While you are awaiting the launch of this new online New Zealand shopping mall, we’d like to provide you with a list of online shopping tips to improve the quality and usefulness of your online shopping experiences:
* Don’t be put of online shopping here in New Zealand by all the overly hyped doomsday reports you may have come across in the media. Having been involved with online shopping since 1996, I can personally assure you that I am more uncomfortable handing out my credit cards in some restaurants than I am using it online.
* If you want to shop online safely, then know who you are dealing with. Look for contact names, addresses and telephone numbers. If you feel unsure ring them. Never consider using any website, for online shopping or any other reason, where full contact information is not easily accessible.
* Online shopping is only beneficial if the online shops that you are looking at, allows you to buy online using your credit card. Buying by email or fax, or only being able to see an online catalogue on the site without being able to buy online, simply means that the retailer is not serious about providing you with proper online shopping service. Flag it…go somewhere else!
* Only shop online at New Zealand online shopping sites that provide full details of the security offered by their online payment system. If this info is missing, or if you cannot see a closed padlock in your status bar, or alternatively cannot see “https” in their address, then look elsewhere.
* Never shop online at any site that asks for your bank details, and do not provide these details to anone at anytime on the Internet.
* Make sure that any online shop site that you are considering shopping on, offers all information about their "Product Returns" Policy. Make sure you read and understand it. Don’t deal with online shops that do not offer a Returns Policy.
* Make sure that the online shop that you are considering shopping at offers a Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy should describe exactly how they will secure and treat any personal information that they are requesting from you.
* If you are considering shopping online on any sites that are located overseas, make sure they are reputable sites like Amazon, or that they offer full contact details.
* All online shopping sites located in New Zealand should offer prices in New Zealand Dollars. Personally speaking, if I was confronted by an online shop that claimed to be based in New Zealand offering a online shopping facility not showing prices in New Zealand Dollars, I would be rather cautions.
* Before shopping on any website, ensure that you have read and understand all Product Delivery information. If delivery terms and conditions are not supplied, either ring the shops concerned, or find another shop that can supply what you require.
* Never shop on any site that expects you to register with them first.
More safe online shopping tips coming soon!
