Mia
When it comes to shopping online, it’s crucial to be very secure in your activities. The level of fraudulent behavior that occurs in the online world has never been higher and is increasingly complex, so much so that you can often become the victim of cybercrime long before you know it’s already happened.
As with any internet activity, you need to make sure you keep yourself as safe as possible, and this is perhaps doubly so when it comes to buying a luxury item such as high-end jewelry.
The online jewelry market is a fast-growing one, and it’s an industry that has adapted to the new environment excellently, making the whole process a smooth one for prospective buyers. However, you should be sure to follow some strict rules to help make the experience a rewarding and profitable one and not an event you end up regretting.
There are a number of steps you should put into place before you start your online jewelry shopping experience; you’ll see below a helpful guide that will help keep you safe during this process.
Research the Store Before You Buy
Shopping for jewelry online is very popular right now, and this is down to two key reasons, firstly the costs of buying online are far lower than if you were to buy the same product in your local jewelry store. Secondly, the scale and variety of items online far outstrip what you will have on offer in a nearby physical store.
Online jewelry shopping offers a near limitless amount of options, whether that’s buying stylish personalized jewelry or any other type of item. The number of stores you can shop at is massive and presents something of a double-edged sword.
While you have a vast range of places to do your online jewelry shopping, you also have to be very careful about where you shop. The best start to the process is to research the brand or store that has caught your eye. Check out what the online community says about the level of service.
Clearly, you should be taking notice of any severe issues, such as fraudulent activity or stores that sell items that are not as advertised, but you should also look for reviews that highlight poor customer service or issues with delivery.
Every aspect of the online shopping process should be addressed when you are looking through reviews of the brand. Only when you are happy with the level of quality of the relevant store should you then place an item in the relevant cart.
Check the Competition
The wide choice available online means that you don’t have to instantly buy an item, not when you may be able to find the same, or similar, item for a better price. Therefore your research isn’t just about the store in terms of its reputation; it’s almost about shopping around and checking out the competition before clicking on the ‘buy’ button.
Stick With Trusted Companies and Brands
If you visit an online jewelry store and something doesn’t feel right, then leave swiftly, as first impressions are often very telling. Make sure to avoid stores that only have HTTP addresses and not HTTPS, and make sure that the URL bar has the padlock symbol, which indicates a secure payment facility.
On the subject of payment facilities, make sure that the store has the relevant payment method that suits your needs and that they don’t ask for more information than seems practical.
Always be cautious, think twice before completing a purchase, and never rush into a transaction.
Check Shipping and Returns Policy
The success of the online jewelry shopping experience is based in a big way on the security you feel when you make the purchase. Most services offer a returns policy that covers you if you don’t like the item for whatever reason.
Make sure that you are protected by the store’s policy in terms of returns and check how long shipping takes and what the additional costs of this may be. Already read the fine print and be sure they deliver to your location.
Make Sure The Store Provides Certification
As you may be buying very expensive items, you’ll want to be confident that the jewelry that arrives with you meets the standard and authenticity that is advertised. In other words, if the gold ring you have bought is sold as a 24-carat item, then you’ll want a certificate of authenticity of some level of appraisal that guarantees this fact.
Check the Warranty
Before you purchase any item, pay close attention to the store’s warranty policy, this should cover any possible defects for a year or more. This helps to protect you from any potential flaws in the product, and we strongly suggest you don’t buy any items at stores that don’t provide at least the basic level of protection that a warranty provides.
Know Your Size
Most online stores offer sizing charts and guides when it comes to finding items that fit a prospective buyer’s measurements. Make sure you know the relevant sizes for either yourself or the lucky recipient of a gift you are buying.
If you are not sure of your size, you can always cheekily visit your local store, get a measurement, then provide this in your online order. Once again, make sure that any returns policy factors issues with sizing into their plan.
Be Safe
Though this list of factors may seem overwhelming, they are fairly easy to follow and perhaps not wholly unlike safeguards you may put in place when shopping offline. The idea is to make the most of the endless possibilities afforded to you by buying over the internet but also being attentive to any possible issues that may arise.
As with many things in life and online shopping, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. This is particularly true when it comes to purchasing a potentially priceless item of jewelry that will either be an ideal gift for a loved one or a present to yourself that you can cherish for years to come.
