In this day and age virtually everyone seems to shop online; it is as common as drinking a cup of coffee it seems. Ecommerce truly has come a long way over the years, and it is only getting more secure as time goes on. However, I still hear a good deal of stories about people getting ripped off when buying electronics online, especially on eBay.
Basically you are pretty safe purchasing electronics from most of the big online retail stores (walmart.com, bestbuy.com, staples.com, and so on). However, it is places like craiglist.org and eBay that you have to be a bit more cautious about, at least when purchasing electronics. But know this: these are probably the 2 cheapest places you will ever find on the internet for the most part.
We will just cover eBay in this article, since craigslist does not generally offer many electric based products. The most important thing to look for by far when using eBay, is the user feedback rating of the person you are purchasing from. If they do not have a feedback of at least 100 or more, and a positive rating of at lest 98.5% or greater, then you should seriously consider moving on.
Another important thing to consider when buying on eBay, is the return policy, which is always listed in the auction details. Certain items, such as the Chinese made electric airsoft rifles, for example, have a really high defect rate, so knowing the return policy BEFORE you buy is highly recommended. Also, look for the item location in the top right of the auction screen; this will tell you where the item is being shipped from, which determines how fast you will get it.
Lastly, be sure to fully read an auction description before you make a purchase. Unfortunately eBay is rather notorious for having sellers that use somewhat (or sometimes downright) misleading auction titles, especially when it comes to electronics. Basically just be sure that there are no hidden surprises buried within the details of an auction description (especially the longer ones). For example, look for defects or flaws in a product, which is rarely ever mentioned in the auction title. In other words, it is just a matter of common sense, and reading the fine print; if you follow this simple rule, you will be safe 99% of the time or more.
Basically you are pretty safe purchasing electronics from most of the big online retail stores (walmart.com, bestbuy.com, staples.com, and so on). However, it is places like craiglist.org and eBay that you have to be a bit more cautious about, at least when purchasing electronics. But know this: these are probably the 2 cheapest places you will ever find on the internet for the most part.
We will just cover eBay in this article, since craigslist does not generally offer many electric based products. The most important thing to look for by far when using eBay, is the user feedback rating of the person you are purchasing from. If they do not have a feedback of at least 100 or more, and a positive rating of at lest 98.5% or greater, then you should seriously consider moving on.
Another important thing to consider when buying on eBay, is the return policy, which is always listed in the auction details. Certain items, such as the Chinese made electric airsoft rifles, for example, have a really high defect rate, so knowing the return policy BEFORE you buy is highly recommended. Also, look for the item location in the top right of the auction screen; this will tell you where the item is being shipped from, which determines how fast you will get it.
Lastly, be sure to fully read an auction description before you make a purchase. Unfortunately eBay is rather notorious for having sellers that use somewhat (or sometimes downright) misleading auction titles, especially when it comes to electronics. Basically just be sure that there are no hidden surprises buried within the details of an auction description (especially the longer ones). For example, look for defects or flaws in a product, which is rarely ever mentioned in the auction title. In other words, it is just a matter of common sense, and reading the fine print; if you follow this simple rule, you will be safe 99% of the time or more.
About the Author:
This article was written by internet veteran, William Elmiric, who has been safely shopping online for well over 10 years now. When it comes to buying electronics from eBay, follow his advice, and you are sure to be safe 99% of the time or more. Just follow his advice outlined in the examples above and you will be safe.
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