You probably did the research and know by now what to look for in a retractable garden hose reel. But do you know how to shop for one safely online?
Online shopping has been a very convenient service all over the world. You can get anything you want and have it delivered on your doorstep! No need to step out of the house! But shopping online is not just about being able to find the best discounts and prices.
You also have to make sure that you are buying authentic products, that your products will be delivered on time, that there is a legit return & refund policy, and most of all, that your financial details will remain safe and secured.
So, if you want to be able to get your hands on a good retractable garden hose reel, you need to know if you are dealing with a legit and reliable online seller. You also need to do some security measures from your end to make sure that your financial information and other data will not be stolen.
Retractable Garden Hose Reel Online Shopping Tips
Make sure you shop using a secure connection
It is always best to do your online shopping using your wireless connection at home. When you use a public network, your data and financial transactions can easily be compromised. Most public wifi connections are not secure and hackers can easily access the data of anyone who is using it.
Know the seller
Most stores now have their own online stores – if a local store has its own website, you can assume that shopping there is safe. After all, you can just visit the physical store and return the retractable garden hose reel if you encounter a problem.
However, there may be times when you would order out of town or even out of the country. This could mean that you would be buying from a store that you are not familiar with. If this is the case, make sure that you take the time to read reviews and ratings.
If there are no ratings, check out websites that do reviews on e-stores. If you can not find anything online, you should order from somewhere else.
Look for the lock
Before entering any personal or banking information, make sure that the website is secure. An easy telltale sign is to check for the padlock icon on the web address bar. The web address should also start with an “https” and not an “http” – this ensures that the website is safe and all data will be encrypted for added protection.
Use credit, not debit
Debit cards are not as secure as credit cards when it comes to online shopping. So when it is time to pay for the retractable garden hose reel you ordered, use your credit card instead. Credit card purchases have a liability limit when it comes to unauthorized charges. Debit cards do not have this protection.
If you think you will be doing a lot of online shopping, it is best to get a separate credit card for that purpose. This way, if the credit card gets compromised, you can shut it down easily without affecting your other transactions.
Double-check the shipping terms
You may think you got your retractable garden hose reel at a very good discount but then you get slapped with an enormous shipping fee and you end up making an expensive purchase. Check which carriers the shop is using and if they can provide insurance and tracking numbers.
Time to shop!
Now that you know the right and safe way to do your shopping online, it’s time to get yourself the retractable garden hose reel that you have always wanted!
