Shop Savvy Online Directory

Rest assured that all of the sites in the featured listings at ShopSavvy Online have been vetted to comply with all of the points mentioned below and more. If you are wishing to purchase from a store not listed with us, follow our top ten tips to safe online shopping.

Our top ten list for safe internet shopping.

Professional online shops should contain;

1. Secure Sites. Look for the 'https' label in the address bar and the little yellow padlock at the bottom of your browser before entering any personal information into a web form. Click here for more information on secure sites.



2. Privacy. Look for the privacy policy of the site, this should spell out exactly what the company will do with the information you provide and how it will be stored.



3. Delivery. If your item is a tangible product that needs to be delivered, look for information on the delivery service. Who will be delivering your goods and when?; are deliveries insured against loss or damage?



4. Contact. Check the contacts page; if you need to contact the company afterwards for after sales support do they have a phone number, address and e-mail facilities?



5. Returns. Does the store give a returns and refund policy? Check how they will handle faulty or unsuitable goods and how they will give you your money back.



6. Products. Make sure the site gives clear product descriptions and pictures of the actual product. If you are buying a second hand item, a picture of a brand new product is of little use to you.



7. Credit Card. Pay by credit card, you will be given protection and insurance against many problems by your credit card company. Check your policy for details.



8. Records. Keep a record of your transaction in case you need after sales service or assistance. It's a good idea to print off the purchase details page which should contain all relevant information. Save the URL of the store to your favourites folder so it's easy to find if you need to check on your order or request further information.



9. Shop Around. If the deal you have found seems too good to be true then it probably is. Don't be fooled by the bargain of a lifetime and phoney testimonials, you will more than likely end up with cheap imitations of what you expected.



10. Common Sense. Do you really want to purchase from a store that charges you in Yen and uses a hotmail e-mail account? How will they respond to a request for a refund when your item turns up faulty or hasn't arrived at all three weeks later?