Online Shopping: 7 Things to Do Before Checking Out
Sometimes, preventing bad purchases or impulse buys is as easy as doing some steps before completing your order.
Why should you not shop online? Great bargains. Wide selections. Fast shipping. Guaranteed privacy and security. Simple and primarily easy return processes. Everything you want to buy is there, minus having to deal with other people.
But we all get too excited when we have found the item we plan on buying. You’ve eyed that product for quite a while now, and there’s a deal that’s too good to resist. It’s a given that you want to be ahead of everyone else to get their hands on it. But of course, some things get in the way of finally getting what you want. Many of these are steps you have overlooked while you were too eager to check out.
Here are some of the things to do before checking out from an e-tailer:
Read the product description
Many international goods have product descriptions that are machine-translated into English. This means a number of them need to be read at least twice to make sure you are getting precisely what is shown on the product image. Not reading thoroughly is more likely going to make any product return requests more complicated or even not possible.
Look for better promotions
Looking for better promotions is going to work if you’re after popular products. Don’t count on promos too much if you’re after niche goods. Some sellers out there will be more than eager to do away with stock at lower prices or better bundles. It won’t take a few minutes of your time, and your budget will be all the better for it.
Double or triple-check what you have selected
A number of e-stores have a sorting function that puts the price of the cheapest item upfront. This is the case with online store displays that provide package variations. You’d surely come across stories of dissatisfied shoppers expecting a thing – only for something else to come to their doorstep. Situations like this can be averted by taking a second look at the selected product type.
Check the shipment type or carrier to be used
We get too excited sometimes, and that excitement gets flushed out the moment we find out that the courier takes a month or two before delivering what we bought. Set your proper expectations by looking up the logistics from wherever your item is sourced. Can you get it somewhere else faster, even with a bit of markup? If what you want can’t be found anywhere else, then waiting is your only option.
Sort out your vouchers
E-store systems usually apply discount vouchers when possible. This is normally based on what’s the most used at the time or what is about to expire soon. You might have a discount voucher that gets you more savings, but you’ll have to edit the order and use that before you completely check out. Your inner penny-pincher will be glad to spend less on your purchase.
Confirm your shipping address
Planning to deliver what you’ve bought to yourself or to someone else? Make sure you have updated your address on the e-store or e-marketplace’s end. In case you are sending a gift, double-check if you got their place details right. This is going to help save you calls and emails to customer service in case your parcel arrived where it shouldn’t.
Review your payment type
Debit cards might not have enough balance, and credit cards get maxed out. Always be mindful of spending wherever and whenever. You don’t want your order failing because you don’t have enough to pay for it. When in doubt, go for the payment method you have least used.
This concludes with some of the simple things you can do before checking out.