17 November 2020
This year, most of us will be doing our shopping online whether that’s for treats for ourselves or buying gifts for loved ones. But while it’s very convenient, it’s easy to get caught out if you’re not careful. UK consumers were defrauded by as much as £2.5 million by online scammers in 2020.
Here are some points to consider before clicking on that Buy now button.
All online sellers are very good at highlighting their deals to grab your attention. Try to avoid buying things on impulse as you may end up with something you don’t need that isn’t suitable or, worse, regret the purchase and have no way of returning it for a refund.
If you find yourself fretting about missing out on a short-term deal, take a moment to pause and assess if the deal is actually right for you.
Essentially, have you heard of the seller before? If you’ve found them via an ad on Facebook, check to see what the company reviews are like before you buy. Search for the company name through sites like Trustpilot and see what others are saying about them.
You can check if there's a locked padlock alongside the web address. This shows the connection to the website is secure and gives a degree of protection that you're on a genuine website and not a cloned version.
It’s no fun discovering the the delivery charge of the super cheap item you want doubles the cost. Similarly, finding out the item you’ve just bought won’t arrive for another three weeks can be incredibly frustrating. Make sure to check the delivery timescales and costs before you buy.
Even if something looks great in the product photos, it may not be exactly what it seems. Reading the description can highlight things you should know before you buy, such as if you need any other accessories to actually use it. Don’t forget to check the product dimensions too; there are many people who didn’t and ended up with a much smaller – or far larger – item than they expected!
If there are reviews available for the product, make sure to read them. Start with the most recent ones to get an idea of what the product is currently like. It’s always worth checking the bad reviews too, just to see if there is anything you should know before you buy.
In the unlikely event you need to return something, you don’t want to get caught out by an unusual returns policy. Check it before you buy to avoid a potentially nasty surprise later.
Depending on what you’re looking to buy, you may want to check to see if the seller is a member of a governing body and so bound by a code of conduct. At Healthcare Pro, we are members of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), which means we are trusted sellers bound by a strict code of practice. This code of conduct means we will never try to force you into buying something you don’t need. You can find out more about the BHTA and the code of practice all members are required to follow here.
If you’re looking to buy any kind of aid or device to help you maintain your independence, it can be tricky to know if something is right for you. Even if the product description sounds right and the reviews seem good, sometimes you just want to see a product first.
However, our Expert Advice Service can helps. It's run by a team of Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants who are on hand with help and advice to make sure you find the product you really need.
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