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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Don't Waste Time, Buy Online!


BY: Marcus Kyle

In class we recently talked about a number of free tools for the transfer of money through the internet. Now, let’s talk about all those things you will be spending your money on and how you can stay safe.







Craiglist comes to mind when the words safety and online shopping are brought up together. The site offers an immense amount of use for anyone interested in buying just about anything. But, watch out for online scams and serial killers.

For one, Craiglist recommends that you only deal with people you can meet with in your own area, in a public place, and in the daytime. The website also urges sellers to be wary of cashier and travelers checks as they can bounce easily. Last, Craiglist employees will never contact you asking for financial information. Don’t fall for it.

[More one being safe on Craiglist]




Even when not on Craiglist, consumers can still run into danger while on the online marketplace. Identity theft is rampant. This is why sites like Paypal are so important. Not only do they insure your transactions in case of fraud but also hide your information behind their own system. Also, be sure about everything, before typing away your bank account.

Other dangers include lack of full disclosure. Watch out for last minute fees and price increases during check out. Shipping can be very costly if you are not careful. Purchases never arriving can also be an issue. Stick with Top 500 retailers to reduce this and always save the purchase receipt.



Counterfeit goods are also becoming an increasing problem online. There is a difference between 3rd party and full on counterfeit. Best way to combat this is to check where the product will be shipping from and make sure the price matches the product. Often times, sellers from other countries will be the culprits. Amazon is guilty of this a lot. Finally, one that you may not be aware of, are fake product reviews. Be skeptical of all reviews, especially if they are bland and non-specific. Check multiple websites as well.


The online market place really is a great advent of the time we are living in. While it does reduce part of the social interaction and physical browsing of the typical shopping experience, the online market place can offer better deals, more diverse products, and a wider range of 2nd opinions. So go out and get buying! But, use this information wisely my friends.

9 comments:

  1. This was a very informative post. It should be noted that there are serious pros and cons related to e-commerce. On one hand, a person cannot he or she is in a convenient place and having his or her items shipped, but the fear related to possibly not receiving these items can be gripping as well. For me personally, this is the reason why I do not shop more on sites like Amazon and Ebay, even if those sites are touted as having great backup plans if people do not receive their purchased items. Also, I will always enjoy the process of walking into a store, and interacting my items in person before I buy them, as what may look good on a computer screen may not look as great in your hands.

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  2. Nice post Marcus. I think that online shopping is way more convenient that having to drive and look for items. The disadvantages to these sites are not just a possibility of not receiving your item but the lies that people can tell. Some things on the internet are not all true. Just have to stay alert when shopping on the web.

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  3. Good post, and i totally agree with Quinton. As a user of both craigslist and ebay I have been scammed on both. With ebay you have to make sure the sellers you are dealing with are reputable because there are sellers that will display an item as new but send you an old used one. Or they may send you a counterfeit product even though they listed it as authentic. Craigslist you never really know who you are dealing with until you meet up, but like the video said it is always good to meet in a public place. You can save huge amounts of money if you are a wise shopper using these sites.

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  4. This was a GREAT post. I think a lot of people are unaware of these safety techniques. Most people dont think about the risks of purchasing and meeting up with someone they never even met. This is how people often get set up, kidnapped, robbed, or even killed. I look at this post as common sense to take a friend with you or meet during regular business daytime hours. I think this is a great post for people who dont believe that there are actually sick and twisted people in the world that will try to cheat you or do harm to you.

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  5. Good Work. Although we are moving into a fast-paced society, if not yet in it already, individuals expect immediate service with little risk. However, consumers are less in control while shopping online than in a local retail store. More individuals should take more precautions before attempting a shopping spree on the net.

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  6. When shopping online many people really don't take the time out to think about all the pros and cons. This post was a very interesting one, in fact I learned way more than I knew before about shopping online. There are a lot of individuals out here that are waiting on the right person to scam, but we have to be smarter than that. People need to know the facts about the merchandise they want to purchase before they start typing in their information. This post was very helpful, defiantly will recommend it.

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  7. I really though this was a great blog post, because it shows how online shopping is looking to make life simpler. I am a little different though because I prefer to physically buy most items. For those who prefer instant gratification will choose to look in the store for an item. Looking online takes away from driving, walking, and confusion. One downside is the waiting time and level of error. Lets say that the wrong item is shipped or it is broken, one must send the item back and wait longer. There are many advantages and disadvantages to both. Online shopping will soon take over though.

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  8. Good article, one of the other things that I think is great about online buying services are apps like scout mob, four square, living social and groupon that allow you to buy deals and coupons online and use them in person. The only reason I am hesitant to buy things online is because I am very impatient and dont like waiting for things to come

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  9. Nice post Marcus, as time continues to tick, more things are changing. Therefore there's no surprise that online shopping is starting to get more popular than store shopping. There are some cons that come a long with online shopping. You always have to wait a few days for your items to be shipped and there's always a chance of your items being mishandled or stolen. Besides that, online shopping may be the greatest invention in today's society.

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