Aussies and people all over the world are signing on in record numbers. Recent surveys found that:
The average amount that Australians spent online in November was $471, according to Nielsen/NetRatings.
The number of Australians who shop online has grown by leaps and bounds, almost doubling in the last year to 2.3 million (news.com.au)
(Nielsen/NetRatings): 68 percent of Australians have an Internet connection at home.
Australians spend 31 hours a month online, compared to only 10 hours in 2003 (Nielson/NetRatings).
Consumer tastes are changing all over the world, and online shopping is quickly becoming the norm as more and more people learn how to use computers. Here are a few more important facts about the world.
400 million people around the world are now booking their flights online (TheAge)
(Nielsen/NetRatings): The French spend almost 50 hours a month online.
In 2005, Americans spent $22.3 billion online, which is a lot of money.
With numbers like these, we can see that consumers' preferences are changing when it comes to buying things. Consumer confidence is at an all-time high, and we at the deal want to help you, the consumer, with your online shopping.
We've made a quick list of things to keep in mind when shopping online. We hope this will help you choose what to buy and where to buy it safely.
Checklist for online shopping
Do you know who you're dealing with?
Has the website listed ways to get in touch, like the business's physical address, phone, and fax numbers, and, for Australian businesses, an Australian Business Number (ABN)? This is important in case something goes wrong, like if your package doesn't show up or if your credit card is charged the wrong amount.
A description of the product—do you know what you're buying?
Make sure that the goods or services you want to buy have been described clearly and that they meet your needs. Check with the business to be sure (e.g. by email or phone).
Do you know how much you're paying and in what currency?
It is important to know the final price, especially if your credit card will be charged. Make sure that shipping and handling costs are included and that there aren't any fees that keep coming up.
Check to see if there are any import fees or taxes that apply.
You should also explain the currency. Even an Australian company might list prices in US dollars.
Make sure the order is right. Do you know if your order is right?
Once you know how much your order will cost in total, it's a good idea to confirm it before agreeing to pay.
Applicable law: Do you know which country's laws will apply to the deal?
This is especially important if you do business with a website that is based in a different country.
Privacy: Do you know what will happen to any personal information you give?
There are privacy policies on a lot of websites that explain how they will handle personal information. You should read these policies because your name could end up on mailing lists that online marketers use to send you unwanted emails. There are now laws about privacy in many countries, including Australia.
Payment system: Do you know what kind of online security the website uses to process your payment?
You need to be sure that any credit card payment you make online is safe. The secure sockets layer is used by a lot of online payment systems (SSL). Before you start giving your credit card information, the site should tell you that you are entering a safe online area. If you are sending information over a secure connection, you will usually see a solid key or lock at the bottom of your browser window, or the web address will start with https//:
Print out the details. Do you have printed copies of the terms of your agreement?
Make sure to print out any forms you fill out and save copies of any emails you send or receive. It's a good idea to print out pages from the website as proof that you accepted the offer. This is important if the business says it never told you anything. Remember that websites change often and can even go away entirely. You want to be able to show that you and the business agreed to the terms.
Delivery: Do you know how long the product will take to get to you and who to call if it doesn't?
You should make sure you know when the item is supposed to arrive so you know when to start looking for it if it hasn't.
These will tell you how the business treats its customers. You should read them carefully in case there are things you didn't know, like what happens if the product you want is out of stock.
If you can't find any policies on the website, you can email or call the business to ask about their rules.
The Trade Practices Act and/or fair trading laws make Australian businesses do what they say they will do. This means that a business has to replace a product or give you your money back if the product isn't good enough to sell or isn't good enough for the purpose you told the business about. Goods must also match what the trader says about them (this could include matching a photograph of the goods).
When it comes to services, they should be done with care and skill and be good enough to get the job done.
Remember that if you buy something at an auction, you don't have any warranty rights other than the rights to clear title, quiet possession, and full ownership.
Are you sure that if you're not happy with some part of the purchase, the company will try to solve your problem in a fair and open way if you complain? Many businesses have rules about how to handle complaints from customers inside the company and from outside the company. If you have a complaint, you may not be able to talk to the company directly about it.
