Source: beautyheaven.com.au

     Are you yet to shop online? Especially internationally? Do your hands go cold and your heart acquires a strange rhythm just at the mention of it? Have you heard stories about money being stolen or worse identity theft due to some shopping excursion somewhere by some random person? Let me reassure you that all of us have gone through this stage at one point or the other. It is a leap of faith you need to take and yes it does have its risks. But today I would like to pass on some how-to’s and some basic ideas which might help you take this leap. After that that world is your oyster and there are just so many avenues that you can explore.

     I wanted to pen down this guide for online shopping for you based on my personal experiences. This by no means an exhaustive or a fool proof one. Just something that I have personally faced or tactics that I have fallen back on. I hope that it will help you in some manner and go to show that it is not all dark and gloomy out there. You just need your wits about you and some basic common sense to navigate through murky waters. You will feel a whole lot comfortable and confident once you make that first purchase. 

Source: wikipedia.org

     First and foremost you will need a credit card for it. Some sites accept a debit card (international that is) but that is a very rare case and having a credit card will keep you the most mobile so to speak. If you are scared of it just try to get one that has the minimum amount. Mine has a limit of 30k which was the least I could get from my bank. It is quite straight forward to get one and if you pay your due in time you wont have to worry about getting charged astronomical rates in interest. A lot of these come with additional benefits of offers and cash backs so you can choose one that is best suited for you. Try to keep the limit as low as possible so you feel comfortable with it especially when it comes to paying it off. A lot of people keep very high values one and that could just prove to be an unwise thing especially when you get stuck with debt.

Source: visaeurope.com

     RBI has certain guidelines which have been bought into force to ensure additional security for you while making an online purchase. You need to set a password for your card which will be asked of you each time your key in your details for payment. This password needs to be set on the respective card providers site (Visa or Mastercard) and you are automatically directed to it when you use the card for the 1st time online. But you can do it before hand. Ensure that you use a mix of letters, numbers and characters to make your password more complex. Try not to use common and easily accessible data pertaining to you like your name or birthday or anniversary as your password and never share it with anyone except the authorized site which will be your banks page along with Verified by Visa or Mastercard Securecode written there.

Source: techonomy.com

     Next is to get yourself a paypal account. Now this is essential and I will tell you why. Paypal is the most trusted source of internet transaction and your security blanket. Not only does it keep all your sensitive card details with itself it also protects you in instances where the supplier fails to or tries to cheat you of the goods. They have a 45 day reporting scheme where you can report a particular transaction and get your refund. The best part about it is that you can make an account using your debit card too. Make sure you make a solid login password for it. Once you set up a new account Paypal deducts a small amount from your card just to check on/verify it and then returns the same after a short period of time. 

     If you are still not comfortable with either getting a CC or trusting your DC details with Paypal then there might be a quick solution. Though it may sound far fetched but hey if you are interested in shopping online then this could be doable. Create a separate bank account in which you put in your shopping money. Again something you are comfortable with. You would have to keep in mind that it will be a amount which will be inclusive of the minimum amount that the bank requires to maintain in that account. Again just a safety net where you are only putting part of your money at risk in the worst case scenario. 

Source: jagoinvestor.com

     Or in other case you can create a short time card online or a virtual card for the stipulated amount of your shopping cart and use that in place. It is a facility available with HDFC and it is called a Netsafe card (I dont know if other banks have this provision so you need to check with your bank). This is a one time/use thing and it keeps all your information safe. It ceases to exist once used. The only problem with it is that you cant get a refund on the purchase that you made with this card. Since money is returned to the card from which the payment was made from and since this card does not exist once it is used…..I think you see what I mean. 

Source: ellieswisher.com

     To find out if a particular site ships to your country just check out their shipping info section. All sites have one and mostly it is located in the bottom somewhere. They will list out all the countries that they ship to. If still in doubt then shoot them a mail. Some items like nail polishes are not shipped internationally by certain sites and such detail will be shipped in the shipping details section. Or it will be listed once you check your cart. Remember that you can click and check your cart without any issues. Till the time you are on the Paypal site and feeding in your password you are not getting charged anything so don’t be afraid to poke around in the cart area. 

Source: deugro.com

     Customs are tricky and can vary. By that I mean that there have been sites where I have shopped from and someone I know living in a different city shopped from where one of us ended up paying for customs and the other didn’t. This is a risk that you would have to take and the best way around it is too read about other people’s experience with a site. You will get a fair idea about what to expect by reading a couple of people’s reviews on it. And if you do land up in such a situation you can refuse to accept the package and send it back mean while ask the company for a refund. I have heard some people doing it. I never tried it for myself and have ended up paying customs on separate occasions. Not a pretty thing but sometimes your want for something kicks common sense out of your head 😛

Source: nomoredirtylooks.com

     If there is a problem with not getting a package, or damage in transit or refund communicate with the company. There is nothing to be ashamed or afraid off. Yes a lot of people take advantage of it and try to cheat – both the buyer and the seller which is way unacceptable. But in the end be firm and talk it out. If someone stops responding then take it to social media. Mention it on their FB or Twitter. Be vocal but there is no need for rudeness or mud slinging. Maintain your dignity so that others too feel inclined to come to your aid which is the most important thing to get results. As soon as some voices join in with yours you will get instant response from the company and then again you can always turn to Paypal to report the transaction. 

Source: inci.sozlukspot.com

     In spite of everything there will be times that a package fails to appear on your door within the stipulated time. I once got a package after 1 and half months of placing the order. I was sure it was goner. I didn’t do adequate research on the site then and later found out that delivery was a common problem with them. So read and educate yourself when it comes to anything. Google is your best friend and don’t shy away from it. Remember at the end of the day only you are the person who will end up gaining. Be patient and wait it out for a month and if you still don’t get it then initiate a refund. 

Source: itvalley.com.pk

     So those were some basics that I could think of. Be careful and aware about things but there is no need to be afraid. If you take the necessary precautions there is no call to fear it. The first step is always the most scary but once you are past it you wont look back. There are risks in everything we do in life and since the only way you could probably be risk free is to curl up in the corner in a fetal position and not venture out….and even that is not a given. So try out the tips I mentioned and take a leap of faith. I hope you will get the courage to venture into this unknown territory. Happy Shopping!