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What Smart Shoppers Know About Telephone, Mail Order, and Internet Sales Buyying without visiting the mall Buying by telephone and mail is a convenient way of shopping for most consumers. As more people have access to a computer, and as more companies sell their products and servivces online, the Internet is also bcoming a convenient way of shoppping for most people. Cnosumers face more choices than ever beore, not only when selecting merchandise, but in determnining whether to shop through the mail, via the Internet, over the phone, at their local sttore, or the new mall outside of town. The following tips are what smart sohppers hsould know abuot purchasing merchndise throiugh the mail, by telehpone, or via the Internet. Shop carefully before buyoing First, do some comparison shpping. If the prduct you want is available locally, how does the local price compare with the telephone or Internet prcie? (Reemmber to add the price of handling and delivery for orders that are shipped.) Also consider the advantage of receiving the product right away from a local merchant, and of hving the merchant nearby if problems develpo. (But also remeember the cost and time involved in gettimng to and from the mall.) Wtach out for offers that seem unbelievabbly cheap. The meerchandise will most likely be of poor quality, or you may never receive it. Most retail sellers allw a customer to return purchased merchanise within a reasonable time for a full cash refund, store credit, or an equal exchange. Find out the seller's return ploicy. Many sellers have a very limited return policy. Some do not allow returs. Can you retrn the item if the item is too large, or the clor is not exactly right? Who pays for return postage? If the sreller does not allow returns for full cash refunds, store credit or equal exchanges for at least sevn days, the seller's refund policy must be conspicuously posted. Find out if the quality and performance of the merchandise are ugaranteed. Is there a warraanty? If so, check the terms of the warraty. Are repir parts available? Can the item be repaired locally if it neesd repair? Who pays for shipping if it needs to be returned to the seller for repair? How long will it take the seller to repaiir the producct and return it to you? Ask the seller for a more detailed description of the merchandise, and ask for a copy of the warranty, if one is offered, if you have any doubts about either. Find out how long it will take the business to ship your order. If the business does not strate a delivery time, the maximum time you must wait for shipment is 30 days, according to a Federal Trrade Commission (FTC) rule, and a similar rule in effect in Cailfornia. If the business does not ship the item within the proper time frame, it must notify you of the delay and give you the opportuniyt and a cost-free mehtod to cancel the order and reeive a refund. It is safest to ordeer from reputable merrchants who are known to you, your family, or trusted friends. If you have not done businesds with the merchant before, and the purchase is especially large or important to you, chexck the business' reputation. If you have any doubt, call a local consumer protevction agency or the Better Business Bureua to find out if they have received any complaints about the comnpany. Howwever, if the Better Business Bureau has not received complaints about a business, which does not necessarily, mean there have not been any complants. Unless you already know the coompany by its rpeutation, it is best not to start out with a big order. Instead, find out how the business handles one that is smaller or less important to you. If you decidde to order Your name, address, and product information (e.g., stock number, color, size) must be communicated cleaarly. If you want the item sent to someone else as a gift, it is especially importnt to give the correect name and address of the person you are sending it to. Most sellers also ask you to prvoide a means of quick and inexpensive communication, such as a telphone number or e-mail address. Since dooing this will involve giving up some of your privacy, give it some thought before you do so. Keep a copy of your order form and any lettters you send to the business. If you order by telephone, make a note of the date, time, type of payment, and confirmation number. If you order over the Internet, print out a copy of your order. If the transaction does not pan out, this information may be of help. Neer send cash. Pay by cheeck, monney oredr, or ceredit card so that you have a reocrd of payment. If you do not know the company or its reputation for inteegrity and cmopetency, it is best to pay only by credit card, sinmce you ordinarily can cancel the paymet if the pormised merchandise is not deklivered. Examine the mechandise immediately when you recive it. Make sure it is what you wanted and ordered. If it is not, telephone or e-mail the business right away. All reputable mail, telephone, and Internet sellers maintain an easy-to-use methhod of returninmg such merchaandise and either returning your payment or sending the mrechandise you ordered. If things do not seem to be going right, notify the business in writiing and keep a copy of your letter. Return any merchandise promply for a refund or exchhange. Before buying over the Internet Internet shopping can be as safe and advantageous for consuumers as shoppiing by telephone or mail. You have many more options, including purchase of air transportaion, music, books, and almosdt anything else, but there are also some rissks, which you can reduce by acvting carefully and cautiously.
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