Online shopping has dramatically changed the way that the world operates with many people opting to relax in the comfort of their homes while scrolling through a catalog of thousands of items.
While online shopping has presented a serious convenience factor, much like an online casino, where you’ll no longer need to wait in lines or battle to find an adequate parking spot.
But with anything that takes place online, online shopping does require you to be careful, as there are thousands of e-commerce stores, and there are many of them that aren’t as legitimate as what you’d think.
This is where we’ve had an interactive session with Conrad Brennan, (view profile), an expert on the matter, and he’s provided us with the following insights.
Similarities to Online Gaming
As previously stated, there is a range of factors that make it incredibly convenient; however, there are also plenty of similarities and dangers to online shopping, much to what you’d find with online gaming.
While your best bet would be to check out online casino reviews and to try and find the top 3 best casinos in Canada. The same approach needs to be taken with online shopping as you wouldn’t want to be scammed out of your hard-earned cash.
Ensure that you’re able to get the best deals and that the sales team does their job of answering any questions before committing to a purchase. And much like an online casino where you’d “shop” around for the best bonuses in Canada, you’ll need to shop around for the best deals.
With the internet being a big place, you’ll need to do as much research as possible, especially if you’re dealing with a site that’s located outside Canada. This is the same thing you’d do before joining an online casino as you’d want to check out as many casino reviews as possible along with the games that are offered.
Tips for a Safe Online Shopping Experience
Tip 1 – Place Orders from a Secure Connection
Cybercrime is on the rise and while most online sites have done their part to ensure that the transaction is safe, you’ll need to do your part to ensure that you’re purchasing a secure connection.
Shopping from a public connection is asking for trouble as you could run the risk of having your information stolen which could lead to more serious issues such as identity theft.
There are plenty of ways for you to ensure that the connection that you’re using is secure and it’s a simple process that takes as little as a strong Wi-Fi password.
Tip 2 – Know Who You’re Buying From
The most frustrating part of shopping online is seeing a product that you want but it’s being advertised by an unknown vendor. If you’re unsure about the vendor and who they are then it’s best to stay away.
However, a thorough online check will verify who they are and there will also be valuable information on forums.
Tip 3 – If It’s Too Good to be True, It Probably Is
There have been plenty of purchases that have gone viral where someone has bought a t-shirt and it turns out to be a dress. There are also online stores that advertise their products for next to nothing, which makes no sense as they’d be losing money with each purchase. This is another red flag to consider.
There are often times when something will be advertised for next to nothing, only for it to be “out of stock”, this will see the store try to sell you a different product that is much more expensive.
Tip 4 – Gift Cards Need to be Understood
Before you purchase a gift card, ensure that you have a clear understanding of the terms and conditions as you don’t want to be caught in a gift card scam.
Tip 5 – Be Stingy with your Data
There’s no reason why an online store would require your banking details or your ID number, so never provide it to them. Chances are that this information will likely be sold or worse and this is where you’d want to find out about the company’s privacy policy.
Tip 6 – Ensure that the Site is Secure
When visiting an online store, ensure that there’s a padlock icon next to the URL of the website. If you don’t see this or “HTTPS”, it’s best to head somewhere else as you’ll likely have a negative experience with the site in question.
Tip 7 – Don’t Use a Debit Card
This is something that many people tend to overlook and it’s important to stick to this rule. By using a credit card, you’ll be able to limit unauthorized purchases and this can’t be done with a debit card or a check.
Here is where you’d want to designate a specific credit card to ensure that you never have to experience this issue.
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