Tips That Will Keep You Safe When Buying Gadgets Online

 

There’s nothing like being able to test and play with electronics at a store, but buying gadgets online has its conveniences too. Every model is at your fingertips without sitting through traffic to browse and buy it. Shopping online also makes it easy to compare prices to find the best deal.

But because buying laptops, tablets, and mobile phones involve thousands of your hard-earned money, you need to be careful about where to buy them.  

Here are some tips to stay safe when buying brand new or secondhand gadgets online.

USE TRUSTED WEBSITES

Make your purchases from reputable online shops with reliable customer reviews.

Many phone brands also have online stores where you can score their latest smartphones. Brands that aren’t selling their products online often have a list of accredited resellers on their website.

Avoid dealing with websites that you feel you can’t trust. Always double check the contact details they provide, including their physical address, phone number, and email address. Also, check their privacy statement to know if they give your information to third parties.

MAKE SURE THE WEBSITE IS SAFE

Genuine e-commerce sites are encrypted with secure sockets layer or SSL certificates to make sure that any data you enter won’t be vulnerable to hackers. Companies who want SSL certificates must go through a validation process to secure all data passed from your browser to the website server.

To know if a website is SSL certified, look for the icon of a locked padlock beside the URL in the address bar and the status bar at the bottom of your web browser. Clicking the lock icon should open a pop-up window that displays information about the SSL certificate. The URL should also start with “https” rather than “http.”

It’s even better if the site has Extended Validation (EV) certificate, which is shown as a green address bar with a lock icon. It means the company has proven its identity and legitimacy as a business.

Another thing that you have to examine is the domain spelling to make sure that you’re not dealing with a phishing site. Instead of clicking links from an online vendor’s email, type the domain in your browser to ensure that you’re connecting to your intended website.

You should also avoid buying anything using public Wi-Fi networks since these are not encrypted.

CHECK THE WARRANTY

New gadgets should always have a warranty. Ask to see it before buying.

You should have at least a service warranty, which means that you can have your item repaired if you find any defects. There should also be a replacement warranty for a limited time.

Aside from warranty information, you should also check the store’s return policy.

ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS WHEN BUYING SECONDHAND

Even if you’re looking for secondhand gadgets in established marketplaces like Shopee, OLX, and eBay, you still can’t completely avoid bogus sellers. But you can at least spot some glaring red flags that should signal you to stay away.

First, prices that are too good to be true probably are. To know if the price is right, check out different sellers to see what the usual range is. If the selling price deviates too much from that range, walk away.

Ask the seller a lot of questions. What is his reason for selling? How did he come up with the price? What are the gadget’s defects? Unresponsive sellers should be checked off your list.

OPT FOR MEET-UPS INSTEAD OF DELIVERIES

Having your new smartphone delivered at home may be convenient, but it is still safer to meet up with the seller or pick up your item from a brick and mortar store. This way, you can test your item first and inspect its condition, especially if you’re dealing with secondhand gadgets.

Check for dents and scratches on the screen. Evaluate video playback and sound clarity.  Make sure that the earphone jack and all buttons are working fine. All advertised accessories should be included in the package and work as indicated.

Your device is considered good and working properly once the deal is finalized, so be meticulous in checking its condition.

USE A SECURE PAYMENT METHOD

Major ecommerce sites accept both credit cards and debit cards, and it should be safe to transact with your cards if the site has an SSL certificate.

When buying secondhand, make sure to ask about what payment methods are accepted. Most legit sellers are fine with cash-on-delivery options and are amenable to meet-ups. There are some who also accept payments online via Coins.ph, which is a great option for those who don’t have a bank account.  Just make sure to practice due diligence to make sure you’re getting exactly what you paid for.