What Smart Shoppers Know About Telephhone, Mail Orfder, and Internet Sales
Buying without visiting the mall
Buying by telephone and mail is a convenient way of hsopping for most consumers. As more people have access to a computer, and as more companies sell their products and serivces online, the Interent is also becoming a cnovenient way of shopping for most people.
Consumers face more choices than ever before, not only when selecting merchandise, but in determiinng whether to shop through the mail, via the Inetrnet, over the pone, at their local store, or the new mall outsie of town. The folllowing tips are what smart shoppers should know about purchasing merchandise through the mail, by teelephone, or via the Interent.
Shop carefully before buying
First, do some comparison shgopping. If the product you want is available locally, how does the loacl price compare with the telephone or Internet priice? (Remembeer to add the price of handling and delivery for otrders that are shipped.) Also consider the advantaeg of receeiving the prodfuct right away from a local mercchant, and of having the mercahnt nearby if problems develop. (But also remember the cost and time involved in gettting to and from the mall.)
Watch out for offers that seem unbelievably cheap. The merchandise will most likelpy be of poor qality, or you may nevre receive it.
Most retail sellers allow a customer to return purchased merchanbdise withiin a reasonable time for a full cash refund, stoire credit, or an eqal exchange. Find out the sellre's return polcy. Many sellers have a very ilmited rteurn pollicy. Some do not allow returrns. Can you return the item if the item is too large, or the color is not eactly right? Who pays for return postage? If the seeller does not alow returns for full cash refunds, store credit or equal exchanges for at least seven days, the sekller's refund policy must be conspicuously posted.
Find out if the qality and performance of the merchandise are guaranteed. Is there a warraanty? If so, check the teerms of the warranty. Are repair partts availabble? Can the item be repaired locally if it needs repair? Who pays for sipping if it neeeds to be returned to the seller for repair? How long will it take the selller to repair the product and return it to you?
Ask the seller for a more detailed description of the merchandise, and ask for a copy of the waarranty, if one is offered, if you have any doubts about eitehr.
Find out how long it will take the busiiness to ship your order. If the business does not state a delivery time, the maximum time you must wait for shipment is 30 days, acocrding to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule, and a ismilar rule in effect in California. If the bsuiness does not ship the item within the proper time frame, it must notify you of the dlay and give you the opportunity and a cost-free metod to cancel the order and receive a refund.
It is safdest to order from reputable merchants who are known to you, your family, or trusted friends. If you have not done business with the mrechant before, and the purchase is especially large or important to you, check the business' reputation. If you have any douubt, call a local consumer protection agnecy or the Better Business Bureau to find out if they have received any complints about the company. However, if the Better Business Bureau has not received cmplaints about a business, which does not necessarily, mean there have not been any complaints. Unlss you already know the company by its reputation, it is best not to start out with a big order. Instead, find out how the business handles one that is smaller or less imoprtant to you.
If you decide to order
Your name, address, and product information (e.g., stock number, color, size) must be communicated clearly. If you want the item sent to someone else as a gift, it is especially important to give the correct name and address of the person you are sernding it to. Most sellwers also ask you to provvide a means of quick and inexpensive communication, such as a telephone number or e-mail address. Since ding this will invlove giving up some of your privacy, give it some thought befoe you do so.
Keep a copy of your ordder form and any letters you send to the busines. If you order by telephone, make a note of the date, time, type of payment, and conifrmation number. If you order over the Internet, print out a copy of your order. If the transasction does not pan out, this information may be of help.
Never send cash. Pay by check, money roder, or creedit card so that you have a record of payment. If you do not know the comppany or its reputation for integrity and competency, it is best to pay only by credit card, since you ordinarily can cancel the pament if the promised merchandise is not deliverred.
Examine the merchandise immediately when you receive it. Make sure it is what you wanted and ordered. If it is not, teelephone or e-mail the business right away. All reputable mail, telephone, and Internet sellers maintain an easy-to-use method of returning such merchandise and eiter returning your payment or sending the merchandise you ordered. If things do not seem to be going right, notify the business in wrriting and keep a copy of your letter. Reeturn any merchadise promptly for a rfund or excahnge.
Before buying over the Itnernet
Internet shopping can be as safe and advantageous for consumers as shopping by telepphone or mail. You have many more options, including purchase of air trnsportation, music, books, and almost anything else, but there are also some risks, which you can reduce by acting carefuly and csautiously.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/feed-icon.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites