{"id":20460,"date":"2024-04-02T14:21:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T13:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ccpc.ie\/consumers\/?p=20460"},"modified":"2024-04-02T14:21:26","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T13:21:26","slug":"fill-your-shopping-cart-safely-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ccpc.inventise.ie\/consumers\/2024\/04\/02\/fill-your-shopping-cart-safely-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Fill your shopping cart safely online"},"content":{"rendered":"

We do more of our shopping online now than ever before. CSO reports showed 78% of us shopped online last year. Shopping online is easy, but you need to be careful and think before you click! We\u2019ve put together a roadmap for navigating your digital shopping journey.<\/p>\n

Shop on reputable websites<\/h2>\n

It might sound obvious, but it\u2019s essential to know who you\u2019re buying from. Take the time to research the company if you haven\u2019t used them before. When browsing their website, check their \u2018contact us\u2019 information. It should give an official email address and phone number you can reach them on.<\/p>\n

The business should also list their location. This will affect your rights when you shop online<\/a>. You do not have the same rights if buying outside the EU<\/a>. For example, EU based websites have a cooling off period of 14 days during which you can return an item and receive a full refund. This may not apply to websites outside the EU.<\/p>\n

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Top Tip<\/h3>\n

Many Irish websites have a \u2018.ie\u2019 domain name, however in reality any website can buy one. Remember that a .ie or .eu address does not mean the business is registered in Ireland or the EU.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Check for a security certificate<\/h2>\n

The websites you visit should have a security certificate. Before paying, look for an \u2018s\u2019 after http\u2019 at the start of the URL. Look to see that there is a padlock symbol in the taskbar of the browser you\u2019re using. This confirms the website is secure.<\/p>\n

Watch out for dark patterns<\/h2>\n

There are dark patterns operating on some websites. Dark patterns are misleading practices designed to manipulate you into buying online. For example, you\u2019re shown a special offer on the seller\u2019s website alongside a fake countdown timer. You may feel pressured into buying the offer before it times out.<\/p>\n

Read more about dark patterns online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Spot fake reviews<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s right that you take the time to read reviews before you buy. Fake reviews aren\u2019t always easy to spot and may appear to be written by genuine customers. The telltale signs it might be fake include:<\/p>\n