Love e-shopping? 10 tips to make sure you don't lose money

Online shopping is fun. But it can also be tricky. You don't know the seller. You can't see the actual product. You see only images. This is the reason why sometime people get a brick in the box when they order a smartphone. Or end up buying a Rs 100 top while they wanted a television.

The sum of the matter is that while shopping online, you should shop smart. Just don't buy something because it looks like an unbeatable deal. 

Also Read: Online shopping top reason for accessing internet: survey

So, how do you shop smart? Here are 10 tips.

1. It is important to understand that online shopping websites host thousands of third-party sellers. So, if you are buying any product from Flipkart, it does not necessarily mean that you are buying it from Flipkart directly. Flipkart does not sell products directly. But it does have a retailer which it can call its own and that is the retailer you should preferably buy from.So, on Flipkart buy from WS Retail, which is the in-house retailer. What it ensures is that the delivery and the while handling of the purchase process is managed professionally. Similarly on Amazon, look for Cloudtail retailer, which is the in-house retailer. Although in the case of Amazon, buying products that are "Fulfilled by Amazon" is also very safe because these products are already in Amazon warehouses even though they are being sold by third-party sellers.On Snapdeal look for sellers with Snapdeal quality check.
2. Buy goods from sellers that have good reputation in terms of its feedback score and have successfully made a few hundred transactions. Also, always buy goods from familiar websites.
3. When shopping on eBay, always pay the bill through PaisaPay. Also get the items through courier instead of pick for sometimes like local pick up, even if the seller is in the same city. This will help create a record of your transaction, which can be later used if you face any trouble with a seller. eBay doesn't pay PaisaPay money to a seller unless it receives a product delivery confirmation.
4. Buy goods that come with official warranty and not "seller warranty". In case you buy any faulty product with seller warranty, you will have to run to the seller for replacement or repairing.
5. Always try to buy from only the sellers that have shared their contact details on the website. This shows the seller is genuine and is open to queries.
6. If you come across any issue with the product, ask for claim with the platform owner immediately. Look for their social media accounts so that you can easily communicate with them .
7. Avoid buying products that have no images or scanty product details.
8. If possible, go through reviews of the product before you buy it. Not all but at least 4-5 reviews can help you have a clearer idea about the quality of product as well as the shipping process followed by the seller as people often leave reviews on the e-retail websites after buying products.
9. Be careful about the price strategy. It is possible that you may bought a product for Rs 500 but by the time you check out, the amount is increased with some unknown charges applied to it. Always review the extra charges that are added to your product.
10. Share your credit or debit card details wisely. Sharing the details for big websites is not a problem. But if it is some local site or an unknown foreign site, be careful. If possible opt for cash on delivery.