How to Shop Online Safely and Efficiently
You’re likely doing more of your shopping online these days. And with so many options, it’s hard to know who to trust, what the quality will be and whether or not a retailer is legitimate. Here are a few tips to help you confidently shop online.
PRACTICAL ADVICE
Know your measurements
Just as in stores, sizing can be drastically different at different online retailers. Numbers don’t matter—you need the clothes to fit.
Check size charts
Armed with your measurements, check the brand’s size charts. There is typically a link to one on each product page.
Look at fabrics
Look at the fabrics of your favorite pieces of clothing in your closet. Before buying (especially from inexpensive retailers) check to see if the fabrics are up to your quality standards. Cheap doesn’t necessarily equal bad, you just have to keep your expectations in check.
Check shipping information
With many online retailers (again, especially more inexpensive sites), products are shipping from overseas. This means it can sometimes take 3-6 weeks to arrive and returns are a pain. If you’re OK with the wait, though, you can snag some great deals!
Understand return policies
Make sure you check if returns are free, the amount of time you have to return and if exchanges are possible. Restrictive return policies are typically a warning signal.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Look for the padlock and https:/
These are both signs that the site is using encryption methods for secure transactions. Don’t order if you don’t see it.
Contact information
Legitimate retailers will have contact information readily available on their websites.
Reviews and customer feedback
Look at the reviews and read customer comments. However, keep in mind that some retailers load up on positive reviews so you need to be discerning. Sometimes I’ll even search “Company ABC reviews” on Google.
Whois lookup
Look up the retailer’s URL on https://www.whois.com/whois/puradress.com. This will give you information on who purchased the domain and other information about the company. If the details match the contact information on the retailer’s site, it’s generally OK to buy from them.
Google Safe Browsing
Google has an online tool that let’s you know if the information and content being shared there is safe: https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/safebrowsing/diagnostic/
With all this in mind, use your gut instinct. If a site doesn’t look professional, it always raises a red flag in my mind. And why risk it?
