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With high street stores shut and households across the UK self-isolating, many of us will be going online to do our shopping over the next few weeks.
If you're new to using online marketplaces or retailers, there's a few things to look out for to make sure you're shopping safely and getting a good deal.
Before you make your next purchase it's important to consider how urgently you need it. You should to be aware that many online retailers are prioritising more essential items, and this can slow delivery times for other orders.
Be mindful that anything you order will require key workers - from warehouse staff to delivery drivers - to get your shopping to you.
Take a look at our top five tips for ensuring a smooth online shopping experience:
You can keep up to date on our latest advice on the coronavirus outbreak over on our coronavirus advice hub.
Online shopping can be a great way to find a bargain if you shop around for the right deal.
However, Which? has uncovered a number of unscrupulous tactics used by online sellers and retailers over the years.
Don't be duped into spending more than you should - read our advice on finding a good deal.
Don't just accept the first price you see online.
It's likely that different sites will offer different prices and you might well be able to find a cheaper deal elsewhere.
Once you've decided which product you want to buy, take a look on a few other sites to make sure you're getting the best price possible. Make sure you also factor in the cost of shipping.
Make sure you check exactly what you're paying for before clicking the purchase button, and if you have signed up to a free trial, put down a reminder to review whether you want to keep it when the trial period's over.
It's a good idea to read reviewsof products before buying them, but be aware that some reviews aren't always what they seem.
Fake online reviews appear to be from a genuine customer, but are actually posted by users who have been incentivised to write positive things about a product or business.
This could lead to you buying something that has scores of five-star ratings but is actually a pretty substandard product.
So, how can you ensure the reviews you're reading are genuine?
But be wary of Amazon Choice. Our exclusive investigation found that the Amazon's Choice badge recommends potentially poor-quality products that have been artificially boosted by fake reviews.
If you're shopping on Amazon, don't choose a product on Amazon's recommendation alone.Make sure you read other reviews and do your research beforehand.
If you do come across any suspicious reviews, you can tell us in the comments on Which? Conversation.
Different payment methods will give you different levels of protection if something goes wrong with your order.
If you'd like extra protection, find out what each payment method gives you.
Debit and credit cards | If you pay on your credit card, you have the added bonus of Section 75 protection. This means that if something goes wrong with the purchase, and you've spent between £100 and £30,000, you can make a claim to get the money back from your credit card provider. If you pay with your debit card and something goes wrong, you can make a chargeback claim. This is where the bank withdraws funds that were previously deposited into the retailer's account and puts them back into yours. |
Buy now pay later (BNPL) schemes | A whole raft of retailers now give you the option to 'buy now pay later' at the checkout. Klarna, Clearpay and Laybuy are finance services that allow you to pay for items after you receive them - typically 30 days later or in a series of instalments. You may be tempted to use one of these services if you have less money coming in during lockdown, but it's important to make yourself aware of the consequences of missing repayments. |
Online marketplaces, such as Amazon and eBay, don't have the same responsibility as high street or online retailers for the safety of products sold on their sites, because you're buying through them rather than from them.
In just the past couple of years, we've found examples of dangerous electronics, smoke alarms and toys being sold on online marketplaces.
Here are three tips for avoiding unsafe or counterfeit products:
Read more: your rights if a product is recalled
Deliveries and returns may take longer during lockdown - here's what you need to check before making your purchase.
Delivery dates | If you're buying from a seller on an online marketplace, be sure to check what the delivery date is before purchasing. Products from overseas will probably take considerably longer to get to you. It's also worth checking which courier the seller or retailer is using and what the estimated delivery date is. The Post Office has said that its staff absence rates are double what they normally are at this time of year. As a result, it can't guarantee deliveries by 1pm the next working day but will prioritise Special Delivery parcels, which should be delivered by 1pm or before the end of the day. |
Returns | It's a good idea to check what the return policy is before ordering an item. All online retailers must give you a minimum of 14 days from when you receive the item to decide whether you want to keep it. Many retailers are allowing you to return online items as you normally would (either via the Post Office or by arranging a courier service to collect the item). Some, like Argos, have stopped collecting and exchanging items. It's asked customers to hold on to any unwanted items and get in touch with it again in around three weeks (at the time of writing) to process the refund. |
Contactless deliveries | If you're concerned about the safety of deliveries, Pubilc Health England has confirmed that couriers and delivery services are taking all precautionary measures to keep themselves and the public safe. Although there are many unknowns around COVID-19, other viruses aren't thought to live for very long on surfaces such as packaging. It's still good practice to wash your hands after handling any deliveries. |