For many Australians, gone are the days of shopping trolleys, carrying heavy parcels and struggling to find a car park. Consumers are increasingly shopping online—whether it be the weekly supermarket shop or that special gift.
There are lots of benefits to shopping online—you can save time, effort and sometimes even money. But online shopping is different to purchasing face-to-face. Check your planned purchase against the following points to help ensure you have an easy and safe online purchase.
The seller
Before you buy anything online, get to know the seller. You need to know their contact details in case something goes wrong; a reputable business should make this information easy to find. A reputable business should also have good customer feedback - do friends, family or other customers rate them highly? Also, in the case of an Australian business, look for an Australian Business Number (ABN).
The product or service
Read and look at the advertisement carefully—make sure that it is exactly what you want. Consider the features and specifications such as make, model, dimensions, condition, age, functions, customer service and support. If you are unsure about something, ask the seller for more detail before committing yourself.
The terms and conditions
Before buying, understand exactly what is involved in the purchase. The terms and conditions of your purchase should be outlined by the seller—they may be located on a separate web page to the advertisement. They should be clear and outline any extra warranties offered by the seller, or policies covering security, privacy and returns.
The process
Are you clear about the payment and delivery processes including method and important dates? Does the seller have a complaints procedure in place for if things go wrong? Do they provide customer support for any queries or problems? Is the sale a done deal when you click the ‘I agree’ or ‘I accept’ button?
The total cost
Make sure you know the total cost of your planned purchase. Does the advertised price include delivery, insurance and handling costs? Do you need to convert the price to Australian dollars? Are there any taxes or duties? Once you know the total cost, ask yourself if you are still getting value for money—compare prices.
The payment
Only go ahead with the purchase if you are comfortable with the payment method. If paying electronically, make sure that the seller uses a secure payment system that encrypts your financial details. Look out for a padlock symbol and the web address starting with https:// —this indicates a secure payment process is being used. However, be aware that scammers may be able to reproduce symbols to give you the impression that a fake website is secure. If you have doubts, it is safer not to proceed.
The paperwork
Make sure you have a copy of any forms, emails, documents or webpages you have filled in, read or received—they are a record of the sale and will come in handy if something goes wrong. This includes the advertisement, pictures, any policies (privacy, security or refund), the terms and conditions, buyer questions, receipts and payment forms.
Have you taken steps to protect yourself from online scams?
Consumers aren’t the only people enjoying online shopping—scammers do too. Online fraudsters rip off unsuspecting buyers with scams that are specially designed to take advantage of the way the internet works.
Stay one step ahead of the scammers. Visit our scams and online shopping webpage, as well as the SCAMwatch website to learn more about online shopping scams, how to protect yourself, and report scams.
