Tips to help you become a smart online shopper and save money
The events of 2020 might have negatively affected different facets of our lives, but they had some positive aspects to them. The ecommerce industry is one area that benefited from all the COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing as more people turned to online shopping in a bid to stop the spread of the virus. The ecommerce industry is predicted to continue growing, not out of necessity but because many people now realise the benefits that come with it. It is convenient, allows you to compare prices, and you can do discreet shopping, among other advantages. E-retail revenues are predicted to grow to $6.54 trillion by 2022. But, this growth comes with its faults: hackers are waiting to steal from you, and retailers are waiting to take advantage of you by selling to you at dubious prices. Here are some tips to help you become a smart online shopper and save money while shopping online.
Security tips for online shoppers
Online shopping is supposed to be a very safe activity, but individuals make it unsafe with their online shopping habits, their internet, etc. Cybercriminals rely on these habits to scam you; they depend on you using the same or weak passwords to log into your accounts or using unsecured public Wi-Fi to access your private accounts. As consumer activity increases online, so do hackers’ efforts to target naïve and unsuspecting users and retailers, resulting in tremendous losses by those who dare fall victim. However, internet scams shouldn’t deter you from enjoying all the advantages that come with online shopping. Let’s look at how you can protect yourself and become a smart online shopper to save money and avoid becoming victims to scams.
Buy from reputable retailers
Many random sites are cropping up from nowhere and attract shoppers with the promise of low prices and massive discounts. Most of these online stores are run by online crooks who are ready to steal from you. These sites are designed to inject malware into your device and steal your data and money. So, stay away from sites that seem too good to be true, and stick with those you are familiar with.
Add an extra layer of protection
To be completely safe when shopping online, ensure all your payments are made over a secure and encrypted network. Before you even go to a shopping site, ensure you have installed a good Virtual Private Network (VPN). How a VPN works is that it encrypts all your communication, both incoming and outgoing, ensuring that no one can steal your payment details or intercept your messages. Also, ensure you don’t log into your online bank accounts and shopping sites while on unsecured public Wi-Fi in cyber cafes, coffee shops, or airports.
To be a smart online shopper make sure you don’t open emails from unknown sources
More often than not, people get hacked because of being ignorant. Scammers use phishing emails to steal money or data from unsuspecting victims. If you receive an unfamiliar email containing an attachment or link, it is advisable not to open or download it. Instead, open your browser and reach out to the retailer directly. These links or attachments introduce malware such as ransomware into your device or network. They can also lead you to malicious websites that will prompt you to input your login credentials, and eventually steal your data.
Shop from a website with SSL
Reputable eCommerce sites will always keep your data secure by offering SSL technology at checkout. Before entering your bank or credit card details, ensure the site has a little lock symbol on the side of the web address bar. The lock icon shows that the site uses SSL technology.
Money saving tips
Online vendors seem to be working extra hard to find ways to score big with buyers. That’s why you need to get smart and ensure that you are getting a better deal, every time you shop online. Here are some savvy online shopping tips to help you save big while shopping online:
Do bulk shopping
Buying things in bulk has its perks; it minimizes package waste, saves you cash on shipping costs, and often earns you better discounts. Instead of buying several items from one retailer, on separate occasions, choose all your items and have them packaged and shipped together as one package. Also, look out for the end of season sales and take advantage of that.
Search for discounts
In most cases, the item you are buying or the vendor may be having coupons, discounts, and cashback offers, though you will not readily know about them. However, by doing a simple Google search and checking around the site, you can see any discount offered that you may have otherwise overlooked. I would also highly recommend the browser add on Honey. Honey helps you save around £100.00 every year by searching for money saving voucher codes as soon as you hit the check out. You also get cashback for every purchase you make that has signed up to their cashback scheme, win win!
Always compare prices
Even when you think you’ve found a better deal on a particular product, it’s advisable always to compare prices to be certain that you’re getting the best available deal. Use the different price comparison tools available online to get the best deals from reputable sites. Some vendors use discount codes, which can help you save reasonably good money. And, some discount codes even offer free shipping and fixed or percentage discounts.
Minimise packaging waste
Buying different things from the same vendor, on various occasions and requiring separate packaging promotes packaging waste. If you are shopping online from the same vendor, ask them to package your stuff and ship it as one package. Let us minimise our carbon footprints and strive towards a greener earth.
The number of online shoppers is on the rise. In 2021 alone, over 2.14 billion shoppers are expected to buy their goods and services online. There are several reasons people choose to shop online; some do it due to convenience and others’ reduced prices offered by online retailers. Reasons to buy aside, the increased number of digital shoppers also means an increased number of cybercriminals hiding on the internet, waiting for the perfect opportunity to steal from unsuspecting shoppers. If you want to enjoy all the benefits of online shopping without being scammed, either by cybercriminals or online retailers who want to pocket as much profit as possible, follow the above steps to become a smart online shopper and stay safe, while also saving some money as you shop online.
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Guest post by Thetechfools.com
