Tips for Online Holiday Shoppers

Christmas shopping for that last minute present for Uncle Bob in Omaha?  If you consider online shopping, you’ll still have time to order and ship a gift from an online retailer - if you’re willing to pay for express shipping.  Just don’t lose your sensibilities in the last minute Christmas shopping rush, or your last gift purchase could come back to bite you after the holidays.

Take a minute to review these tips to ensure you have a safe, secure and happy online shopping experience.  

Tips for Last Minute Online Holiday Shopping

1. Know Thy Seller

   Stick with merchants you are familiar with, especially now, when you’re rushed for time.  Before you deal with any new online merchants, it’s best to check out their reputation through sites that provide customer ratings on both their products and customer service, like Yahoo Shopping.

2. Safeguard Your Password

   When you’re setting up an account with an online store, resist the urge to choose the names of family members, birthdates, addresses or common words.  Use combinations of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols (fmty*010!).  Or pick the lyric to a favorite song and take the first letter from each word (”ibfotrwci” is ‘if birds fly over the rainbow why can’t I’?)  Change up the passwords for each online retailer account; write down the passwords and keep them out of the line of sight, on an index card or in a notebook.

3. Be Secure in the Transaction

   To shop safely online, you need to ensure your personal information has some level of protection from hackers and identity theft.  Before you enter any personal information, confirm that the retailer has security software in place.  Look for privacy and security seals on retailers’ sites, check for a padlock icon on your browser’s status bar, or better yet, verify that the web site’s URL address begins with https://

4. Protect Your Privacy

   Reputable sights should have a privacy policy to explain to customers what information is being collected, how that information is used and if it will be shared with others.  Some sites may display seals from privacy enforcement organizations like TRUSTe or BBBOnLine.  If not, just be sure you are comfortable with the retailer’s privacy policy before you proceed with an order.

5. Get All the Details

   Before you complete that online purchase, make sure you have all the pertinent information about your order, including expected delivery dates, shipping and handling fees, warranties, return policy and a customer support phone number or email address you can contact for help.

6. Express Shipping?  Read the Fine Print!

   Just because a retailer offers overnight shipping doesn’t mean your gift will arrive the next day.  Keep an eye out for any shipping or order disclaimers to verify the online store doesn’t add on a 24- or 48-hour order processing time.  Make sure if you’re paying for express shipping you can confirm that the gift will get there in time for Uncle Bob to open it Christmas morning.

7. Order by Credit Card

   If you pay for a purchase with a credit card and somehow your number falls into the wrong hands, by law, your credit card company can only hold you liable for a maximum of $50 in charges.  But if someone hijacks your debit card, chances are you won’t fare so well.  You could be liable for all the thief’s fraudulent spending, depending on how long it takes you to notice the errant charges and report them.   With Internet technology, glitches can happen, even on the most reputable web sites.  If you make a mistake and order 10 items that cost $50 each, or the site mischarges you for a transaction, it is usually fairly simple and painless to correct the error with your credit card company without any financial repercussions.  With a debit card under the same scenario, you could be left with an empty checking account until after the holidays when the bank reopens and works out the error.

8. Save Your Records

   Print out or save an electronic copy of your online transactions.  This will serve as your receipt of purchase.  You’ll need it to track the order in process, confirm shipping, rectify your credit card statement or for reference should you need to contact Customer Support about your order.  Most sites also send you confirmation/receipt for your order via email.

9. Follow Up on Your Gift

   When it comes to package shipments, it’s best to let the recipient know something is on the way.  Let Uncle Bob know when to expect delivery and whether or not the gift will come wrapped.  After the holiday, follow up with Uncle Bob to make sure the gift arrived safely and intact.  Many retailers who also have brick and mortar stores will allow you to return gifts there.  Others send prepaid shipping forms and instructions with the package should items need to be returned or exchanged.  If you paid for gift wrap, tell Uncle Bob you’d like to know about the gift presentation for future reference.  Next time you’ll know whether or not it was worth the extra $5.

Wishing you safe and secure online shopping and a very happy holiday!

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