A Modern Day Guide to Shopping for Gifts Online
Today, it’s common for people to shop online for gifts instead of visiting physical stores. As a result, there are many websites offering a wide range of products to suit every person’s tastes and budget. In fact, you can find practically anything from electronics and appliances to clothing and home goods. Even so, most people are still hesitant about shopping for gifts online because they’re concerned about whether the products are authentic or not. Moreover, some prefer to see the item in person before buying it as a gift. However, with the right knowledge about how to shop for gifts online safely and conveniently, you can get exactly what you need and save time in the process. Keep reading for a modern-day guide to shopping for gifts online that is safe and risk-free.
Before you decide to shop for gifts online,
Safer Online Shopping is Possible
it’s important to know that this isn’t a risk-free environment. In fact, people lose thousands of dollars to fraudulent online shops each year. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your information and identity while making an online purchase. Follow these tips to make sure your online shopping experience is safe.
- Always look for the SSL/TLS Seal (A closed lock icon on the left of where you type in the URL)
- Read the Privacy and Security Policy
- Use a Credit Card rather than a Debit Card
- Stay away from free wifi hotspots or use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if you have one.
Research Beforehand
Before you start shopping, it’s important to do some research first. This will help you determine what gift options are available, how much they cost, and who they’re intended for. The best way to do this is by creating a wish list of sorts. If you’re shopping for a friend or family member, jotting down a few ideas beforehand can go a long way. Likewise, if you’re shopping for a significant other, making a list will help you avoid buying something they already have or don’t need. As a rule of thumb, you should have a general idea of what the person likes. If not, google a few gift shops in your area for some ideas. The information you find can help you select a gift that suits their needs and interests.
Check the Reputation of the Website
The moment you find an online shop you like, you should check its reputation. This is especially important if you’re shopping for a gift on a third-party website. To do this, simply Google the name of the website along with the words “reviews” or “scam”. This will help you determine whether or not the site has a bad reputation. It’s also a good idea to read through the comments left by previous customers. This will give you an idea of what to expect when shopping there. If you find that a lot of people are complaining about the site, this is a red flag. It could mean that the website is a scam or that it has a high level of customer dissatisfaction. Likewise, if the site has a low rating, it’s best to avoid shopping there altogether.
Pay with a Credit Card
Credit cards are a great way to pay for online purchases. This is because you can dispute the charges if the company doesn’t follow through with their end of the deal. Not to mention, credit cards have built-in fraud prevention features that help you shop safely online. Using a credit card to purchase a gift for someone is a great way to avoid being short on cash. If you pay with a credit card, you have more protection than paying with a debit card. Credit cards have a fraud resolution team that will fight to get your money back while with a debit card, funds come directly out of your bank account. If you pay with a credit card and something goes wrong, you can dispute the charge and get your money back. PayPal, GPay and ApplePay are also good, just make sure you don’t have a credit balance in your account as they will take the payment from there first. If you don’t have a balance then they will take the payment from the credit card you registered with them.
Be Careful When Clicking On Ads
As you search for gift ideas, you will inevitably come across ads promising huge deals. Some of these ads will lead you to third-party websites, and others will take you straight to the merchant’s website. Even if you click on an ad for the merchant’s site, it’s important to be careful. This is because not all ads are legitimate. If an online store has ads and pop-up ads on every page, you may want to go elsewhere, as firstly, it makes browsing the store unpleasant, and secondly, many of these sites make their money from you clicking on these ads.
Tips for Finding the Right Gift
As you shop for gifts online, you’ll notice that many products come with reviews and recommendations. As a rule, if a product has a high number of positive reviews, you can be confident in your purchase. Likewise, if a product has a low number of reviews, it may be best to avoid buying it altogether. However, reviews are not always accurate, sometimes reviewers just don’t like a product’s colour so they give it one star. Read the reviews carefully, don’t just look at the average star rating. If the product doesn’t have any reviews, it may be a good thing, as people tend not to leave reviews when they’re satisfied with the product.
When it comes to modern ways of shopping, nothing beats the convenience of shopping online. With the right knowledge, you can make sure your online shopping experience is safe, secure and fun.