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Online shoppingHere are some tips on the best ways to shop online.

Introduction to shopping onlineThere are many reasons why you might shop online.• You can shop at a time that suits you.• It’s easy to compare products and prices.• A wider range of bargains is often available online.• You can buy from almost anywhere in the world.• Your purchases can be delivered right to you.

There are some steps you can take to help make your online shopping safe.1. Know your retailer. Check for an email and phone number in case

there are problems.2. Make sure the website is secure. A secure address has https: (not just http:)

at the start.3. Read reviews of the product and the retailer.4. Pay by credit card or PayPal. This can provide some protection

in case of problems.5. Read the terms and conditions, including the return policy.6. Keep emails from the retailer and check the charges on your bank or

credit card statement.

Make sure your online shopping is safe

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Online shopping

Getting started with shopping onlineLet’s see how to shop online.1. Usually you will start at the website of a

retailer you trust.2. Search for what you want using the website’s Search box.3. Click Add to Basket to select something you

want to buy.4. Click Continue Shopping if there are more

items you wish to buy.5. Add items to the shopping basket as you

browse the site.6. Click Checkout when you’ve finished shopping.7. You will probably have to register some personal details with the website at

the Checkout point. These might include your name and delivery address.8. Enter your credit card or PayPal payment details.9. Choose the delivery option that suits you best. Sometimes you can pay more

for faster delivery.

If you’re searching for the best price on an item, you can try a price comparison website. There are many sites for both general shopping, and for specific services, such as travel or accommodation.

Shopping online payment methodsThere are a few things you can do to help safeguard purchases made on the internet, including: • Pay with a credit card or PayPal.• Make sure the website is secure. A secure address has https: (not just http:)

at the start.• Keep a record of the purchase so you can check your statement.• Think about saving your credit card details to the website for future use. (This

is convenient, but do it only if the device you use is your own. You don’t want someone else’s computer remembering your credit card details!)

Add to Basket

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Buying with PayPal offers some advantages:• The online retailer will never have your card or

account details.• PayPal will automatically take the payment from your bank account

or credit card.• Retailers can refund PayPal if you return an item or something goes wrong.

Consumer rights when shopping onlineIt’s important to remember that you have certain rights when buying from an online retailer. 1. There is a ‘cooling-off period’ of 14 working days, in which you can return

something if you don’t like it.2. Faulty goods can be returned for refund even after that time, but within a reasonable time.3. If the option is available, tick ‘unchecked’ on the delivery slip for your goods,

since you might not have checked whether the goods are undamaged.4. Check the retailer’s terms and conditions to see who pays the costs for

returning goods.

When you give personal details to an online retailer, you should be aware of what they can do with that information, and how they might intend to use it.• Laws govern the use of personal information by private companies. In

Australia, that is the Privacy Act 1988.• Reputable retailers have policies on how they care for and use personal

information. It’s a good idea to take the time to read them carefully.• Decide whether you want more information from the retailer. Many have a

checkbox for you to untick if you don’t.

Online shopping