Tips for Online Shopping

L R.

Well, having been an eBay member since 2003 and now shopping Amazon, Walmart and many smaller sites online I have gleaned some wisdom on how to do this without ever losing any money. First off, NEVER pay using YOUR bank account, debit cards, or actual CASH.

ONLY use PayPal, Paypal credit-(MY favorite: purchase $99 and have no % and no payments for 6 months-more on this later), Amazon.com Store card (their version of paypal sort of-you have to spend $140 and make monthly payments with no interest) OR a real credit card.

This way YOU are protected. KEEP all emails from sellers, receipts, take pictures of outer packaging, inner packaging and item(s), etc. COMMUNICATE. Even if the seller does NOT respond, YOU will have proof you have made the effort. Keep communicating with your credit card company, Paypal, etc UNTIL you get what you want. In other words... the squeaky wheel gets the oil!

For the past 3 years I have bought many items from sellers from the Pacific rim countries-and yes, many of their items come on a slooowww boat from China. GIVE them time to get here. Email the sellers. Most of them are very nice people and will email you back. Ebay is a REAL stickler about that. Can't say much about Amazon though as I haven't really ordered from Amazon from those countries. Ebay BANS sellers that basically screw buyers. They are vigilant about seeking them out under "different" names. But always remember, this is online and nothing is perfect. Many of them will not have perfect English. So I will write my emails in English then use the online google translate to do it in their language as well. I've never had anyone complain, so maybe it actually helps. I usually add a little disclaimer that "Please forgive me if the translation is not all correct, I mean no insults. Just trying to help." Or some such so they will not be insulted if the darn thing didn't work right!

But your BEST protection truly is YOURSELF. Use some common sense. IF the deal sounds too good to be true... then it probably is. IF that $2953 computer stateside is selling for $640 overseas with free shipping... then you are probably getting a "gray" electronic and it is NOT the $2953 DREAM computer YOU are salivating for! As the old saying goes... if you pay $10 for a diamond ring, then you have a diamond ring worth $10!

Before ordering check our what other reviewers are saying. If it is all praise, be wary. Nothing is perfect. Come here and ask just like you are doing now! And for Amazon go to Fakespot (. Com) and check out the reviews and see how legitimate they are. Fakespot now also does yelp, Apple app store, and Trip advisor reviews too. (Something I didn't know! I'm sure they'll be adding more in the future too then.) If those reviews show a HIGH incidence that they are FAKE, then do not buy!

Personally, if it is a brand new company or seller, I wait. I know, I know. It's that old conundrum... Nobody will hire me because I've never worked before. But how can I work, IF no one will hire me? It IS a catch-22! We all go through it. But I have learned to give new sellers time to build a rep before I waste my money. I work too hard for mine as it is. I let the rich people waste theirs. They got money to burn, let THEM. Once the business or seller has a steady rep, then I will buy. I NEVER purchase from anyone who's rating is below 98.5%. EVER. You can't maintain a HIGH seller rating, then you are too unstable to do business with me. I don't do business with flakes, fly-by-nights, ding-dongs, dip-&%$#*... you get the picture!

Finally, remember I said I would get back to it... IF you use Paypal Credit or the Amazon Store Card. USE THEM RESPONSIBLY!
I'm going to say that again. USE THEM RESPONSIBLY! Because just like REAL credit cards, they will give you a credit line. And in a lot of people's brains ALL they see is NO %interest% and NO payments for 6, six, 6 months! So WOW they go spending and buying! And next thing they know, they are paying $500 to Paypal Credit each month! HOW? Because they just racked up $3000 worth of merchandise! IT has to be paid off by the end of the 6 months OR the interest %%% kicks in from the day you bought the item. So you do have to keep up with WHEN you bought things and when they are DUE so you know how much you need to pay month to month and BUDGET that in! Whereas, real credit cards, let you make the minimum payment each month and pay the interest (Keeping/putting you further into debt). I prefer Paypal credit because I WILL NOT let my spending get out of hand and I save on not having interest. Why give $$$ to credit card companies? Best advice-if you don't have the cash in the bank for the item then don't buy it until you do. My mom and dad taught all us kids that. We do try!

I hope this helps some of you. If you have any questions, I think sitejabber emails us-at least I hope they do as I don't get to come here as often as I would like. I do write reviews though on the sites I frequent. At Amazon I'm Southern Gal. Other sites may be TXDashopaholic or just Dashopaholic, ect.

Good luck, don't spend too much, but have fun too!

Sincerely your fellow online shopper,

L
AKA TX_dashopaholic@sitejabber

Well, having been an eBay member since 2003 and now shopping Amazon, Walmart and many smaller sites online I have gleaned some wisdom on how to do this without ever losing any money. First off, NEVER pay using YOUR bank account, debit cards, or actual CASH.

ONLY use PayPal, Paypal credit-(MY favorite: purchase $99 and have no % and no payments for 6 months-more on this later), Amazon.com Store card (their version of paypal sort of-you have to spend $140 and make monthly payments with no interest) OR a real credit card.

This way YOU are protected. KEEP all emails from sellers, receipts, take pictures of outer packaging, inner packaging and item(s), etc. COMMUNICATE. Even if the seller does NOT respond, YOU will have proof you have made the effort. Keep communicating with your credit card company, Paypal, etc UNTIL you get what you want. In other words... the squeaky wheel gets the oil!

For the past 3 years I have bought many items from sellers from the Pacific rim countries-and yes, many of their items come on a slooowww boat from China. GIVE them time to get here. Email the sellers. Most of them are very nice people and will email you back. Ebay is a REAL stickler about that. Can't say much about Amazon though as I haven't really ordered from Amazon from those countries. Ebay BANS sellers that basically screw buyers. They are vigilant about seeking them out under "different" names. But always remember, this is online and nothing is perfect. Many of them will not have perfect English. So I will write my emails in English then use the online google translate to do it in their language as well. I've never had anyone complain, so maybe it actually helps. I usually add a little disclaimer that "Please forgive me if the translation is not all correct, I mean no insults. Just trying to help." Or some such so they will not be insulted if the darn thing didn't work right!

But your BEST protection truly is YOURSELF. Use some common sense. IF the deal sounds too good to be true... then it probably is. IF that $2953 computer stateside is selling for $640 overseas with free shipping... then you are probably getting a "gray" electronic and it is NOT the $2953 DREAM computer YOU are salivating for! As the old saying goes... if you pay $10 for a diamond ring, then you have a diamond ring worth $10!

Before ordering check our what other reviewers are saying. If it is all praise, be wary. Nothing is perfect. Come here and ask just like you are doing now! And for Amazon go to Fakespot (. Com) and check out the reviews and see how legitimate they are. Fakespot now also does yelp, Apple app store, and Trip advisor reviews too. (Something I didn't know! I'm sure they'll be adding more in the future too then.) If those reviews show a HIGH incidence that they are FAKE, then do not buy!

Personally, if it is a brand new company or seller, I wait. I know, I know. It's that old conundrum... Nobody will hire me because I've never worked before. But how can I work, IF no one will hire me? It IS a catch-22! We all go through it. But I have learned to give new sellers time to build a rep before I waste my money. I work too hard for mine as it is. I let the rich people waste theirs. They got money to burn, let THEM. Once the business or seller has a steady rep, then I will buy. I NEVER purchase from anyone who's rating is below 98.5%. EVER. You can't maintain a HIGH seller rating, then you are too unstable to do business with me. I don't do business with flakes, fly-by-nights, ding-dongs, dip-&%$#*... you get the picture!

Finally, remember I said I would get back to it... IF you use Paypal Credit or the Amazon Store Card. USE THEM RESPONSIBLY!
I'm going to say that again. USE THEM RESPONSIBLY! Because just like REAL credit cards, they will give you a credit line. And in a lot of people's brains ALL they see is NO %interest% and NO payments for 6, six, 6 months! So WOW they go spending and buying! And next thing they know, they are paying $500 to Paypal Credit each month! HOW? Because they just racked up $3000 worth of merchandise! IT has to be paid off by the end of the 6 months OR the interest %%% kicks in from the day you bought the item. So you do have to keep up with WHEN you bought things and when they are DUE so you know how much you need to pay month to month and BUDGET that in! Whereas, real credit cards, let you make the minimum payment each month and pay the interest (Keeping/putting you further into debt). I prefer Paypal credit because I WILL NOT let my spending get out of hand and I save on not having interest. Why give $$$ to credit card companies? Best advice-if you don't have the cash in the bank for the item then don't buy it until you do. My mom and dad taught all us kids that. We do try!

I hope this helps some of you. If you have any questions, I think sitejabber emails us-at least I hope they do as I don't get to come here as often as I would like. I do write reviews though on the sites I frequent. At Amazon I'm Southern Gal. Other sites may be TXDashopaholic or just Dashopaholic, ect.

Good luck, don't spend too much, but have fun too!

Sincerely your fellow online shopper,

L
AKA TX_dashopaholic@sitejabber

Helpful (0)

over 1 year ago

Penny M.

Hey L,

Great advice, thanks for the rundown.

Onstead of using PayPal or cash or just normal bank transfer, I'm using shieldpay so I don't have to stress out. Even for the sloooow boats!

They hold my money in a secure third party account called the vault and only release it when I say I've received the item. If anything goes wrong (which I haven't experienced yet) they help out with any disputes too, which is way better than any other buyer protection out there atm.

Their sign up bonus isn't bad either - 1% fees for the first 6 months https://www.shieldpay.com/offers/powerseller

Helpful (1)

over 1 year ago

Christina C.

ADVOCATE

Are sheildpay popular? Ive not heard of them till now

Helpful (0)

over 1 year ago

Norah F.

Great tips! Thank you for sharing! ;)

Helpful (0)

over 1 year ago

Jason W.

ADVOCATE

Wonderful advice. I would stay away from PayPal credit etc though.

Helpful (0)

over 1 year ago

Anne L.

I'm actually looking for a good financing plan myself. What're the pros and cons of Paypal Credit? I see them advertised at 6 months with no interest if you qualify?

Helpful (0)

over 1 year ago

lauren j.

Good advice, thank you for sharing. Paypal is a must on online shopping.

Helpful (0)

over 1 year ago

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