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Shopping Online (or Off) – Buyer Be Aware
The Internet has changed the experience of shopping forever. More Canadians surf
the Internet every year in search of information, communication, entertainment and shopping. The world market has never been
so easily accessible for retailers of all sizes. Consumers have never had more options, variety and convenience than they
do now.
Shoppers can browse the designer boutiques of London, Paris and New York City;
order fresh baked cookies shipped overnight courier from cities across the continent; or discover the best sales at the mall
just down the street — all from the comfort of their own home, any time of the day or night.
Online shopping is even safer than shopping offline, as long as consumers realise
they need to be just as careful shopping and communicating online as they are in the offline world. For example, if a stranger
approaches you in the street with DVD Players for sale at $50, before any money changes hands you need to make sure you’re
not paying for a DVD Player box full of phone books. Shoppers have been getting scammed offline a lot longer than online.
If you buy from a responsible and reputable business over a secure web-server,
shopping online is your safest bet. Your credit card information is protected by encryption during transmission and cannot
be seen by anyone – not even the seller in some cases. But it’s up to you to make sure you know who you’re
conducting business with, what security features they offer, their privacy policy and their return or refund procedure.
Keep the following tips in mind before you enter personal information on a website
or decide to make a purchase online:
- DEAL
with companies you know
by reputation or experience. If you aren't familiar with the company, do your research. Find out their address and phone number.
Do not conduct business with a company that doesn't list a physical address or telephone number on its website.
- READ the terms and conditions
of the contract to make sure you understand the delivery options, return policy, and product or service warranty. For international
transactions, ask for information about the exchange rate and any applicable duties and taxes.
- LOOK
for a privacy policy.
Be sure that you are comfortable with how the company collects, protects, and uses your personal information before you submit
any details. Responsible marketers have an "opt-out" policy, which allows you to choose whether your information is shared
with third parties.
- ENSURE
the business has a
fair and clear process for submitting complaints and/or cancelling orders.
- MAKE
sure transactions are
secure. Do not enter any financial information if you see a broken-key or open padlock symbol on your Internet browser. This
means that the transaction is not secure and could be intercepted by a third party. When the key is complete or the padlock
is locked, your browser is indicating a secure transaction.
You can tell if you are connected to a secure site by noting if the address
begins with https and not http (The s is for secure).
REMEMBER, unlike
secure order forms on a Web site, email messages are not private. Do not send confidential personal or financial information
by email.
CHECK for endorsement
by an association or a quality assurance program. There are several "seals of approval" for Web sites that confirm the credibility
of the company and the Web site. For example, the Canadian Marketing Association member logo signifies a company that abides
by the CMA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, which includes a comprehensive privacy policy and a section on responsible
Internet marketing.
AVOID Spam
(unsolicited marketing email) by being careful about disclosing your e-mail address both on and off-line. Check a company's
privacy policy to find out whether your email address could be shared with other companies. CMA members will not send you
marketing email without your permission and will give you the option to decline to receive further e-mails at any time.
TALK to your
children about online activities. Instruct them to keep their personal information private unless you approve.
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