| |  | | | | | | |  | | SHOPPING >> Advice & Tips | | | Advice and Tips when buying over the Internet | | | | | Six steps to e-shopping in safety: | | | | 1 | Ensure the website is secure. Look for a padlock image at the bottom right of your browser. If the padlock is closed it's a secure site. | | | | 2 | Before confirming your purchase, check that the address of the site has changed from http://www to htts://www. This means your details are scrambled. | | | | 3 | Legitimate companies give their name, address and phone number on the site. If you are worried about buying from them, call them. | | | | 4 | Check for returns and refund policies and whether the company sells information to other firms. | | | | 5 | Look out for the Which? magazine, Web Trader Logo. This means the company is following Which? guidelines on shopping. For more advice try The Internet Fraud Watch or The National Consumer's League. | | | | 6 | Make a printout of the site and your transaction as proof of purchase. | | | Shopping Resouces | | An honest opinion | | Mail-order catalogues | | Search for a product | | If your finding advice on services & offers to be a little too biased, try the Price Offers site. It is an independent high street review service, providing news on special offers. | | If you prefer to buy the old fashion way - mail order, then visit Catalink. Being an on-line catalogue resource site, they can put you in touch with more than 200 UK mail-order firms. Most catalogues are available FREE of charge, with no obligation to buy. | | Finding a particular product difficult to trace? At British Shopping.com you'll find the British Shopping links Directory, which will help in a search for a particular product. | | | | | | | | | | TIPS | | | | Buying Clothes
When buying clothes, look out for sites that offer size charts so you get a perfect fit. |
| Buying Holidays
Visit travel sites midweek for last-minute weekend departures, but be aware that Tuesday to Thursday are the cheapest days to travel.. |
| Ordering Food
When ordering food, find out the company's policy on goods that arrive damaged or unacceptable. | | | ON-LINE ADVICE | | | | | | For all the very latest news and consumer advice about buying over the Internet see Which? Online. | | | |
