Don't Get Scrooged This Holiday Season
by Autumn Davis | Staff Writer http://www.WebProNews.com
If you despise cold weather, crowded shopping malls and parking
lots, or if you simply want to shop in your underwear, doing your
holiday shopping online will be your savior. That is, if you know
how to shop online without being scrooged.
Retail Forward reported to MSN that it expects online retail sales
to surpass $33 billion in the fourth quarter of 2006, compared with
$27 billion last holiday season; marking a 23% year-over-year
increase.
Holiday online retail sales have skyrocketed over the past year due
in large part to a decrease in unemployment rates, general income
growth, and lowered gasoline prices. Combine that with the fact that
online shopping sites are convenient, saving consumers time and
money, and you have a recipe for increased sales.
Despite the many conveniences of doing holiday shopping online,
there are the inevitable online Grinches and Scrooges that can
turn your act of gift giving and generosity into a terrible ordeal.
The Federal Trade Commission is attempting to put a damper on the
holidays of those who would commit online fraud with the recently
launched OnGuardOnline.
According to the FTC, OnGuardOnline is a campaign to help consumers
integrate online safety into their daily online routines. If tips
from the FTC site are followed, consumers can minimize the chance
of an online shopping disaster.
Among some of the tips from OnGuardOnline are:
- Make sure the company is legitimate. Confirm an online seller's
address and phone number in case you need to get in touch with them.
If an email or pop-up message is sent from the seller while you're
shopping asking for financial information, don't reply.
- Read between the lines. Read the description of the product
closely, including the fine print. Look for keywords like "vintage"
or "refurbished", which may tell you that the product is not in the
best condition.
- Keep a paper trail. Print and save records of your online
transactions, including the product description and price, the
online receipt, and copies of any email you exchange with the
seller. Check credit card statements to make sure there are no
fraudulent charges.
- Pay by credit or charge card. NEVER SEND CASH. If you pay by
credit or charge card online, the Fair Credit Billing Act will
protect your transaction. Under this law, you have the right to
dispute charges under certain circumstances and payment is
temporarily withheld while the creditor is investigating.
Generally when fraudulent charges are made on a credit card, the
carrier is only responsible for paying $50.
- Check refund policies. The law requires retailers to disclose a
return policy, so find out when the deadline for return is and if
the receipt is needed.
- Calculate the costs. Use a website that allows you to compare
like products to get the best deal, then factor in the cost of
shipping and fees to find what is right for you.
- Never send financial information via email. Email is not a secure
method of transmitting your financial or personal information, such
as credit card or check number, socially security number, or even
your home address.
So recline in your chair, crank up the heat, and follow the
guidelines of the FTC to insure that your online holiday shopping
experience is a merry one.
Article Source: WebProNews is an iEntry.com publication
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To your continued online safety
John Elliott aka Oaky Wood & Luella May
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