BBB
Warns Consumers to Shop Safely on Cyber Monday
Hundreds
of Consumers Filed Complaints against Online Retailers This Year
Austin,
TX - November 23, 2010 – The
Monday following Thanksgiving has been suitably titled “Cyber Monday” due to
the abundance of online sales advertised and online purchases made. According
to a survey done for Shop.org by BIGresearch, 96.5 million Americans shopped
online during Cyber Monday in 2009. This year industry experts report that
online retailers expect their holiday sales to increase from 2009, based on
surveys indicating industry wide optimism. Tens of millions of consumers are
expected to make purchases from online retailers again next Monday.
With
reports on over 200 companies based in Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas
that consumers allege sell retail products online, BBB has responded to over
13,500 consumer inquiries about local online retailers so far this year.
However, BBB warns consumers that these online businesses have also generated
over 300 complaints in the past 12 months. The most common complaints generally
allege excessive delays in product delivery and difficulties in corresponding
with the company for customer service requests.
To help
consumers avoid becoming a victim of online retail complications this holiday
season, BBB offers the following top 10 Cyber Monday tips:
1.
Protect your computer - A computer should always have the most
recent updates installed for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software
and a secure firewall.
2.
Shop on trustworthy websites - Shoppers should start with BBB to check on
the seller's reputation and record for customer satisfaction at www.bbb.org.
3.
Protect your personal information - Take the time to read the site's
privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and
how it will be used. If there isn't one posted, it should be taken as a red
flag.
4.
Beware of deals that sound too good to be true - Offers on websites
and in unsolicited e-mails can often be too good to be true, especially
extremely low prices on hard-to-get items, and should be researched thoroughly
to decipher their legitimacy.
5.
Beware of phishing - Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming
problems with an order or an account to lure the "buyer" into revealing
financial information. If a consumer receives such an e-mail, BBB recommends
calling the retailer for more details.
6.
Confirm your online purchase is secure - Shoppers should
always look in the address box for the "s" in https and in the
lower-right corner for the "lock" symbol before paying.
7.
Pay with a credit card – It is best to use a credit card, because
under federal law, the shopper can dispute the charges if he or she doesn't
receive the item.
8.
Keep documentation of your order - After completing the online order process,
there will be a final confirmation page or a confirmation e-mail. Save a copy
of the web page and any e-mails as a record of the purchase.
9.
Check your credit card statements often - Don't wait for
paper statements; check your online credit card statements for suspicious
activity regularly.
10.
Know your rights - Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or
online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated,
within 30 days. If the goods are not shipped on time, the shopper can cancel
and demand a refund.
To check
the reliability of a company and find
trustworthy businesses, visit BBB.
About Better Business Bureau:
BBB's mission is to be the leader in
advancing marketplace trust. BBB accomplishes this mission by creating a
community of trustworthy businesses, setting standards for marketplace trust,
encouraging and supporting best practices, celebrating marketplace role models
and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior.
Businesses that earn BBB
Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high
standards of ethical business behavior. BBB is the preeminent resource to turn
to for objective, unbiased information on businesses and charities.
Contact BBB serving
Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas at (512) 445-4748.
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