Whether you prefer to hit the stores the old-fashioned way or are planning to let your fingers do the walking by purchasing online, there are certain dos and don'ts that will help make your holiday experience more enjoyable.
- Investigate before you buy. Check out the seller beforehand, especially if you are shopping online and are unfamiliar with the vendor.
- Call the seller's phone number so you know you can reach them if you need to. If you can't find a working phone number, take your business elsewhere.
- Type the site's name into a search engine. If you find unfavorable reviews posted, you may be better off doing business with a different seller.
- Read the site's privacy policy to learn how it uses and shares your personal information.
- With a click you can check a company's reputation by contacting the Better Business Bureau or the Office of the State Attorney General in your state or the state where the seller is located, which can be accessed through the National Association of Attorneys General.
- Also, consumers have the ability to search for businesses that have qualified for the BBBOnline Reliability Seal for ethical practices.
- Become familiar with a merchandiser's return policy. If you are in the store and there is no posted policy, you have the right to a full refund if you return the item within 7 days, unless the merchant is not allowed to resell the product as a matter of law or the product is perishable, custom made or the product has been used and the packaging removed. Some retailers give customers extra time so gifts can be returned or exchanged after the holidays. Others give shoppers as little as a week, if they accept returns at all. There may also be restocking fees associated with making a return.
If you are shopping online, find out who covers the shipping cost (the customer or the merchant) on a return or exchange and if your online purchase can be returned to a brick-and-mortar store.
- Know what you're getting. Read the seller's product description closely. Name-brand items at greatly reduced prices could be counterfeit.
- Don't fall for false emails or pop-ups. Legitimate companies don't send unsolicited email messages asking for your password or login name, or your financial information. But scammers do. In fact, crooks often send emails that look just like they're from legitimate companies but direct you to click on a link, where they ask for your personal information. Delete these emails. They are an attempt to get your information and facilitate identity theft or other crimes. In addition, just clicking a link in a fraudulent email could install spyware on your computer.
- Look for signs that a website is safe. When you are ready to buy something from a seller you trust, look for signs that the site is secure, such as a closed padlock on the browser's status bar, before you enter your personal and financial information. When you are asked to provide payment information, the beginning of the website's URL address should change from http to shttp or https, indicating that the purchase is encrypted or secured.
- Secure your computer. At a minimum, your computer should have anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a firewall. Security software must be updated regularly to help protect against the latest threats. Set your security software and operating system (like Windows or Apple's OS) to update automatically. Visit http://onguardonline.gov/index.html or http://www.staysafeonline.org to learn more about security software, firewalls and other ways to secure your computer.
- Consider how you'll pay. Credit cards generally are a safe option because they allow buyers to seek a credit from the issuer if the product isn't delivered or isn't what was ordered. Also, if your credit card number is stolen, you generally won't be liable for more than $50 in charges. Don't send cash or use a money-wiring service because you'll have no recourse if something goes wrong.
- Save your receipts. You need them for returns and exchanges. Check credit and debit card sales and return receipts against your monthly bills and statements, and report any problems to the credit card issuer promptly.
- Ask for gift receipts. Many retailers offer gift receipts that code the price. That way, if the recipient returns the item, they'll get the same value even if the item has been discounted further.
- Keep an eye on your wallet. Don't flash cash. Keep an eye on your credit or debit card during transactions, and get them back as quickly as possible. If your cards are lost or stolen, report the loss or theft immediately to the card issuers.
- Keep good records. Whether you're ordering by mail, phone, or online, it's important to keep detailed information about the transaction, including your order number, shipping costs and dates, warranties, and refund and return policies. Some online merchants do not process returns at their retail locations.
- Turn your computer off when you are finished shopping. Many people leave their computers running 24/7, the dream scenario for scam artists who want to install malicious software on your machine and then control it remotely to commit cyber crime. To be extra safe, switch off your computer when you are not using it.
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