Since millions of people are either stuck at home or don’t want to risk going out (for a good reason!), the popularity of online shopping has drastically increased. In fact, according to Forbes, retailers in the US reported a 68 percent increase in revenue growth on their online sales since the pandemic started. The Forbes article also mentions how there has been a staggering 146 percent growth in all online retail orders.
It’s not surprising since online shopping has already been increasingly popular even before the pandemic. It’s also a safer and more convenient way of purchasing right now.
Since you’re likely one of the people who are part of this statistic, it’s important to remember that there are still ways to improve your online shopping experience. Here they are.
Trusted Sites
Since you’re sharing your personal and even credit card information with the sites you’re doing business with, it’s of utmost importance that you make sure you’re dealing with legitimate websites. Sticking with familiar and trusted names like Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, and other big names in the retail world may be a good idea.
Make sure to check whether there are spelling errors in the URLs of the websites you use as well. According to PCMag, some scamming sites intentionally make their pages look similar to more trusted ones to get a hold of your information.
Another way to check whether the website you’re accessing is legit is by checking if it has the small lock beside the URL. That means they, at the very least, have SSL encryption installed.
Good Deals
Of course, improving your online shopping experience is not all about building up your security. It’s also equally important to finding yourself the best deals out there when you’re looking into buying something.
Coupon codes are an excellent way of saving your money when buying from a website. Sometimes, you’ll get them in your email or by logging into a website you haven’t visited for a while. Some coupon codes are seasonal.
If you don’t want the hassle of scouring your inbox or waiting for a specific time, apps like Honey will do all the hard work for you and make sure you’re getting the best deal at check out. Whether you’re buying groceries from Walmart, browsing women’s clothing stores, or even booking tickets online, these apps will get the best deal and apply it to your purchase.
Card Statements
It’s worth adding another layer of security to your purchases online. Regularly checking your credit card statements and histories is one of the retroactive ways to pinpoint whether there has been a breach. You also don’t need to wait for your bill at the end of the month. You can go online and use your bank’s website to check your recent transactions. If something doesn’t add up, address the matter quickly by getting in touch with your bank.
It’s also advisable to avoid using your debit card since, if breached, the scammers will have direct access to the funds in your bank.
Online shopping has become popular and is showing no signs of slowing down, even after the pandemic subsides. It’s essential to keep yourself safe and also look for the best deals to make the most of the experience. Good luck!
