When it comes to shopping, the idea of being able to buy a product or service without leaving your couch seemed impossible two decades ago. Today, online shopping has become a necessity, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where almost everyone never wants to leave their homes. From buying groceries to getting a new pair of shoes, shopping is now just a few clicks away.
Online shopping has offered plenty of benefits not just for consumers but also for business owners. It allowed entrepreneurs to keep their businesses running and protect themselves against the financial impact of the pandemic. To keep clients coming, they start having credit card offers and rewards and ensure a convenient shopping experience online.
Despite the convenience and exciting offers, online shopping also comes with risks, from cyber threats, impulse buying, fake products, and poor quality. One wrong move and your personal data and financial assets will suffer. Here’s how to be a smart online shopper and learn to manage your personal information online:
Compare product features
The best thing about online shopping is the ability to compare products across different shops in just a few clicks. Most shopping platforms sell similar products but offer a different price, shipping fee, and promo. Taking the time to compare products before placing them in your cart makes a big difference — you get to buy the same product at the best deal.
Don’t just buy the first item you find. Use your browser or price comparison tools to find the product and website that sells it for the cheapest price. Some websites may offer an item at a more expensive cost but come with multiple features and a warranty.
Besides the cost, be sure to consider the discounts, quality, and shipping fee. Although a product comes at a lower price, the shipping cost may turn out more expensive, forcing you to spend more money. In other words, the more information you know about a product, the less chance to encounter issues.
Look for discounts and free vouchers
One of the great appeals of online shopping is the number of sales, discounts, vouchers, coupons, and cashback offered. The only problem is they are hard to find since not all promos apply to your purchase. This will require a little digging to find applicable discounts. You can also check out store-specific applications and coupon websites that offer promotions and active codes.
You can also follow your favorite influencers and product ambassadors on social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. These personalities often include promo codes on the products they advertise which you can use when buying one.
Read the return and exchange policy
The biggest challenge of online shopping is buying a product without knowing what it looks like or how it fits in person. When buying clothes or shoes, many end up buying a few sizes smaller or bigger. Meanwhile, others end up getting a faulty product that looks different from the advertisement. While others choose to ignore these flaws, many choose to exchange the product or refund their money.
Many websites have strict policies when it comes to return and exchange policies. You don’t want to buy from a website that makes the exchange process difficult for you or doesn’t offer the service at all.
So before buying a product, make sure to read the return and exchange policies first to prevent wasting your money on something you won’t end up using.
Check customer reviews
Customer reviews are your best friend when shopping online. Some merchants may operate in a reputable shopping platform but sell low-quality products. They may sell an item that looks in no way similar to what you’ve ordered. Some won’t even answer questions if you received a faulty product after delivery.
Always check the ratings and read customer reviews to determine the product quality and the reliability of the seller. This prevents you from buying low-quality or defective products. Some customers also upload pictures of the actual product upon receiving it. This will let you know the product is up to the standards and customer expectations.
Also, be wary about fake reviews. Some sellers are paying people to speak about their product in a positive light. Some trusted third-party websites use labels, such as “verified buyer” to confirm that the customer who wrote the review actually ordered the product.
Online shopping is an efficient way to save time, money, and energy, but being extra cautious as you shop will keep you away from potential threats. After all, being a smart shopper is knowing how to spend your money wisely and being attentive to your activities online.
