Great Tips for Better Online Shopping

Jeanette Pavini has ways to ensure you get what you pay for online -- especially if that online retailer is outside of the U.S.
By Jeanette Pavini ,

Most of us like to shop from the comfort of our home, including me: I was one of the consumers who contributed to the over $517 billion in online sales for U.S. merchants last year.

So it's worth noting that some retail websites which appear to be based in the U.S. are actually located in other countries where, unfortunately, most legal protections for consumers are non-existent or unenforceable.

Some of the most common issues arise when customers never receive their order or what they receive does not meet their expectations. And even if a return policy is offered, the costs applied make it hardly worth it.

Consumer Action has helpful tips to help recognize a fake U.S. shopping site. Since there is not much recourse with many overseas companies, it is important to know what to look out for. Consumer Action says, "Prevention is the best prescription."

    Make sure there is a phone number you can call before placing your order. If there is a number, test it out to make sure the phone number works. It is important that you can reach a real person on the other line should a problem arise.

    Look for an actual physical street address. Beware of a post office box being used as a company address. This may be a sign there isn't an actual physical address which means your mail may be sent elsewhere.

    Find out the exact location where the items are going to be shipped from. If your order is being shipped from overseas it could take a significant amount of time to arrive or it could never arrive.

    Do your online research to find consumer reviews on a questionable shopping site. Also, check with consumer sites like the Federal Trade Commission and BBB to find out if any complaints have been filed.

    Remember the old adage: If something appears to be too good to be true, it probably is! If prices are considerably lower than other well-known retail sites selling the same product, this could be a sign of fraud.

    Know the return policy before making a purchase. Look under the terms and conditions section for details. Just be aware that if the site is a scam, they can put just about anything under terms and conditions as well as returns to make a consumer feel confident in purchasing.

    Using a credit card instead of a debit card may offer additional protections should there be any issues with your purchase.

    If you do fall victim to a fake shopping site or experience any misleading or fraudulent activity, contact the Federal Trade Commission.

    It's worth noting that next week, July 15 and 16, are Amazon's (AMZN) - Get Report Prime Days, when the online retail giant offers special sales deals for its Prime members. Only you can sit down with a pencil and paper and figure out whether a Prime membership -- at $119 per year -- is worth it for you. We'll mention you can try Prime free for 30 days. Also of note, Amazon.com is one several large and well-established online U.S. retail companies that provides a sales platform for non-U.S. sellers. One advantage with companies like this: you can buy from sellers in many countries around the world, yet the platform (such as Amazon) provides customer service for your purchases. It's worth the time to check out a website's policies and protections.

    About the author: Jeanette Pavini is a two-time Emmy Award winning consumer reporter completely over 10,000 money-saving stories. She is a columnist for The Street's Retirement Daily, and a contributor to various news outlets and a guest contributor for The Today Show. Her work has appeared in MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal Weekend and USA Today. She was the chief consumer reporter for CBS 5 News in San Francisco where her money-saving segments became the backbone to her 30-minute consumer show.

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