The internet is a great place to shop online for children, as it has a huge amount of unique products and a whole heap of savings available for the clever consumer. However many people fail to take advantage of the many benefits that the internet offers, mainly due to the worries associated with online crime, and the hands off approach to shopping. With that in mind, we decided to write a guide to safely buying children’s products online, so that you can take advantage of the internet’s wealth of opportunities and savings. Here are the ten best safety tips:
10. Avoid online second hand goods
Whilst we wouldn’t completely discourage buying second hand goods, you need to be extremely careful when you do, as there is no guarantee the item is still safe. Check the condition, and for safety labels, etc. before buying anything in this way, and ask extensive questions of the seller before buying.
9. Check the seller is licensed
Checking the seller is licensed both to operate, and to distribute certain products, is essential if you’re not going through a recognised retailer. Most manufacturers will list their distributors, and checking on the manufacturers site whether a particular retail site has legitimate distribution, is often a good way to spot a fake.
8. Check terms and conditions
The terms and conditions should always be checked, to ensure that every security measure is taken with the products’, and your details. The terms and conditions should show you the returns policy, and the company’s policy towards faulty items. If this info is missing be very cautious.
7. Check the country
Checking the country that you are buying the goods from isn’t a sure fire way of guaranteeing security but it is worth doing, as you will get a good indication of the rules governing the production and sale of the item in question. Don’t be fooled by the address bar, as this is no guarantee that the site is based in a particular country. Rather look for an address, and check that it is legitimate by a quick search.
6. Check security
Checking the security of a site is a good indication of the reliability of the retailer. On the payment form there should be a padlock in the address bar and/or the address should start “https://”. If these are missing, it means your private information is potentially visible to third parties. If a company doesn’t take care of your security, be reluctant to trust them with your child’s.
5. Be wary of huge discounts
A too good to be true discount is usually a sign of fake goods, or simply a well-disguised scam. Whilst you can get huge discounts shopping online, most items will have a base value. If you see something priced 20% or more off its usual price, be cautious – anything 70% or over is almost certainly a forgery on most goods.
4. Don’t fall victim to sales pitch
There are huge numbers of less than scrupulous sites selling children’s products that claim to be the best thing for your child, and intone that they will suffer without them. Always be wary of sales pitches that include dire warnings, or unproven health benefits. These are often simply fraudulent, and not worth the potential risks.
3. Use respectable retailers
Whilst you won’t always find the cheapest prices using respectable retailers, they will ensure the safety of the products you are buying, and you will have guaranteed security should anything be faulty with the products you buy. For example, if you’re online shopping Australia has stringent guidelines governing the sales of products, and reputable retailers are much more likely to adhere to these guidelines.
2. Look for age guidelines
Age guidelines are there to tell you as a parent the suitability of a certain product for a child, and should always be clearly displayed in the product description, and on the product itself. If these things are missing we would exercise extreme caution, especially when buying for younger children.
1. Safety labels
If you’re buying anything for a child, then you need to make sure that it comes with internationally recognised safety labels, and has been tested extensively on children prior to commercial sale. Warning labels and suitability warnings should be clearly displayed on all products, such as toys and games. If these are missing, exercise extreme caution, or shop elsewhere.
Steve writes about safe online shopping in Australia, and recommends using portals such as Shop and Earn, where parents can also earn rewards for items purchased online.
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