Please take a minute to read the following consumer safety tips about online shopping.

1. Know your Merchant:

Anyone can open a store online in minutes and be gone tomorrow. Make sure you either know of the store or you should research it. Here are some things to research before doing business with an unknown company.

• Make sure there is contact information for the company (business name, address, and telephone number). Compare this with information from the domain register.
• Check for a return policy.
• Are they member of TrustSG? If they are, chances are the site is legitimate.

2. Compare Prices Before Buying

If the price is too low there may be something wrong like it is used or it may be a bait and switch deal.

3. Check the Return Policy Before You Order

When shopping we all hope that we get what we expect but sometimes there are problems that arise with what we ordered. Check the company's return policy before you order online so you will know what to expect before you order. Some companies offer no returns and you may not want to do business with them.

4. Print and Keep Information About Your Order

Print out information on your order when you place it and keep the copies. Also print out other information you may need such as return policies, company information, specific product information and warranty information.

5. Know what it will cost.

Check out websites that offer price comparisons and then,compare “apples to apples.” Factor shipping and handling—along with your needs and
budget—into the total cost of the order. Do not send cash under any circumstances. 

6. Check the privacy policy.

It should let you know what personal information the website operators are collecting, why, and how they’re going to use the information. If you can’t fi nd a privacy policy—or if you can’t understand it, consider taking your business to another site that’s more consumer-friendly.