Shopping around made easy
shopping online,online safety,online security,good housekeeping,
Model kissing computer screen
A lot of us are now wondering how we bought we anything without the internet - we love it! And every day, more and more of us are discovering the joys of shopping online. It does mean we don\'t have to trawl the high streets but there are still issue online that you need to be in-the-know about. Click through our gallery to discover top tips on internet shopping...
FAIR COMPARISIONS?
Some price comparison sites are brilliant - they work pretty much the same way as a search engine like Google, but they lay out your options in a more user-friendly way so that you can compare deals at a glance. Beware price comparison sites that look as if they might plug certain companies or that just don\'t give you many comparisons. And remember, doing your own searches is still faster than hitting the phones or hitting the high street.
Gallery by Emilie Martin
Seriously secure?
shopping online,online safety,online security,good housekeeping,,make life better
Secure s
When you get to the virtual checkout, always check that the web page where you enter debit or credit card details has a web address that starts with \'https\' (the \'s\' is the important bit) and a closed padlock icon or unbroken key symbol in the border at the bottom of the page. This means the page is secure and it\'s safe to enter your financial details.
Cooler cooling off time
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123 refund street sign
Online shoppers have extra protection in addition to their normal consumer rights in the form of the Distance Selling Regulations. These give you a seven-day cooling off period when you can cancel your order and get a refund. Oh and use your credit card to pay for goods over £100 so you can claim against the card issuer if you have problems the retailer can\'t or won\'t resolve.
Delivery details
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123 delivery van
Always check how much the delivery charge is before you place your order. That bargain you thought you\'d found online might end up being the same price it would be on the high street when you add this on. Don\'t forget to check how long it will take for your order to arrive as well.
Giving it back
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123 internet shopping trolley
Check what the retailer\'s returns policy is before you buy. Can you return unwanted items in one of its high street stores or will you have to send them back? Will a freepost sticker be included with your order to return items? Some retailers will even collect items you wish to return at no extra charge.
What\'s best to buy online?
make life better,on a budget
basket food fruit milk
Some shoppers don\'t feel comfortable buying fresh food online in case they receive goods so close to their use-by or best-before date they can\'t consume them in time. And of course if you buy lettuce in a shop you can often reach to the back of the shelf and find one with a longer use-by date - not possible online. But buying any non-perishable goods online (like soap powder and large goods such as appliances and furniture) is a great idea as you save yourself the bother of carrying them.
Who\'s selling?
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123 auction hammer
Auction websites like eBay are hugely popular for picking up second-hand and heavily discounted items but sellers are usually individuals rather than businesses so you won\'t have the same consumer rights covering quality and fitness for purpose. Check the feedback other buyers have left about a seller to see if you think they sound trustworthy.
Online payments
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paypal
If you do decide to buy goods from an online auction website, you can get extra protection by using an online payment service such as PayPal, which offers dispute resolution services and anti-fraud guarantees.
To tick or untick
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123 tick box
Limit the number of emails you receive from retailers with details of special offers by ensuring you tick or untick the relevant check-boxes when you pay for goods online to opt out of receiving email newsletters and from having information about you passed on to third parties.
Think your way to a better life
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