Tips For Cyber Monday Shoppers
Cyber Monday deals will take the hassle out of holiday shopping for some. However, shoppers could open themselves up to other hassles if they don?t take precautions when making online purchases.
According to the Better Business Bureau Cyber Monday has replaced Black Friday as the most popular day to shop for Christmas gifts.
?I definitely do a lot of online shopping on cyber Monday,? said Brandy Campbell.
For Campbell, buying online is convenient.
?I have a lot of family out of town,? said Campbell. ?Cyber Monday makes it easier to just ship things to them directly and not have to worry about mailing stuff myself.?
In some cases the shipping is free. But shopping online has some possible pitfalls.
The Better Business Bureau is offering some tips to avoid getting ripped off by online scammers and hackers looking to take your money.
Try to stick to websites you know and trust.
?I only shop on sites that I’ve already shopped on before and am very familiar with,? said Campbell.
?If it’s unknown I?m kind of leery about putting the credit card (number) in,? said Tim Martin.
The BBB does suggest paying with a credit card instead of a debit card.
?I try not to use a debit card that comes out of my checking account,? said Campbell.
Using a credit card allows shoppers to dispute any unauthorized charges.
Also beware of random or unsolicited e-mails offering very low prices on hard to get items.
?Usually, I just delete those,? said Martin. ?I don’t even open them.?
?If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is,? said Campbell.
Here are the Better Business Bureau?s Top 10 Tips for shopping online:
1. Protect your computer – A computer should always have the most recent updates installed for spam filters, anti-virus, anti-spyware software and a secure firewall.
2. Shop trustworthy websites – Shoppers should start at www.bbbsw.org to check on the seller’s reputation and record for customer satisfaction. It is a good idea to look for the BBB logo and other widely recognized seals on retailer websites, but make sure they are real (some rogue sites plagiarize seals to look legitimate).
3. Protect your personal information – BBBSW recommends taking the time to read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If one is not posted, take that as a red flag that personal information may be sold to others without permission.
4. Beware of deals that sound too good to be true – Offers on websites and in unsolicited e-mails can often sound too good to be true, especially extremely low prices on hard to get items. Consumers should always go with their instincts and not be afraid to pass up a “deal” that might cost them dearly in the end.
5. Beware of phishing – Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information. If a consumer receives such an e-mail, BBBSW recommends picking up the phone and calling the contact number on the website where the purchase was made to confirm that there really is a problem with the transaction.
6. Confirm your online purchase is secure – Shoppers should always look in the address box for the “s” in https:// and in the lower-right corner for the “lock” symbol before paying. If there are any doubts about a site, BBBSW recommends right-clicking anywhere on the page and select “Properties.” This will let you see the real URL (website address) and the dialog box will reveal if the site is not encrypted.
7. Pay with a credit card – It is best to use a credit card because under federal law, you can dispute the charges if you do not receive the item. You also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on your credit card; many card issuers have “zero liability” policies under which the card-holder pays nothing if someone steals the credit card number and uses it. If you are going to shop on classifieds web-sites like Craigslist, never wire money and only buy locally where you can see the item before you hand over your money.
8. Keep documentation of your order – After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive confirmation by e-mail. BBBSW recommends saving a copy of the web page and any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
9. Check your credit card statements often – Do not wait for paper statements; BBBSW recommends consumers check their credit card statements for suspicious activity by either calling credit card companies or by looking at statements online regularly.
10. Know your rights – Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the goods are not shipped on time, the shopper can cancel and demand a refund. There is no general three-day cancellation right, but consumers do have the right to reject merchandise if it is defective or was misrepresented. Otherwise, it is the company’s policies that determine if the shopper can cancel the purchase and receive a refund or credit.
