7 tips for online shopping

Here are our tips to ensure your online shopping goes smoothly.

Know who you’re dealing with

If you’re buying from an online business, a quick search of the website name with the word ‘scam’ or ‘review’ may bring up warnings from other customers to steer clear. But beware: Not all reviews are genuine.

If the name of the online business doesn’t match the URL, something could be amiss. Scammers may take advantage of a well-known brand that has let its ownership of a website name lapse, to get an increase in traffic to the scam site.

Buy from Aotearoa-based businesses

If something goes wrong with your purchase, it’s harder to remedy if the business is based overseas, so check to ensure you’re dealing with a New Zealand-based business.

A website with a .co.nz domain name doesn’t necessarily mean the trader is based here. However, you can check who owns the website by looking up its domain name. If the website was recently set up or is hidden behind a private domain registration, shop elsewhere.

You can also check the Companies Register to make sure the business is registered in New Zealand.

If you have purchased something from an overseas company, your rights will vary depending on the company’s terms and the consumer protection laws of the relevant country.

Prices too good to be true?

If a website is listing incredibly cheap deals, be very suspicious. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

Ignore the pressure sales tactics

‘Just two left! Get in quick!’ Shopping online, you’re bound to see these kinds of prompts urging you to buy now. It’s called pressure marketing and in many cases it’s a false representation. You probably won’t miss out and there are most likely plenty in stock.

What to check before entering your credit card details

• Are there contact details for the business on the website – a phone number, email and street address? If not, it may be hard to contact the business if your purchases don’t turn up.
• A padlock symbol in the address bar, or a website address starting with https:// means it has a secure online payment system. If the website doesn’t have these features, shop elsewhere.
• The website should be upfront about the total cost of your purchase, including shipping and taxes.
• Scroll down the bottom of the webpage and see whether there’s a return and exchange policy, and whether there’s an easy way to complain if purchases don’t go to plan.

Do I have to pay anything to Customs if I’m buying from overseas?

Not for purchases less than $1000. GST will have been collected when you bought the items. However, if you’re spending over a grand, Customs will collect GST and/or duty when the goods arrive in NZ. Check out the Customs website for more information.

Pay by credit or debit card

These payment methods give you extra protection because if the correct goods don’t turn up, you can ask your bank for a chargeback.