Some eagerly anticipated online sales events are right around the corner and while you might be enticed to hit add to cart next week, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Mainland BC and Yukon is reminding us how to be savvy and safe consumers.
"We've all been guilty of jumping on a deal and quickly hitting that add to cart button," said BBB spokesperson Neesha Hothi.
"Online shopping can be incredibly convenient, but it can also be misleading. There are many fraudulent websites, emails and ads found online that mimick popular online retailers with the sole intent to take your money. Over a third (36.9 per cent) of all reported scams on BBB Scam Tracker in 2023 were online purchase scams, which is the largest single scam type reported in Canada. We don't want any more Canadians to join that statistic.”
Top five tips to be a savvy online shopper
Verify customer reviews
- Does a product rating seem too good to be true with five stars across the board? Be careful. Scammers are present on all platforms and frequently post positive reviews on their pages, either copied from legitimate sites or created by bots. Ensure you check a variety of sources for reviews to get a fuller picture. Ensure you check a trusted resource for reviews such as BBB.org, where customer reviews are vetted before they are posted.
Use traceable payment methods such as credit cards
- Most financial institutions offer fraud protection with the use of their credit cards, so it’s more likely you’ll be able to get reimbursed after a scam if you have proof of payment. Remember, avoid using debit cards or e-transfers for online purchases. Be discerning and use your own judgment if a seller is trying to convince you to buy directly from them instead of a trusted website. Have you met this person before? Do you trust them?
Avoid making quick purchases while browsing social media
- Scammers advertise great deals or hard-to-find products, and they can be very tempting with a quick tap of a few buttons and pre-saved credit card information at the checkout. BBB recommends the ‘Take 5’ rule. Whether it’s five minutes, five hours, or five days - take 5 to do your due diligence and truly consider your purchase. Buyer’s remorse is a real problem that can play a factor in purchasing anything from small home goods to luxury items.
Understand online retail return policies and warranties
- Find out if the seller accepts returns or exchanges, and who pays the shipping when an item is returned. Keep a record of what you ordered and when. What happens if your new gadget stops working? Most electronics and home appliances come with warranties that need to be registered with the manufacturer, not the retailer.
Set a reasonable budget
- Make a list of the items you want to purchase and set yourself a cap of how much you’re willing to spend during your shopping spree. Or head into an online sale with a list of what you're looking for, this will help narrow your focus into only those items you've already identified.
A popular budgeting technique is the 50-30-20 rule, which recommends putting 50 per cent of your money toward needs, 30 per cent toward wants, and 20 per cent toward savings.
Many shoppers may end up spending way more than anticipated during a shopping spree because they get needs and wants mixed into the same category.
You can go to BBB.org to learn more about creating a budget and sticking to it.
