Shopping on the net has become ever-popular, and is marvelous for the consumer - it’s made it very straight-forward to go shopping. And to add to that, a more competitive market incorporated with low running costs has ensured low prices for items.
Yet, as the shopping market has enlarged, so too has the need to be cognizant of your consumer rights, and what to do if you are in receipt of faulty items or goods that you paid for but didn’t actually get. Data is made public online, such as the consumer protection act 1987.
You also need to be aware of which payment gateway to use to buy something, as each payment provider has its own terms. . Doing your homework can stop you getting cheated by internet scams.
Our word to the wise is to do your research regarding the vendor : do they display their phone number and postal address? What is the seller’s privacy policy? Their returns policy? Their terms? All these inquiries must be resolved prior to considering making a purchase from the seller.
Another issue to consider: what are the methods of purchase? In 2009, it’s not enough to simply look for “the padlock” (SSL certificate) - this doesn’t inform you how they store your data, only how it’s sent when you make your purchase. If in doubt, only purchase from sellers who use 3rd party payment gateways such as PayPal, Google Checkout, WorldPay, SagePay and NoChex.You can also verify the reputation the vendor has with his payment provider, e.g. check his PayPal account and how many transactions have taken place on this particular account.
