What are the things a person should be careful about before buying something online?

(Courtesy: TripIndia)

One of the simplest rules you need to know here is to NEVER shop at less-known websites. Today, launching an online store has become easier (and cheaper) than ever. Literally, anyone sitting in any corner of the world can create a beautiful website. Avoid such new platforms when online shopping. Even more so when they don’t have ‘Cash on delivery’ option.

· They will take the money and might not deliver

· They will deliver a poor-quality product

In either of the instance, you won’t be able to do anything. So, again, avoid shopping on less-known, new websites. The chances of getting cheated one way or another are much more. The likes of Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra and Snapdeal should be your go-to. These are reputed, very secure and ensure buyers’ goodwill.

Another thing you want to be careful about is the refund and return policy. Online shopping is quite tricky. You don’t always get what you want or what was evident in images. So, you must know if you can return the product, or exchange it, and get the refund. So, wherever you’re shopping, read their return and refund policies. You don’t want to be stuck with a product that you don’t like.

Also, here’s something I have seen few people do. They end up downloading a duplicate unofficial mobile app of top shopping platforms and purchase from there. These fake apps don’t deliver products and, moreover, capture your card details to exploit you further. So, be extremely cautious about the source where you’re downloading the app from. Always download/install from the official app stores—and NOT from any third-party website. Also, if you’re shopping through the website, keep an eye on the Address Bar. Make sure the URL is correct.

Also when you are giving out your card details, ensure that its on the secure server and is certified.

(Courtesy: Odyssey)

Keep these in mind and you’ll have a happy, secure and satisfying online shopping experience.

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