Step Guide to Online Shopping

Step 1. choose where

Typical fear pioneer of online shopping: "The web is full of scams: pay and get nothing!"

Decide on the online store. What do you want to buy? Give preference to specialized sites. Since the choice of clothing online supermarket, which sells a little of everything, a priori less than in stores specializing in fashion. The same is true for electronics.

Asia, Europe, America or Russia? From where there is a shop, independent delivery terms. For example, in Asian retailers are usually free delivery to CIS countries. In the case of European and American vendors will likely have to address agents.

Here you will find an overview of different online stores →

Buy in shops with a good reputation. For information about a particular site can be found at forums shopaholics. Read reviews. If the prevailing negative, give up the purchase on this website.

Step 2. choose when

Typical fear pioneer of online shopping: "It's expensive. Pay per order, Pay per delivery, intermediary to pay... "

If you buy at the right time, you can save considerably. Remember a few concepts.

«Black Friday» It gives the start of Christmas sales. This is the first Friday after the US Thanksgiving Day (it falls somewhere between 23 and 29 November). On this day, discounts reach 80%, and the people in the evening takes a turn to the shops.

"Cyber ​​Monday" - Monday after "Black Friday." On this day tsenopad happens in online stores: coming to work, people continue to buy more gifts. there are certain Rules shopping "Cyber ​​Monday».

Private sale - short-term action online shops for registered users, during which advertised discounts of up to 90%. Motives: the desire to sell unclaimed merchandise and PR.

Apart from this, online stores often sell-Times for the holidays. So, on the first Monday in September in the United States celebrated Labor Day. On this day, great discounts offer clothing stores. Asian sellers cut prices in the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year falls on the period between 21 January and 21 February).

On the other seasonal discounts in shops is available here →

Step 3. choose what

Typical fear pioneer of online shopping: "You buy blindly, but the thing can not go, do not fit into the interior ..."

Having defined the store register or log in via social networks. If Facebook or Twitter you use an alias, be sure to edit a profile: when you receive the parcel will have to show a passport.

Remember, even if the interface is translated into Russian and shop prices are displayed in rubles, site search can not respond to requests Cyrillic. Look better in English. It is also easier to find, use filters. Typically, products are sorted by price, size, color and other parameters.

use applications for online shopping. They will not only find the right thing, but also save money when buying and track delivery.

Always read the product description: material characteristics, size, weight and so on. Thing in the photo may be visually different from the one in my life! It is not changed. Just for the catalog photographs pros do: good light, in which the play of color, Macro, under which it is difficult to assess the real scale, and so on.

Particular caution should be with clothes. Saw pictures a la "expectation and reality"? To avoid such blunders, be honest with yourself and do not buy things not on the figure.

Dimensions may vary not only from country to country and from brand to brand. So be sure to use the size of the table. They have all the major online retailers. Keep a tailor's tape. It will help you to determine your size. A correct way to measure yourself help Now this article.

Finally, read the comments of other users. Write that thing "malomerit"? Take one size larger.

Step 4. of placing

Typical fear pioneer of online shopping: "I know nothing about, yet will press the wrong way."

Filling the basket, proceed to checkout. Typically, stores have detailed instructions - just follow the prompts.

Fill out the order form to the merchant language. Specify a valid phone number and email, to the store manager you would like to contact. Do not ignore the field for notes, if any. Specify your special requirements: "Dual-layer bubble film, please."

By entering personal information, make sure you are on a secure page - HTTPS and a special icon in the address bar of the browser. This is one of the basic safety rules when making purchases on the Internet.

Step 5. pay

Typical fear pioneer of online shopping, "Enter the card number? Never!"

Online shopping usually involves non-cash payments. Pay cash to the courier usually offer only large domestic retailers. Therefore, before you commit the transaction, look infographic explaining how credit cards work.

It is safest to attach bank card for electronic payment systems such as PayPal. It provides additional security guarantees: payments are made through a secure connection, the user does not enter card details on other sites. When buying on eBay money comes at the expense of the seller only after you confirm delivery of the fact or after the time for the opening of a dispute.

There are other how to protect the money on the card when paying online. For example, connect the SMS-banking and to track the movement of funds.

What if the card deducted the extra money? Algorithm actions described in detail here. The main thing - do not panic, and as soon as possible contact with an online store. An error occurred due to currency fluctuations. The money returned.

Step 6. Select the delivery and intermediaries

Typical fear pioneer of online shopping: "If the delivery is free, where is the guarantee that I will get the order intact?"

When he reached the section «Delivery» (shipping), specify the following:

1. Does the seller sends the goods to your country / city?
2. What delivery methods provides online store and what is their value?
3. Can I as a recipient to indicate a third party?

If the answer to the first question is no, contact your reseller. Intermediaries with online shopping - it is companies that provide an address for delivery of goods to the US and Europe and forwarded purchase their owners. The service is paid. Finding your way among the many mediators help this article.

Intermediaries will forward you not only your order, but also can help with registration of the customs declaration. Attention! Do not underestimate the value of goods for customs: if something happens, return the money will be extremely difficult for him.

Direct delivery may be by mail, transport companies, courier services or by self-delivery. The first and last method is usually the most cost. Thus, in most Asian online stores ordinary postal delivery is free, but not so on EMS, UPS, DHL, FedEx and other express services. Also usually delivery is worthless if the store in your town there is a point of issue of the goods.

For some retailers in principle, the data of the payer and recipient coincide. Clarify this point in the FAQ before you buy if you plan to, for example, to make a gift and ordered something in someone else's name and address.

Step 7. Track and parcel

Typical fear pioneer of online shopping: "Sending lost!"

After dispatch of the goods the seller usually gives the buyer the tracking number for parcel - tracking code.

If the delivery is "Mail of Russia", the monitor the movement of boxes can be cherished in her official website. In other cases it is convenient to use aggregators - websites or apps. They collect information from various resources, tracking and alert on changes.

Tracking number is not only important to know when you get the order. According to the rules of "Mail of Russia" if the postal item is no tracking code, it weighs less than two kilograms (the so-called fine package), and the dimensions used to lower it to the mailbox, you notice it is not issued: the order simply put in your box, as an ordinary letter or newspaper.

Force majeure

After receiving the notice, do not rush joyfully missed parcel at the post office and a home run. Make sure that it is all right: there are no dents or tampering. If so, you need to open the package on the spot.

Detailed instructions what to do if the parcel arrived with defects →

Worse, if the package does not come. In this case, you must go to the post office and write a statement on the wanted list mailing. By written request must necessarily attach a receipt, which, in turn, must request from the seller, after all he is the sender of the parcel.

Detailed instructions what to do if the "Mail of Russia" has lost the package →

Cherished premise on his hands - not in a hurry to open it. Not to be unfounded in the event of disputes (shortage order, the goods do not match the description and so on), clear opening parcels on a mobile phone.

Furthermore, according to Article 26.1 of the Law "On Protection of Consumers' Rights:

1. The consumer is entitled to return goods of improper quality, require its replacement or to receive monetary compensation.
2. The consumer has the right to refuse the goods of good quality, within seven days of receipt, and if the delivery It has not been given written information about the procedure and terms of repayment - within three months from the date of transfer goods. Provided that the saved presentation and consumer properties of things.

Detailed instructions how to return the product to your online store →

In any unclear situation to buy anything right. To clarify the situation or not, and the thing will remain.

Now you are ready for online shopping. Share in the comments of his life hacking.