11/19/11

Online Shopping 101: Spot a Legitimate Seller

It is clear as daylight that the internet opened endless possibilities and opportunities. Some tasks were made obsolete because of this technology. Sending out letters through the post office, lining-up in a bank to pay bills, making overseas calls to loved-ones are just some of the things of the past. Now, these mundane tasks are easily accomplished by connecting to the internet. Not to mention, working as well as shopping can also be done remotely.

As a self-confessed internet junkie, a big chunk of my 24 hours is spent going online with trusty Google as my personal assistant. Not only do I surf the net for answers but I've also done some online shopping to purchase some of my guilty pleasures as well as stuff for my lovies, JF, SJ and SI. In the coming days, I'm sure I'd go virtual window shopping once more since the season of gift-giving is just around the corner.


Talk about fraudulent online sellers... read about it here
Photo from FashionPULIS.com


Since online shopping does not need a face-to-face encounter, you should be attentive enough to know which sellers are legitimate and which are not. If you are not used to this type of transaction, you may read on below for some tips before you proceed with your first ever online purchase.

1. Know the regular selling price of the item you are about to purchase.

Don't be fooled with a cheap price tag.


If you spot an item with a price tag that is way too low as compared to the existing market value, be wary. You might be dealing with fake sellers who will just tempt you to buy an item which will not meet your expectations.

2. Research the reputation of the company or individual you are dealing with.


Get to know the online seller through published reviews.
photo by Stuart Miles


Online transactions require trust and the only way to trust an online seller is through positive reviews. Just like in ebay, you may view how the seller handled previous dealings through the feedbacks given by customers. At the same time, exert the effort to check their contact information such as their website, business telephone numbers, address, etc.


3. Be a curious shopper.


It's free to ask. Don't be shy to throw in your questions!
photo by Ambro


Similar to the manner how you buy in a retail store, you have to ask for details especially for high-ticket items. Sellers usually include some description but this does not restrict you from asking further. Sellers should be open to such probing because buyers certainly don't want to spend for something that will not meet their expectations. Also, don't forget to include queries regarding shipping.

4. Determine the safest way to pay.

Choose a secure payment method.
photo by Naypong


Most online sellers prefer to receive the payment either by money transfer or bank deposit. There are some online stores which accept PayPal. These modes of payment instantly mean that you need to pay for the item first before the seller could ship it to you. Make sure to deal only with legitimate stores in order for you to feel comfortable in sending the money in advance. If this is still not an agreeable set-up despite good reviews, ask the seller if it is fine to just proceed with a meet-up instead.

There are a lot of great finds online. In order to get hold of the items you fancy, all you need to do is to get acquainted in spotting great and honest sellers. Once you're done with your first successful transaction, you'll definitely keep coming back for more online shopping sprees. 

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