Interview with PC Magazine
Posted: 25th Sep 2006
1: Can you tell me who you are and what do you do?
Shopsafe.co.uk is a consumer guide for online shoppers. We offer advice on how to shop safely and give precautions for shopping online. The site also lists online shops that have met our code of practice, along with the best deals and bargains offered by these retailers. We have even discreetly bought items from some of the retailers on the site to make sure they deliver what they promise.
2: Generally speaking, how safe is shopping on the Internet? How safe is it compared to High St. shopping?
Shopping online is no different to shopping on the high street. Just as you don’t let anyone else see your PIN number, and you don’t throw your receipt on the floor when you’re at the shops, with some basic precautions shopping online can be just as fun and as safe an experience.
3: When shopping on the Net what hints and tips can you give our readers re: the sort of software/hardware they need to have?
Shopping online doesn’t require anything other than a computer that can get you onto the internet. What can help though is having a printer, so you can print out your order confirmation messages. You get these once you’ve placed an order on a web site, and they should show the items you’ve ordered, the total price and the expected delivery time. It’s always worth keeping hold of these until your order has arrived.
4: How can a shopper protect themselves, what sort of things do they need to look out for?
When entering your credit card number, or any other sensitive information, make sure that the web page that you’re on is secure. This is indicated by a padlock appearing in the bottom of your browser window, and the address bar at the top should say https:// (it usually says http://).
If you’re in a hurry it’s easy to forget to take basic precautions when shopping online. But before you click that “buy now” button you should:
• Check the delivery times and prices
• Make sure you can find contact details, including a phone number and an address, not a PO Box.
• Pay with a credit card, this can give you extra protection
• Look out for accreditations – if you see a Shopsafe logo on the web site you know we’ve checked the site out for you.
And after you’ve placed the order make sure you log out of the web site. If there’s anything you’re not sure of don’t be afraid to give the shop a call, they can put your mind at rest.
5: What sort of problems can an unwary shopper come across if they're not too careful?
Unfortunately there are unscrupulous people out there trying to rip you off, trying to get your credit card number or personal details, people who aren’t going to deliver your goods or deliver shoddy products.
6: If a shopper falls foul of one of the above - what then?
The first thing to do is to contact the merchant – the site they bought from. If the problem is that they’ve been overcharged, or the goods haven’t arrived then these are the best people to talk to.
If that doesn’t resolve the problem you need to go to your bank or credit card company to let them know what’s happening, and to cancel any payments.
You can also contact Trading Standards (http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/) , Consumer Direct (http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/) and the Office of Fair Trading (http://www.oft.gov.uk/).
If the web site you are having a problem with is a Shopsafe-listed site then please contact us and we’ll do our best to sort it out.
7: One of the problems when you're searching for a shop online is searching for the right retail outlet. Googling a search can often bring up a forest of unsuitable selections so that the shop you are really after might be hidden on p.74 of the search results. How can a UK person target his/her shopping searches?
As well as Google try the shopping directories and the price comparison sites. They all list only reputable shops.
8: Does Internet shopping rights differ from High St. rights? How about trading abroad?
Whether you buy on the Internet or the High Street you’re covered by the Sale of Goods Act, which ensures goods you buy are fit for the purpose you bought them. If you shop online you’re also covered by the Distance Selling Regulations, which entitles you to a ‘cooling off’ period, as well as allowing you to cancel your order in certain conditions.
Buying from abroad is very different; they have their own rules and regulations. If you are going to buy from a non-UK site make sure they offer the same guarantees a UK site offers. And look out for extra costs such as VAT and delivery.
Shopsafe.co.uk is a consumer guide for online shoppers. We offer advice on how to shop safely and give precautions for shopping online. The site also lists online shops that have met our code of practice, along with the best deals and bargains offered by these retailers. We have even discreetly bought items from some of the retailers on the site to make sure they deliver what they promise.
2: Generally speaking, how safe is shopping on the Internet? How safe is it compared to High St. shopping?
Shopping online is no different to shopping on the high street. Just as you don’t let anyone else see your PIN number, and you don’t throw your receipt on the floor when you’re at the shops, with some basic precautions shopping online can be just as fun and as safe an experience.
3: When shopping on the Net what hints and tips can you give our readers re: the sort of software/hardware they need to have?
Shopping online doesn’t require anything other than a computer that can get you onto the internet. What can help though is having a printer, so you can print out your order confirmation messages. You get these once you’ve placed an order on a web site, and they should show the items you’ve ordered, the total price and the expected delivery time. It’s always worth keeping hold of these until your order has arrived.
4: How can a shopper protect themselves, what sort of things do they need to look out for?
When entering your credit card number, or any other sensitive information, make sure that the web page that you’re on is secure. This is indicated by a padlock appearing in the bottom of your browser window, and the address bar at the top should say https:// (it usually says http://).
If you’re in a hurry it’s easy to forget to take basic precautions when shopping online. But before you click that “buy now” button you should:
• Check the delivery times and prices
• Make sure you can find contact details, including a phone number and an address, not a PO Box.
• Pay with a credit card, this can give you extra protection
• Look out for accreditations – if you see a Shopsafe logo on the web site you know we’ve checked the site out for you.
And after you’ve placed the order make sure you log out of the web site. If there’s anything you’re not sure of don’t be afraid to give the shop a call, they can put your mind at rest.
5: What sort of problems can an unwary shopper come across if they're not too careful?
Unfortunately there are unscrupulous people out there trying to rip you off, trying to get your credit card number or personal details, people who aren’t going to deliver your goods or deliver shoddy products.
6: If a shopper falls foul of one of the above - what then?
The first thing to do is to contact the merchant – the site they bought from. If the problem is that they’ve been overcharged, or the goods haven’t arrived then these are the best people to talk to.
If that doesn’t resolve the problem you need to go to your bank or credit card company to let them know what’s happening, and to cancel any payments.
You can also contact Trading Standards (http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/) , Consumer Direct (http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/) and the Office of Fair Trading (http://www.oft.gov.uk/).
If the web site you are having a problem with is a Shopsafe-listed site then please contact us and we’ll do our best to sort it out.
7: One of the problems when you're searching for a shop online is searching for the right retail outlet. Googling a search can often bring up a forest of unsuitable selections so that the shop you are really after might be hidden on p.74 of the search results. How can a UK person target his/her shopping searches?
As well as Google try the shopping directories and the price comparison sites. They all list only reputable shops.
8: Does Internet shopping rights differ from High St. rights? How about trading abroad?
Whether you buy on the Internet or the High Street you’re covered by the Sale of Goods Act, which ensures goods you buy are fit for the purpose you bought them. If you shop online you’re also covered by the Distance Selling Regulations, which entitles you to a ‘cooling off’ period, as well as allowing you to cancel your order in certain conditions.
Buying from abroad is very different; they have their own rules and regulations. If you are going to buy from a non-UK site make sure they offer the same guarantees a UK site offers. And look out for extra costs such as VAT and delivery.
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