05-03-2006, 06:19 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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Getting Burned When Online Shopping: Tips & Warnings
Recently I went hunting for a bargain. I wanted to score a new case for my K-JAM at the most ultra-low price I could, and found a seller online offering the case I wanted for a price 4 - 5 dollars lower than elsewhere, so after making sure the site looked legit (the site was found through Froogle if I remember correctly), I plunked down my cash. After a week and an email inquiry, I got a USPS delivery confirmation number, and since April 12 that delivery confirm. number has reported that USPS has been "electronically notified" of my package, but nothing more. I'm now starting to think this company packaged my case up but never got it to the post office (I know USPS doesn't offer real-time tracking, but usually they provide a notification when the item is scanned at the origin). So my goal of saving a little $$$ is now coming back to haunt me.
But it got me wondering: Most of us buy online, and fairly often the "off-name" vendors provide as excellent of service as the "big boys" with a discounted price. However, in a small percentage of orders, something goes wrong. What tips, warnings, and suggestions do you have to share with others when buying online that can prevent these unfortunate mishaps? I know a lot of people who let stories like mine scare them away from buying online all-together, and while something like this happens the minority of the time, a good collection of tips and suggestions may help those leary of online shopping to take the plunge!
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Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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05-03-2006, 06:50 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 11
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USPS Delivery Confirmation only gets scanned if dropped off personally to a window clerk. In most cases, 'manifest mailing' (large daily mailings), get dropped off on the Post Office's loading dock. As a result, the only time those packages get scanned is by your actual Postman when he/she delivers it. Hence the message you are seeing online.
Frustrating, certainly. But with UPS rates starting at 1 lb minimums, most people find that USPS Priority Mail is delivered in 3 days (including Saturday!) and only costs $4.05 per pound with no fuel surcharges like the big boys.
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05-03-2006, 07:06 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 177
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(1) don't pay cash; if a vendor only accepts cash, find another verndor.
(2) use a major bank issued credit card (not paypal) MasterCard or VISA.
(3) don't let the vendor ship vis Parcel Post if you care about receiving the package: Parcel Post only makes one delivery attempt. If you miss their attempt, you have to pick up the package at the Post Office (assuming you can identify which Post Office the package was dropped at). if they must ship via the Post Office, request Priority or Express Mail as they're "almost" as reliable as Federal Express.
(4) if timely delivery and inexpensive shipping are important use DHL/Airborne, UPS or Federal Express Ground (Fedex Ground is a different division from what we normally understand as Federal Express: when I miss the Federal Express Ground delivery, the carrier leaves his cellphone number on the door tag and he circles back around when I call - no tip necessary or expected for the additional service)
I purchase online from small, local (in their own locality) vendors regularly; occassionally there are "problems". (To be fair I also purchase regularly from Amazon.com and often there are also "problems").
If / when it appears that the "problem" will not be resolved, my bank issues a charge-back pending the vendor's submission of proof of receipt. I haven't lost any money since I switched from PayPal to my bank issued VISA.
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05-03-2006, 07:18 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 31
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Here are some that I go by:
For online vendors - I look at Reseller Ratings, Epinions, etc.
For eBay I look at the feedback - and the type of feedback. Someone can have 8 zillion positive feedbacks but all from buying - not selling.
Always use a credit card when possible.
Dip your toe in before you take the plunge - if you find some place with great deals it is tempting to order a lot - but I try to order the one thing I really want and see how they handle that transaction before I place a larger order.
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05-03-2006, 07:28 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 718
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Also, put the cost savings in perspective. I know we all like to save money and if it's $20 or $30 on a $100 or $100 or $200 on a $1000 item, that's one thing. But $4 or $5 on a $50 item? Its better to pay the $5 extra to the known element than to save that $5 on an unknown one.
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05-03-2006, 08:23 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 97
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Here are my tips
(1) Never pay cash.
(2) Never use yor real credit card. I always use my MBNA online-generated one-time use credit card numbers, even with big name vendors. You never know who's gonna hack into their system and steal all credit card information.
(3) Never pay cash.
I buy a lot of stuff online. Most of times I stick with known vendors even though I may pay a few bucks over.
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05-03-2006, 09:51 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2
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Some methods that I use.
The others have great ideas. This is just another that I recommend in addition.
Always verify the current status on the Better Business Bureau. A link to the verification is http://www.bbb.org/reports.asp. You may be able to use the URL to the site. Otherwise, look at the site for address or phone number information.
Good luck,
Zarlof
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05-03-2006, 10:42 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 76
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In addition to all the great points already mentioned, when i find a new cheaper vendor i've not heard of before i always make a Google search with their name. My dad bought an expensive camera from an online company without doing this first, and my first Google search on their name turned up a load of complaint sites and a lawsuit already in progress against their company!
(using a credit card as a form of insurance works well, as my dad has since had his money refunded in full by the bank)
So a Google search with the name of the company or the name followed by the word 'problem' or 'complaint' can save you some woes. Of course all companies have their customer service issues, but you can normally tell from the results whether you're looking at a problem vendor or not.
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05-03-2006, 10:56 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 439
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Read ALL the details. Ask LOTS of questions. And assume NOTHING!
I was looking at an extended battery for my PPC-6700. I looked at a very fuzzy picture of the larger, bigger, stick out the back type battery and could make out that the capacity of the battery was 1400mAh. So yes, technnically, it was extended, since the original battery was 1350mAh. A real extended battery is 1900mAh. What a rip-off.
Robb
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05-04-2006, 03:36 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 177
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I left out one important point: I have one credit card that I use only for online purchases. The credit limit is fixed (I refused bank offerred increases), and the account is only used for online merchants - my bank's computers watch my purchasing patterns: a flag is raised whenever it sees a variance from the patterns. in addition to the amount of my individual purchases, it watches the vendors the purchases are coming in from.
I've been called about questionable purchase attempts on this card from storefront retailers (I never use this account for storefront purchases), and one time I was called because their systems noticed an unusual attempt to charge a room at the Waldorf Hotel in NYC (the police then made the arrest in the hotel room).
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