| 1. |
Trust your instincts
If you don't feel comfortable buying or bidding an item over the web, or if you feel pressured to place your order, may be you should not. |
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| 2. |
Be knowledgeable about web-based auction
Take special care to familiarise yourself not only with the rules and policies of the auction site itself but with the legal terms (such as warranties, refund policies, etc.) of the seller's item that you wish to bid on. |
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| 3. |
Double check pricing
Whether the product is being sold as new or used, be suspicious of prices that are too good to be true. Also consider carefully whether you may be paying too much for an item, particularly if you are bidding through an auction site. |
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| 4. |
Find and read the privacy policy
Read the privacy policy carefully to find out what information the seller is gathering from you, how the information will be used, and how you can stop the process. If a site does not have a privacy policy posted, you may not want to do business with that site. If it does have a privacy policy, there will probably be a link to it from the seller's home page. |
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| 5. |
Review the return, refund, and shipping and handling policies as well as the other legal terms
If you can't find them, ask the seller through an email or telephone call to indicate where they are on the site or to provide them to you in writing. |
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| 6. |
Check that the Internet connections are secure
Before you give your payment information, there are various icons and software programmes that indicate that security software is in place. |
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| 7. |
Update your browser and operating system
Keep your browser and operating system updated with the latest available service packs issued by the software company to ensure that the browser and operating systems security weakness or bugs are fixed immediately. |
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| 8. |
Print the terms
You should print out and date a copy of terms, conditions, warranties, item description, company information, even confirming emails, and save them with your records of purchase. |
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| 9. |
Insure the safe delivery of your item
If you are concerned about the safety of your package if there is no one home to receive it, ask whether you can specify that the shipper must receive a signature before leaving the package. Or, it may be safer to have the package delivered to your office. |
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| 10. |
Inspect your purchase
Inspect your purchase carefully as soon as you receive it. Contact the seller as soon as possible if you discover a problem with it. Tell the seller in writing about any problem that you are concerned with, ask for a repair of refund, and keep a copy of your correspondence. |
