Online shopping has opened doors for customers giving them ample choices to shop online. From a virtual shopping option to delivery at the doorstep, customers can enjoy multiple benefits. They can compare prices, shop from every category they want, and find better prices and discounts. However, with online shopping, customers should alert themselves about the risk of internet security.
This article is all about the tricks and hacks for customers making online purchases safer and more accessible.
Buy a Theft Insurance Cover
Customers often use the primary email account for online shopping. It could be for registering purposes or logging in via a Google account. From bank details to essential passwords, our primary email account has all. So, it is a high risk to sign in or provide details of these accounts for online shopping.
If you love online shopping and do it more frequently, you must buy a theft insurance cover. It will save you from online frauds and provide you with online email protection if anything goes wrong.
Check for a Secured Connection first
Whenever you purchase online, the first thing you should check is the secured connection of the website. Secondly, you should check for the verified merchants and products on the site. Also, check for the product reviews and site reviews available on the internet. You should make sure you do not provide your personal information to untrusted sites. They use your data to spam your emails. Moreover, they also ask for unnecessary information when placing an order online.
Join a Trusted Program
We often look out for programs that benefit us, and we can shop freely without the hassle of total payment. If you are looking for a secured and trustworthy, for instance, you may consider a layaway program for online shopping, but before proceeding you must check for options such as-
• no use of credit cards
• secured payment options
• affordable payments
• no effect on credit score
• no interest rate
If sites do not offer any of these benefits, you should opt-out as it might put you at risk.
Doubtful Shipment or Return Policies
Often online stores offer options to check shipping policy or location-specific delivery date and charges. They claim to offer free shipping but might include conditions such as
• convenience fee,
• minimum purchase order,
• the cost of transit insurance, and more.
You should also check for non-refundable products or shop from sites that offer a ‘try and buy the policy. For the return policy, you should be aware of the time limit and check whether you are required to pay the shipping price or will the merchant take care of it.
Find Sites with 24*7 Online Chat Support
Today, most online stores offer 24*7 live support to resolve customer queries and provide them with prompt solutions. It helps customers contact them at any time to find solutions such as
• When will the product be delivered?
• How to cancel the order and proceed with a refund?
• How to participate in the layaway program?
• How much time does it take to get my refund?
With the latest chatbot services, they can avoid waiting for customer support technicians to get on the call.
Refer to the Privacy Policy
Before you head on to logging in to the site and place your order, make sure you have read all the terms and conditions. If some online site requests personal information, care not to share it. Moreover, refer to the privacy policy page of the website. Sometimes, online websites use your information to make advertisements and spam your emails.
Also, some might share and sell your data to generate revenue. Next time, you need to make sure you do not fall into the trap and give permissions or personal information to such sites.
Opt for Safe Payment Solutions if available
With the boost in online shopping, phishing attacks and illegal attacks have increased. While many customers prefer to add their payment information to their profile for easy checkout, they might invite a potential risk to their assets. Instead, find the safest transaction options to stay safe from online theft, such as
• Net Banking
• Cash on Delivery
• UPI payments
• Virtual Credit Card
Clear your Browsing History
Most eCommerce sites prompt you to accept cookies to provide you with a seamless shopping experience. This way, they keep track of the products you visit and other shopping habits. They capture such information to send you mailers or ads while browsing on the website or any other platform. You can technically opt-out by making changes to your browser settings. But a better way is always to clear your browsing history. Else you will not enjoy a seamless shopping experience.
Conclusion
Use these eccentric ways to ensure that you can purchase goods easily, without hassles.
