Say you want to buy a new Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, but perhaps you can't afford the $2,000 price tag, or maybe you just want to shop around for a better deal.
There are plenty of websites selling discounted tech, but how can you identify which sites are safe to buy from without being scammed? Can you shop safely on discounted tech websites without being scammed? Here's how to reduce your risk when buying online and save some serious cash.
Search on a Price Comparison Search Engine
There are plenty of online price comparison search engines which can be used to find and compare prices of your chosen product from a range of online retailers.
Some of the most popular price comparison search engines include:
You can use each to search for your product (you should see a search bar on the website's landing page). You can then choose to sort your results by “price: low to high”. This will list your results starting with the cheapest price.
It’s worth shopping around on these comparison search engines to find a few good prices from several websites. That way, you can investigate the credibility of each retailer.
Check Customer Reviews on Trustpilot
Once you have found a good price for your new tech on a discount website using a price comparison search engine, you should begin your investigation into the credibility of the retailer.
You can check if you are visiting a potentially dodgy retailer by looking it up on a customer review site, such as Trustpilot, to find out if any other shoppers have experienced problems.
To find customer reviews on Trustpilot, you just need to input the name of the company or URL of the website you want to buy from into the search bar to bring up results.
If other shoppers detail any major problems, negative experiences, or scams when buying heavily discounted tech from your chosen retailer, move onto the next discount tech website in your price comparison search and check again on Trustpilot.
When you think you have found a trustworthy retailer, it’s time to scrutinize the product details.
Pay Attention to the Product Details
Even if the website you have found appears trustworthy, it’s worthwhile spending some time reading the product description thoroughly to identify any issues.
Look out for details which highlight potential issues by answering the following questions:
- Is the device new or used?
- What is the warranty length?
- Where is it dispatched from?
- Are there any additional charges you need to pay, such as import tax?
If alarm bells ring, move on to another website from your price comparison search.
Read the Terms and Conditions (Seriously)
Okay, so we’re all guilty of accepting terms and conditions without really reading them, but don’t do yourself a disservice by skipping them here. You need to identify any catches which could cost you if your order goes awry.
Things to look out for:
- Return policies and period.
- Again, anything about warranties.
- Consequences of not buying shipping insurance.
- Any hidden charges you were not previously aware of.
Terms and conditions are often littered with jargon and unnecessary wordiness, so your browser's Find function might come in handy here.
Make sure you understand and are 100 percent comfortable with the terms and conditions of buying your device through your chosen retailer before you move onto the payment stage.
Use a Payment Method Which Offers Buyer Protection
If you are happy with your chosen retailer, it’s time to make your purchase, but you still need to take precaution here to minimize the risk of being scammed at this stage.
Pay with a method that supports Buyer Protection using a reputable payment system, such as PayPal, or by using an insured credit card.
If you are paying with a credit card, make sure you check what your bank’s chargeback process is. This is where you hand over your money, so you want to be confident that you can get it back if the order goes wrong.
Keep a Log of Correspondence
Once you have paid, it’s a waiting game until your device (hopefully) arrives. Make sure you keep a log of all correspondence, including any emails which detail the process of your order (check your junk mail regularly too).
It’s worth taking screenshots of each page during the payment and confirmation stages too. You may need evidence documents if anything unfortunate happens to your order.
You might not think this is a necessary step, considering you probably don't do this when buying inexpensive items online, but let's not forget the serious prices even discounted tech commands.
Should You Buy From Discount Tech Sites?
If you’ve followed these tips and checked all the product details thoroughly, you should receive your shiny new tech just as expected. It pays to shop smart when you’re trying to save hundreds of dollars on a new piece of tech.
Our last piece of advice: don’t be disappointed and put off if you do have a negative experience. If your product isn't as described, is delayed by months, or never arrives, just follow your Buyer’s Protection or credit card chargeback policies. If you have taken all the necessary precautions, you should be able to reclaim your money, should a problem arise.
