These days, most people handle their shopping online, perhaps with the exception of groceries, but even those are increasingly being purchased online. A simple click, and we have the reassuring feeling that what we desire will soon be at our doorstep – all without having to leave our homes. However, despite this apparent convenience, online shopping is often not as straightforward as it may seem at first glance.
Let’s start at the beginning of our shopping journey: identifying our needs. Therefore your first question should be, “Is what I want to order really necessary?” As a rule of thumb, if it’s not essential items (such as groceries, toiletries, etc.), give yourself at least 1-2 weeks to think before making a final purchasing decision. Similarly, when researching, it’s important not to get lost in endless analysis. While it’s important to read reviews and consider your purchase, please don’t overdo it. Instead, set yourself a time limit, perhaps based on the value of the product you’re purchasing and the cost rate for your working hour, to strike the right balance between research costs and benefits.
Choosing the online retailer
Once you’ve decided on a product, it’s time to choose the online retailer from which to order. Supporting smaller retailers is important, but even more crucial is ensuring that the retailers you choose are reliable. Therefore, check the imprint, search online for reviews from other customers, and also ensure that the delivery conditions and return options meet your expectations.
Ordering, delivery, and defect tracking
When placing the actual order, it’s advisable to use a payment service provider that offers buyer protection, and to plan delivery to your workplace or a pickup location if you’re not regularly at home. After ordering, especially if you order a lot (i.e. more than three packages per week), consider using a tool to track your shipments, so you don’t forget any deliveries and they end up sitting at your neighbor’s place for a long time. There are free apps available for tracking your orders, but you can also set calendar reminders for the expected delivery time and copy the purchase confirmation into the calendar reminder.
Lastly, upon receiving your order, inspect it for defects and take photos of any issues. Also be quick to inform your online retailer if anything is amiss. Keep invoices and warranty certificates carefully, as they are essential in the event of a warranty claim. However, the invoice is the more important of the two documents. In case of a warranty claim for a product bought in Germany, the manufacturer must provide you with the opportunity to obtain a repair or adequate replacement for the product within two years of purchase. Warranty cases are handled through the retailer, though, meaning they must provide you with all the information on how to proceed in a warranty case, even if they do not themselves repair or replace the goods.
Despite all the convenience of online shopping, do not forget to remember the few mentioned in this blogpost, so that you can also avoid unnecessary stress shopping online.
Checklist
- Assess the necessity of your planned online purchases and give yourself at least a week to consider items that are not needed daily.
- When purchasing a product, limit your research in comparison portals and set a time limit for your search.
- Verify the credibility of your online retailer based on the imprint and other users’ reviews.
- Always use a payment service provider or credit card when making a purchase to receive a refund faster in case of problems.
- Keep tracking information for all orders in a central location such as an app or digital spreadsheet.
- Document defects immediately and communicate with the retailer in writing to resolve issues. Keep the written communication as evidence until the case is resolved.