When I canât find something Iâm looking for, the one place I look is the Internet. Just last month, I was in a store looking at a few unique socks (kitties, raccoons, seagullsâŠI know Iâm strange!) thinking that they would make excellent holiday stocking stuffers. I went back to the same store a few days later and found an empty shelf. Someone else had the same idea! So I found the companyâs website and considered ordering the socks online, noting that the company was based in the United States.
November is Financial Literacy Month (FLM) and throughout the month, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada collaborates with various organizations to promote financial literacy for Canadians of all ages. To support this initiative we will be featuring online shopping tips on our blog to help you stay savvy. Many of us shop online, probably more than ever, so read on to learn more.
Are there laws around buying / selling online?
In BC, when you buy products or services online you may be entering a contract called distance sales contract. With this type of contract, you donât enter into the contract in person and you donât have the opportunity to inspect the goods before purchasing. Be aware that when you click that âI agreeâ button before you buy online, that you are entering into a contract. Consumer Protection BC regulates certain aspects of distance sales contracts in BC, including whatâs required to be in the contract. Learn more about online purchases on our website.
What do I need to look for?
If you are thinking of buying something online whether big or small, consider the following before making a decision:
- Do your research and shop with reputable company â do you know anyone who has shopped there before and how was their experience? Check their rating with their local Better Business Bureau. You may also want to look around the web to read other consumer feedback.
- Check their return, refund and exchange policy and read the fine print. If this is not clearly listed on the website, contact them and ask.
- Make sure you have the physical address and a contact phone number of the business.
- Verify the cost of the product or service, type of currency (US, Canadian or other), shipping and handling charges. Note that companies are required to tell you what currency they are using.
- Keep digging â find out their delivery time frame. Do they offer a warranty or guarantee? Will you have to pay duty if a product is coming from another country?
Hopefully when you next shop online, you can remember some of these tips to help you make an informed decision. Thereâs a lot more to know about distance sales contracts, for more tips and information about online shopping, stay tuned for other blog posts as part of the Financial Literacy Month blog series.
ADDITIONAL READING:
Tips for online shopping
Online shopping: tips to receive your refund when your package never arrives
Buying flowers online? Read these tips first
Great article,Thanks for the good word.E commerce has become so common now a days.Online shopping is a easy way to purchase somethings.
It is really nice to provide such information and Tips.
Online shopping has many benefits. There are many discount offers available for online shopping and it saves a lot of time also. I always prefer to buy things online instead of going to the market.
It seems difficult to get compensation for shoddy merchandise- in my case the shopping channel. Guess they can do without any more business from me
I received an order from Los Angeles by ups . The order was 4 solar streetlightsI didnât except it because the package was damaged and open on top. It stated upon ordering shipping and handling included.Upon delivery I was charged 146$ which I didnât pay . Now ups wants the money and they are not sending it back. After talking to ups they just told me my package will end up in the unclaimed area..
Hi Marion, thank you for reaching out to us here. When you are shopping online from an international seller, you may have to pay duty. Shipping and handling may not include the cost of duty as it’s the customer’s responsibility to pay duty once the products arrive in Canada. We do not oversee this area so I’m not sure what the process is in getting a refund but if the product does not get shipped back to the company, it may be hard to receive a refund. You can always try contacting your credit card provider to request a charge-back. For future international purchases, you can use this duty and taxes estimate calculator from the Canada Border Services Agency.
Is Telus running an offer for free devices in return for answering questions about my device usage?
The email of the firm running the event is
primeomnibazaar.com
I am loath to give my credit card info.
Hi Carol, that sounds like a good question for Telus. I would suggest contacting them to ask about any promotions they may be offering, as we don’t have access to that info. To me, that sounds suspicious and like it could be a scam. Best of luck!