying.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

vhinz

vhinz

That's not good if you are going to pay twice for the shipping. Good thing that doesn't happened to me. I only purchase to reliable website that has cash on delivery and ensures that the item would reach my house.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Sometimes those products are sent to the local post office and they don't want to know whether you paid a fortune for shipping, they will ask you to pay before you can have access to your good and it isn't voluntarily it's mandatory.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

vhinz

vhinz

Whenever I purchase online and I'm not sure if I'll be at home to receive the item, I just use my work's address so the courier can deliver it there. I also use the website/app of the courier to track where my item already is so I know the exact day when it will be delivered to me. Delivery sometimes takes longer or earlier that's why it is better to track its logistics.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

overcast

overcast

I agree if there is cash on delivery option, one should have that. Because most of the time it's easy to return the product that way. I have seen some of the people making use of returns by using the COD option. It saves time and money.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jaybee19

jaybee19

Exactly. That's what I always do with my deliveries from local online shopping sites/apps. However, COD is not available for international online shopping sites/apps. And also, it's a hassle to return products on international shopping sites because the shipping might even be more expensive than the actual price of the product.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Yea that's true, I ship with Ali Express but I don't see anything like COD but when I buy from my local online store I see those features there even when they also sell globally but I don't think it applies to people that shop with them in other countries.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jaybee19

jaybee19

True. I am from the Philippines and the major online shopping stores here like Lazada and Shoppe offer COD. Those online shopping stores are also available in some countries from South East Asia but I don't know if they offer COD there.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

A global online shopping store in that originated from my country Nigeria has COD for my country and some African countries but I don't think it's the same for countries outside Africa.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jaybee19

jaybee19

Well, maybe Cash on Delivery feature is only available for local deliveries and some easy to reach parts. I've also observed that COD feature is very common for third world countries while for most developed countries, most shopping stores prefer payments from either Paypal or Credit Cards.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Yea maybe but most Third World countries doesn't have most online payments like PayPal and some virtual payment method, I can't pay for some goods through PayPal in my local online shopping sites and it's really bad.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jaybee19

jaybee19

True and I guess the reason why is because of the economical status of the majority of the population. Most third world countries have poverty rates that are very high compared to first world countries where almost everyone has a job or the government supports the financial needs of those who are in need. However, I don't see it as a bad thing in any way because I also feel that COD's are more convenient than online banking methods specially that there's a tendency that your data might be hacked and I don't want that to happen especially if it's about my hard earned money.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Cash delivery option is not available to most online store that ship globally especially to Africa because most African homes are not numbered correctly and sometimes it is sent to a pickup station.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

And sometimes those delivery personnel are being robbed on their way to deliver the good to the client which is a problem to the online store because they are to suffer the risk.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Jeane

Jeane

That is why shipping by drone wouldn't be that good an idea. Someone could shoot down the drones. Huge loss for the companies that own them because they'd be losing both the drone and their customer's shipment.

I could be wrong but I'm supposing that when you buy something from any store, and you don't get your shipment the loss is the store's not yours. Your money will be paid back if you so desire.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

theresajane

theresajane

When I buy online, I always opt the Cash On Delivery as it is safer and more convenient. You don't want to shop online, paying your product before receiving it, only to find out that what was delivered to your address is just the packaging of the product. It could be stressful. So, to avoid that, it is best to choose Cash On Delivery and look at the returns and exchange policies.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

theresajane

theresajane

I always look for reviews and ratings of the product or the seller when I buy something online. For me, it's not important how good a product looks in the picture and how enticing the deal advertised on the website is, if an overview about whom I'm dealing with isn't available, then it's better to leave it. If I feel the doubt towards the seller, I don't go for it.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jaybee19

jaybee19

As an online shopper for almost two years now, I can say that it's really very risky to buy something from someone whom you can't see or even verify as legit. However, as per my own experience, the best way to make sure that you arrive to a trusted store/seller is thru the reviews (if they have more positive reviews than negative ones) and the number of reviews they have. Mostly, legit sellers have a lot of reviews and have more positive ones than negative. Also, an online selling website named Shoppee has a feature where they label their preferred sellers meaning those sellers are trustworthy and have reliable products (mostly if not all).

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

stbrians

stbrians

These are very good tips pal. Sometimes we are scammed due to our own recklessness. We do not really ensure we are buying from legit sellers. Or we just make mistakes.

I was selling ETH worth $75. I searched for a prospective buyer. When I found him, even without checking on them, I funded and released ESCROW before receiving the equivalent in my account. The buyer never sent the money. The prevailing question when the owner of the site tried to resolve the dispute was, Why did you release the escrow before receiving your cash? I lost.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

overcast

overcast

I think it takes time to understand how to work on the escrow projects. Nothing is easy considering we have our own set of the issues with the work and the client. And it gets a bit harder as we tend to struggle much into the system.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

anyone01

anyone01

Compare the websites stores before buying online, because you could get an equal product at different sites, one at a good deal discounted price and the other even after bargain nevertheless have greater price comparatively to the other websites stores. Thr reason could be the brand issue, again to make it a problem free I might advise you to go to a coupon website online because it serves you all information at one platform.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Einalem

Einalem

Great points. I couldn't agree more to this. As for me, I always validate first whenever I buy stuffs online. I check whether the products are from a trusted seller. Most importantly, I check the product reviews, making sure that the reviews are positive and are made by real people, not dummy accounts. Apart from these, I also compare similar products with different prices to check which one has the reasonable price or the highest quality.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

overcast

overcast

I think buying from the genuine seller is the key. I have seen on amaozn and other sites where the genuine sellers are marked with their performance. And you can check the performance of such sellers. And amazon also treats them better. So such sellers can serve one better if we are to buy online. Also just because price is low does not mean seller is good. That's something we have to understand as well.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jpk0007

jpk0007

I think that buying from a reputed online site and a seller is very essential when we are buying online. many times in order to get a good discount and a cheaper prize we tend to neglect the basic precautions that are required while buying. often there are products which mention that there is no return policy and still we buy them and test our luck with those products. Most of the times these products are of a very poor quality and they do not last long. It is always better to spend a little more to buy good quality products from reputed sellers

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Jeane

Jeane

It is always better to spend a little more to buy good quality products from reputed sellers

It's that desire for the best deal that eventually gets many people who shop online make a mistake which gets them to lose their money. When a product is much cheaper than the alternatives then there is a good reason why it is that cheap. When a deal is too good - - -

This is something those who buy anything pre-owned should also take into account. You'd probably avoid losing money if you buy "brand new" rather buying something that has been used by someone else and have it "die" a short while after you by it.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jayjaydimson

jayjaydimson

Just make sure that the thing that you will buy online is legitimate so you won't get scam, because there are a lot of scams on the internet, so don't be one of them.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

nrnlss

nrnlss

Make sure the shop is legit and legal shop. Be wise, and ask questions to the seller. And I agree with what you have written. You should read reviews before buying something.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

amelia88

amelia88

Reviews are huge. If you are a seller as well, I think it's important to look at buyer feedback too where possible. I often sell on eBay and some buyers have massive amounts of feedback for being non paying bidders. Whether you're a buyer or a seller, feedback is such a useful tool to determine the quality of who you're dealing with.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jaymish

jaymish

I think that you need to be careful with what you buy online. For example I don't buy clothes or shoes online. I think that they are too much trouble when you have to return them. I find it is easier to buy things like Handbags and Household goods online.I think that it is wise to use reviews online before you buy something. However you need to be careful with this because some reviews are by people who have not used the goods. However I think this is the way of the future, so you need to figure out how to get your things online.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

amelia88

amelia88

Yup - so many of my friends love online shopping for clothes and shoes but I honestly find it annoying. I'd rather try things on in a store so I can get a better indication of size and fit - and even things like how the fabric feels! It's not always easy to get an understanding of a product when it's photographed online, and even if it's described well sometimes it might not live up to expectations.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

mdayrit

mdayrit

I find it hard buying clothes or shoes online. These are just some of the items that I wanted to try first if it fits me well. Sizes indicated are sometimes not accurate. Tried to buy a shirt that says fit Medium to Large but when it arrives, it seems to only fit Small.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

superlicca

superlicca

Your tips are helpful and I agree with other members that we should prefer the cash on delivery option. This is the safest way to pay for the product that you purchase. I don't like paying using cards even on the trusted websites. I am just afraid of some system glitch that may take long to get resolved.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

esteban123

esteban123

I agree that we should only buy items that we need or like from reputable sites to avoid having some fake products and to ensure that the product we buy online is legit and the original one since there are a lot of fake products circulating on the we so that we can refrain from having them. It is a good move to buy on well known sites which have some integrity to ensure the quality and safety of the products that we will buy from them.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

I do agree that buyers should choose a reliable and established online business to order and buy products from. It's all about reliability and trust, that's why it's always best to do some research first before buying a product from an online shop. Buyers should check and read reviews and even on-site comments to check if the shop is trustworthy.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

thejoyrevolutio

thejoyrevolutio

When buying online I always look for revoliews. I check if there is some or if it is good reviews. I value the opinion of other costumers. I usually choose to buy when cash on delivery option is available. I also checkvthe return policy. I think that is one of the important thing to check. I also avoid resellers abd buy mostly on legit suppliers. If buying second hand items, I check the reason of selling,

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

rlpzbeermoney

rlpzbeermoney

I'd research first if the seller is legit. It's not enough that people are posting their testimonies. Better Help, an online therapy service for mental health issues employed paid "fake" reviews and it was exposed. In fact, even one of the people who posted a video testimony was stupid enough to read what Better Help told him to read.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

I would recommend buying direct from the supplier or manufacturer because it's safer when it comes to warranties, refund and exchanges. Usually it's also a lot more cheaper than buying the same product on third party platforms.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

mdayrit

mdayrit

I really enjoy shopping online since I can avoid heavy traffic going to the mall. Apart from that I can easily scan products just by typing it in the search bar. However, not all online stores are true to the details they post about the products. Here are some things I check whenever I order.

1. I start with the rating of the store. I compare all shops that has the same item at the same price if who among them has a higher customer rating. From there, you could see feedback about the products. Others also post photos of the actual purchase so you would know if it is really the same as the item posted.

2. Payment option and returns. Most of the time I pay the item COD to make sure that I receive it before giving payment. Just an authorization letter and ID will do if you are not available to receive it personally. How the seller accepts returns is also one of the things I check especially if the item is expensive.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

amelia88

amelia88

I wish more stores would allow cash on delivery. Most websites that I use only allow credit card payment, and often that means that if you have a problem with the quality of an item you ordered that you end up having to dispute the transaction through your bank. That ends up being a super time consuming and often frustrating process. COD means that at least you can check the items for quality once they arrive and then pay.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

cmoneyspinner

cmoneyspinner

My advice is to make sure the site doesn't says NO RETURNS or NO REFUNDS. As long as I know I can return a product and get my money back, it's all good.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

superlicca

superlicca

I definitely agree with you. The site should have a refund and return policy. Some products that you can buy online have damage and it is unfair if you won't be able to return it or have it refunded. No one would want to waste his time and money for an item. My friend purchased a watch online but she got disappointed that she received it with damage. She had no choice but to have it repaired on her own expense.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

amelia88

amelia88

THIS. It's a big comfort when companies offer this, and it really does impact my purchasing habits. If they clearly stipulate that there are no refunds or returns available, it always makes me feel like they're trying to offload dodgy products.

If a company stands by their products, offering free returns or refunds is just logical, because realistically they should know you'd be pleased with what they're selling and not actually need to return stuff!

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

NerdIndeed

NerdIndeed

"Buy only from reputable websites."

This tip is one sure fire way not to get scammed. Usually, it only happens if you buy from individual sellers on buy-and-sell marketplaces like eBay, OLX, and such but hardly on Amazon, Lazada, etc. Make it a point to read reviews too.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

iambeth

iambeth

I like the convenience of shopping online. Before I make a purchase I read the reviews first because some sellers send out products that are different from the pictures posted online. There are a lot of scammers and its better to be sure before checking out. I don't want the hassle of returning my purchase afterwards.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

DISTEFANO115

DISTEFANO115

Check platforms that are very known and has a great reputation. Look at reviews and feedbacks, check if returns or refunds are available. Don't buy items that are too good to be true, like a Gucci bag that costs about $4000 and in this particular store it only retails at about $400.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jayjaydimson

jayjaydimson

You should think twice before you buy stuff online because there's a lot of scam on the internet, don't get fooled by them. Be practical as well, have some other options on where are you going to buy some stuff, don't rely on only 1 option, there's a lot of sites where you can buy stuff, just do your proper research.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

esteban123

esteban123

I think that checking for some reviews of a certain items that we want to purchase online is a good idea since we can make a conclusion if a certain product is worth it to buy or not. It would also help us to choose on the best product that would fit for our budget and on our needs through looking for some product reviews. In such a way we can say that we have chosen that best of all and feel secure and confident that it is worth for the price.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

beerthooyah

beerthooyah

In buying online, I only buy to those who have cash on delivery as mode of payment. And when the package is being already delivered I first check on the package if it was truly what I ordered before giving the payment.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

NerdIndeed

NerdIndeed

I have this habit of paying before even checking my item. I'll try to practice this more, and make sure that what I received is what I purposely ordered. Great tip!

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

allyn2017

allyn2017

Be careful and make sure that you are buying from a legit shop who have great service and have high quality stuff. Also, read the reviews of first before buying something.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Yea that's true, if you don't read reviews before you shop from any online store, you may end up buying something that you may regret later, sometime we see a low price and bad review but still pick it hoping yours will be different but end up having the same bad product.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

edencaga

edencaga

Yes, this is right. What I do whenever I buy online stuff, the first thing I check is the number of stars or it's rating if the store has many buyers. Then checking up the product and reading the description is second one. After that one, that's the time where in I have to check the the reviews and the images they posted if possible. If there are negative reviews over positive, I will look for another store.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

iambeth

iambeth

One should be careful in purchasing things online because some of the reviews are fake and are not really from actual buyers. Returning what you bought can be bothersome.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

edencaga

edencaga

Yeah, this is true. Being careful in choosing a legit shop is a must so that you will not return the one you bought from that shop as its very hassle. Sometimes, they will not reply you once they received your money.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Yea thats true, try and maintain a relationship with your seller while your goods is in transit or before you even make an order for the goods so that when they is a problem with the product you can easily chat the seller and he will listen to you but not all sellers are the same.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

edencaga

edencaga

It's quite disappointing especially if you like the item but then when you chat the seller, they will not reply. You want the product so bad but you can't even confirm directly to the seller as sometimes they will only seen you, or if you already pay the product but then wanted to confirm if how many days it will be shipped but no product came to you, it really feels so bad for you knowing that you are very excited to receive the item.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Yea thats really a bad habit sellers should learn to kick out so that when a buyers purchase a goods, he will be able to come back to the store because of the good relationship with the seller.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Really troublesome, I got embarrassed when trying to receive a refund for a bad goods from Ali express because I have hyped this product and didn't expect it to be a waste of time and effort.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jayjaydimson

jayjaydimson

You should think twice when you are buying stuff online, because it has a lot of scams on the Internet, make your proper research first and ask people on where to buy or not to buy stuff on the internet.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Yea thats true but it doesn't end there, even when you shop with the best online shopping site try and still understand how it works because you can buy from a seller with bad product and the Online shopping site will not be responsible.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jaymish

jaymish

I agree@jayjaydimson. This is the most important step to take when you are shopping online. I would argue, that getting product reviews are the most important step in buying. anything online.All the other research comes from user experience, which means product reviews. For example you only find out the quality of a stores products from those who have used them. I would put away the others steps and put product reviews as the best tip to buying goods and services online.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Very good, you can only know the worth of a good store only when you know someone that has bought from them and confirm the authenticity.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

focusedwriter10

focusedwriter10

My advice is that there so many scams online. Thus, always ensure you have done thorough research about the site you want to purchase from. If possible, ask friends and relatives about their experience.

Alternatively, join buyer be aware groups and seek for advice. I came to realize some sites pay for positive reviews, but the result is the opposite. In addition, calculate the total price, inclusive of the shipping cost.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Yea thats true, some sellers pay for review from sites so buyers can think they are good sellers and some also offer freebie for rating purposes.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

focusedwriter10

focusedwriter10

I have been approached severally on sites such as freelance and Fiverr by some people who are ready to pay for reviews. Some are even ready with the content that you should post. Unfortunately, I decline such offers, because it is misleading.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Yea it's really bad, I fell victim of one of those sellers in Ali express where I bought a goods that was bad and I know seller paid for the rating and reviews because it wasn't much and he wasn't a new seller.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

focusedwriter10

focusedwriter10

These are some of the sellers that e-commerce sites should target. I think they should come up with processes of checking the goods before approval for sale. There are so many people who have suffered in the hand of these sellers.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

ElectorAlexande

ElectorAlexande

Yea, e-commerce store should try and do that or it may damage the reputation of the site and not the seller because the seller may go on to open another store in a mother site with another name but the online shopping site will continue to suffer it.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

theresajane

theresajane

I agree with you. If it's possible for you, check on the other products of the seller too and look at the reviews.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

coolavender

coolavender

I always check reviews when shopping for products online. It's usually not too difficult to spot fake reviews if you're a writer. I bought a toner cartridge for my printer two months ago and it was priced at half the price of original toners. There were several sellers on the site offering the same product at different prices. I narrowed it down to sellers with the most number of reviews for the toner and chose the one with the best reviews. The product arrived three days later and it was just great.

I almost bought the original toner when I learned that the remanufactured toner at a mall store was even more expensive. Thankfully, online stores offered a much cheaper yet good quality version. I got the printer for free with an original toner that lasted for three years. It doesn't seem right for me to buy a replacement toner at a higher price than what the printer would have cost.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

astraherondale

astraherondale

FIrst thing you need to establish is the trustworthiness of the business establishment or seller. You should investigate when the seller started selling and their previous buyers have left feedback about their services. Reputable sellers should also have a good amount of following and should display their contact information upfront.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

theresajane

theresajane

I agree with you. It could be a hard and long process, but it would be definitely worth it in the end.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

burgosmichael24

burgosmichael24

I agree with you, shopping online can be too risky if you don't check your merchant. I used to order items online through COD and before I make any purchase, I always check using your tips mentioned above.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

HappyLady

HappyLady

I am gradually building up a list of "cheap stuff you can buy for under £1 on Amazon" and among the tat, have found plenty I want to buy again. My favourite are these cat pens that come postage free for about 19p as they have a very fine nib. I look at reviews and consider if these are genuine.Of latger items I may not bother, but have usually had great success. My best tip is never pay for postage if you are not already getting it free via Prime. I just got a charger wire for my phone. I ordered 2 days ago and have been using it today. Often things come earlier. You have to be prepared for this not to be the case. The only duff buys and really only size wise is the cheap bracelets. These often come up too small for my wrist. On the other hand people are admiring my dolphin ring for about 20p and free delivery and my finger has not turned green. The trick is to coat cheap jewelry in clear nail varnish. Check on plugs and battery sizes but don't think every review is right. My pretty paper tea light holders do hold a battery tea light. I have never tried Wish but just ordered from Marks and Spencer and it is so easy to click and collect when they have stores in UK garages these days.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

DenisP

DenisP

Always looking at the reviews is advice that I live by. There isn’t a single thing I bought online without looking at the reviews first. If a product has a low rating—or even worse, no rating at all—then I’m absolutely not buying it. The people who buy products first and review them are the unsung heroes of the internet.

However, it’s kind of funny how you can have a product with a bunch of five-star reviews, only to have a couple of party poopers giving it one star. Those guys always throw me off.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

knnon

knnon

Great tips! Before buying I always check the shop for a few days and I always check the comments. I prefer buying from online shops who have an actual photo of the product, if that isn't available then I check the comments once more and dig for a photo. I always choose cash on delivery, but if that isn't available then I only deal with shops who accept payment through banks, because less scam that way, you get their real name and their account number and you can always use those when you complain.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

theresajane

theresajane

I also do that actually. Before buying something from a seller, I check the product, the comments, the rating and even look at the other products and it's reviews. I do that for like a day or two, then decide if I should buy or not.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

knnon

knnon

As I always say, it's better to be safe than sorry! A cousin of mine gets scammed a lot with online purchases. I think it's because she gets blinded by the good deals they offer. But the CoD option for purchases is a big help since we get the product/s delivered to us first and then we can pay. Of course there are some instances when they deliver the wrong product so we need to make sure that they sent the right product first before we pay.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

davedaot04

davedaot04

Number one tip is to look for the sellers positive rating if it somewhere between 80-100 percent then that's something that's legit but that doesn't stop there, you should also need to look at the specific item's reviews of the people who bought the product. At least that's what I do and I didn't have any problems with the items I bought online.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

angie828

angie828

I just had a bad experience a few months ago. My husband saw a saying he really liked and I thought it would be neat to have it on a shirt. I searched the internet for a good deal and thought that I found one. I ordered it for the company and waited. Finally, I messaged the company, and they responded back that they had until a certain date for it to arrive, as that is what it said when I ordered it. Fine. So I waited some more. Never came. I contacted them again and they provided me the tracking number, stating it had been delivered. No, it had not. He argued with me and said it was. I contacted Paypal, expecting them to take my side and refund me. Nope, since he had the tracking number and it said it was delivered, he won. I had explained to Paypal that there were a few times when I received another person's mail that has the same last name as me. But I was honest and took it back to the post office. If this happened, that person was not honest. Evidentally, Paypal did not care because they sided with that company and I was just out my $20.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Corzhens

Corzhens

When I first made my online shopping, I was given a ton of advice by friends. First is the bogus products and also the bogus store. I was aware that scammers are around us so it is better to be safe than sorry - check the store very well. Fortunately I am successful in my online shopping because I am choosy with the online store and I often buy from the biggest online store in our country. It has imported items too that comes from abroad.

8 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Zoerida

Zoerida

I think you should have been written tips for those who begins to do online shopping, I guess that the others are experienced enough and they know about all this things. You said and formulated pretty well, these are the main factors that should be encountered. Also, I can suggest to everybody a good platform https://ethicalsellers.org, it contains thousands of online shops. The main advantage is that each of the shop is verified so you can feel safe to buy every product you find there.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

M1ndPrototype

M1ndPrototype

Those are actually good. Can someone tell me please where can I find some good apps to actually sell stuff online?

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Zoerida

Zoerida

Hey, there are plenty of places actually! In terms of selling and buying stuff, the first thing I am thinking of is a place like Ali, eBay, Amazon and so on and so forth. The thing here is that those companies are so big and monopoly like, that you cannot really find a good offer there. But if we discuss the possibility of buying something second handed? Well, there are a great article about it, where you can find a top from apps to sell and buy stuff online https://iliketodabble.com/best-selling-apps. This will be very helpful for you because you can really find something personalized there and what you really like for a small price!

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

M1ndPrototype

M1ndPrototype

I am running a local sport store, so I know a bit about online shopping. I saw a comment above the reviews and pay attention to them, because they are most likely true. I agree with this, but at the same time if there are only 1 or 2 negatives, and the rest are positive, this is most likely just an unfortunate case. The key is to find trustful websites where you can buy from. For example, most of the stuff which I sell in my store, I get from yorkn.com, qualitative products at a decent price and free delivery is what makes the difference when we talk about saving some money.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

SEDRA1

SEDRA1

if you are going to shop online, it is important to find a reliable resource here. For example, I always play india lottery https://lottothrill.com/ only on the lottothrill website. That's cool!

5 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

SEDRA1

SEDRA1

if you are going to shop online, it is important to find a reliable resource here. For example, I always play india lottery () only on the lottothrill website. That's cool!

5 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

milaniagreen

milaniagreen

If you often make purchases on the Internet, you will be interested in how to correctly identify your identity, not fall for scammers, and even automatically receive discounts that belong to you. You can learn more about ID.me verification process here

5 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?