The ease and comfort of buying goods without stepping into a crowded retail store, or waiting for the right colour and right product to arrive, and (most importantly) getting discounts in the bargain, are some of the key factors that draws more and more people to online shopping. But, this remarkable and comforting mode of shopping can be a nightmare if a buyer is not aware of the various nuances of the online business. Yes, it is easy but it is definitely not free from deception and deceit. However, one can ensure that one is not tricked by keeping an eye on a few points.
Pay attention to every detail
One of the most common tricks played on buyers in online stores is presenting lookalikes of certain products with brand names that appear similar. A brand that sounds like a major brand or an imitation of a
high profile device from a high profile brand would be presented in such a way that a buyer would mistake it for the real thing. So, the first rule of online shopping is to pay attention to every detail, examining every aspect carefully, reading the terms and conditions, no matter how long they might be. And yes, a rule of thumb is that if a deal seems too good to be true, then there probably is something fishy involved.
Credit cards are safer
When it comes to payment, cash on delivery is the most popular mode of transaction in India. But, COD is not available everywhere and many buyers don’t mind paying ahead of delivery. Users paying through a card must understand that the risk is higher when one is paying through a debit card than on a credit card. A credit card offers more protection to a buyer. In case of a fraud or transaction gone awry, a user can refuse to pay and the onus is on the banks to settle the matter with the retailer. The user won’t lose his or her peace of mind over it as they might in case of purchase made through a debit card where the actual deposit would be debited at once and the process of recovery could be long and arduous.
The dilemma of warranty
Warranty on products is often shrouded in mystery. Often it covers only a certain part and applies only to specific damages. A user must be aware of what all is covered in the warranty or whether the device on the e-store is backed by manufacturer warranty. For instance, some time ago, Lenovo announced that e-commerce sites like Amazon, Snapdeal and Flipkart, are not its authorized sellers and asked users to check the warranty entitlements before buying any Lenovo products from these portals. Users must check these aspects before buying a device. Also, one must find out if the brand has a service centre in the city they live in. This is important because a number of popular online bestsellers do not have service centres beyond major urban locations.
The online store should be a credible one
The last few years has seen a significant increase in the number of online stores, and they all offer discounts and deals. One might visit many sites but when it comes to buying a product, users should stick to a few trusted online stores. A user can also call up or send mails to the merchant mentioned on the site to verify and find out more details
about the product.
The importance of right
security protocol Sometimes online shopping can be a very risky business if the site in question does not have a secure encryption protocol in place. Sites that use HTTPS (Secure Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) for encryption provide a higher level of data security, especially personal data like passwords and card details used during online transactions. The benefit of HTTPS over HTTP is that it uses another security protocol called SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), which is used by a lot of e-commerce sites across the globe to protect customers and keep online transactions confidential. Sites using the HTTPS carry a green address bar in the browser URL and start with ‘https.’
Saving passwords must be avoided
Most sites during purchase ask users to save their card details like passwords, card number, etc., for future transactions. They appear as selected by default and a user must take care to deselect these before moving further. Yes, it does seem more convenient to shop by saving all your card details online but take our word for it, entering the card data every time is far more secure.
Not all EMIs are same
Almost all e-commerce sites give you the option of making payments through EMIs. However, one should remember that every bank applies different interest rates on EMIs. A buyer should check them thoroughly before agreeing to them. For instance, some banks like SBI charge up to 15 percent EMI while some banks like ICICI offer 12 per cent interest rates on EMI. Interest rates also vary depending on the tenure of the EMI, irrespective of the bank. The higher the tenure, the more the interest rate will be.
The cost of shipping
Last but not the least is to make sure the product is delivered without sustaining avoidable expense in shipping. Most e-commerce stores keep a classification of regions for shipment. If the buyer is based in a remote and rural area, the online store is likely to charge something for shipping. If the delivery has to be made in a major urban centre, the shipping cost would be nominal or nothing. In case of cash on delivery, a small amount is also charged for transporting cash.
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