Online stores - what to watch
Buying online can be a daunting experience if you've never done it before. It needn't be though. And the scare stories you might hear about credit card fraud etc. are very much exceptions, rather than the rule.
I buy online all the time, and have never had a problem.
I've prepared a short general guide to help you decide which online stores you can trust with your money. Below is a list of criteria to consider. There's also some additional information covering golf stores specifically, which you can read here.
Remember, though, that a store fulfilling all these criteria can still give you a raw deal, and a store not fulfilling all the criteria might turn out to be the best purchase experience you've ever had - these points are just a guide and, unfortunately, not a guarantee:
- if the offer sounds unbelievable, then it probably is.
- is the site well-designed, with a nice, easy layout and no errors, such as pictures which don't show up or links that don't work?
- is the site consistent; does the special price show up on the final order page?
- is the site up-to-date; is it still promoting an end-of-summer sale in midwinter?
- does it provide an easy way for you to contact the store in case there's a problem with your online order - email address, telephone number, postal address etc.?
- does it have any testimonials from customers or visitors?
- does it display any press coverage or reviews?
- does it have a proper Internet address - like www.asoliddomainname.com and not www.freesitefolks.com/yours/adred/strt.htm?
- does it display any affiliation with an umbrella professional organization, or consumer protection service?
- is there a clear privacy policy, possibly with certification?
- is pricing and shipping information obvious with clear information regarding returns, refunds, delivery times, complaints etc.?
- does the store provide a secure connection for visitors to submit personal or credit card information? You can tell if your Internet connection is secure because a locked padlock or unbroken key symbol usually appears at the bottom of the browser you're using when you fill out the order form (you don't need to see this symbol while browsing the contents of the site - just when using an order form).
- does the site have any kind of reputation - what do people say about the store elsewhere on the Web?
