Shopping Online 101

Frugal fashionistas of the world, unite! If you care about the embossed exterior of your Coach purse as much as the money nestled in it (and you should!), this guide to online shopping is for you. Think of the wonderful world of online shopping as a shopper’s paradise, where the clothes you covet are artfully arranged in pixels. Everything is housed in a colossal mall with no physical barriers; there are no shopping hours, no overzealous sales assistants, and no noisy (or nosy) shoppers. Your shopping experience is entirely sedentary, conducted while you sip on green tea and ponder over life’s imponderables. With a few clicks of your mouse, a new page is opened up and a row of baju karungs springs to pixelated life. You feel that familiar tug. Should I buy, should I wait? What if it doesn’t fit? Is that pink really as bright as it looks? Can I trust this merchant? It’s so expensive, will I get a refund if there are defects?

Need answers? Read on to discover the safe and budget-friendly way to shop online!
Why Shop Online?

That’s the most pertinent question to ask before you begin your shopping odyssey. Online shopaholics can no doubt attest to the sheer existential joy of shopping online (“With every virtual swipe of my card, it’s like I affirm my existence!”), but for those of you who are undecided, we’ll take you through the list of whys we’ve compiled.
Convenience

Simply put, it’s convenient! All you need to shop online is an internet connection and the means to transfer money electronically. Instead of setting aside an afternoon to wander around Mid Valley, you can cut down on petrol and parking costs by simply clicking “add to cart”.
Diversity

Shopping online affords consumers more variety. In a brick-and-mortar store, there’s only so much shelf space available to showcase the latest stock. In the virtual world, there are no such spatial constraints. The merchant can sell all available stock online. Importantly, smaller businesses that can’t afford the rental payments of a physical store can easily set up a virtual shop. This translates to an endless variety of apparel to choose from!
Price Comparison

You can quickly and conveniently compare prices online. Instead of driving or walking to different stores to compare prices, online accessibility allows for swift comparison. If you want to know whether Forever 21 is selling that peplum skirt for the best price on the market, you can either Google it or go to the websites of rival competitors. This is recommended, of course, and is a no-fuss way to budget and bargain-hunt.
Customer Feedback

If you want to know the reliability of a merchant or seller, you can go to consumer review sites to find out. This is informed shopping at its best, given the vast forum for consumer criticism/critique the Internet provides. Unlike shopping at a brick-and-mortar store, shopping online reduces the difference between a knowledgeable and not-as-informed consumer to (literally) a mouse-click. In order to get the best bang for your buck, always ensure that you read customer reviews to find out about product quality and merchant trustworthiness.
Low Cost

Now this is a contentious point, because shopping online can sometimes cost you more than going for a warehouse sale in Puchong. On the other hand, Internet retailers (especially blogshops) can offer far cheaper prices than a Bangsar boutique (they have to pay rental fees, etc., which are then factored into the retail price). In order to encourage shopping online, some established chain stores also offer more discounts for goods purchased over the Internet.

Is it Safe?

Similar to merrily making your way around a shopping mall, buying clothes online can be a perilous process. As in the real world, security and trust issues figure prominently. There are, however, several steps that you can take to minimise the risks involved, outlined and explained below. Always remember that your safety and security are paramount. After all, you’re giving your personal information, including shipping address and credit card details (where applicable), to a faceless stranger(s). Proceed with caution and trust your shopper’s instincts!

Use Credit Cards Equipped for Shopping Online

Whenever possible, use credit cards equipped for shopping online: they offer added protection against fraud or theft. For instance, RHB allows its credit card users to register their cards with 3D Secure, which uses MasterCard SecureCode and Verified by VISA to ensure the security and safety of internet transactions. Similarly, Maybank offers Maybankard Secure Online Shopping (MSOS), a feature which provides an extra layer of security online when you use your American Express, MasterCard, or VISA cards.

Shop with Retailers or Blogshops That Use Secure Payment Gateways

Payment gateways are the online equivalent of a physical Point of Sale (i.e. checkout counter where the financial transaction between customer and retailer is conducted). In order to accept credit cards from customers (or really any number of online payment options), Internet merchants use payment gateways. iPay88 is arguably the most used and secure payment gateway in Malaysia. It is supervised by Bank Negara Malaysia, regulated under Malaysia’s Payment Systems Act (2003), and is PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant. The more secure and regulated the payment gateway, the more protected your financial details are during transactions and under the law. Online merchants often state on their website what payment gateway they use; if you are uncertain, never hesitate to ask the retailer.

Use Third-Party Payment Services

Using a third-party payment service is one of the safest ways to shop. The most popular third-party payment service is PayPal , which also allows merchants to use it as a payment gateway. To use PayPal to pay for online purchases, you must first sign-up for a PayPal account. PayPal acts as an intermediary between you and the Internet merchant, ensuring that they will never see your credit card details or bank information. Money is simply transferred from your PayPal account to the merchant’s PayPal account. Provided you remain a buyer and not a seller, PayPal is a free service, since transaction fees are charged to the sellers. However, while PayPal enjoys a commendable security record, remember that your PayPal account is linked to either your credit card or bank account, so PayPal does have your financial information.

Look Out for Security Seals, Privacy Policies, and SSL

Another way to ensure your safety online is to keep an eye out for safety and security seals on websites. These are small, logo-like badges located on the top, bottom, or corner of the retailer’s website (e.g. Norton Secured, PCI DSS approved, Positive SSL, VeriSign Secured, etc.). These seals are a good indication that the merchant abides by security standards and has a degree of accountability to you. Privacy policies (the more detailed the better) are also another good indicator of merchant trustworthiness; be sure to always read them before you make a purchase. Also look out for whether a website is SSL-enabled. SSL (Secure Socket layer) is a security protocol which is used to protect valuable data transmitted to and from a website. While some sites declare that they are SSL-enabled, you can always check yourself by looking at your browser address bar. You can check for https:// (the extra ‘s’ is for secure), a padlock beside the website address, or if any part of the address bar turns green. Before you enter any personal and financial data into a webpage, always ensure that either one of the three is present.

Don’t Get Phished

Phishing is an online crime that is unfortunately quite rampant these days. ‘Phishermen’ bait victims by sending out e-mails that appear as though they’re from a credit card company or bank you have dealings with. The e-mails may urge you to update your personal information – passwords or financial details – or re-direct you to a fake website (it appears legitimate) to log in. Once they have your credit card numbers and personal information, they can of course use them for fraudulent purposes. To stay safe, don’t send your bank account details or credit card numbers through e-mail. Log in to bank websites by keying in the website address on your browser’s address bar.

How to Save

The truly stylish never break the bank to maintain their look, so you shouldn’t have to either! After all, if there’s no moolah in the bank, it’s either debtors’ prison or stop shopping altogether. Now those aren’t fashionable alternatives, but don’t fret, we’ve put together several tips to shop in SaveMoney fashion!

Use Credit and Debit Card Promotions

The first tip is to make full use of online shopping promotions for your credit or debit card(s). For instance, RHB Now has a promotion where every month the first 200 customers who spend a minimum of RM150 (with participating online merchants) get RM50 cash back. Apart from cash back, there are also other exclusive deals available with merchants selected by your bank(s). So if you frequent ZALORA daily, there could be discounts on items if you use a particular credit card. Thus we suggest, devoted shoppers, that you monitor the promotions section on your bank’s website.
Use Vouchers and Coupons

Your favourite online retailer is bound to offer vouchers and coupons every now and again, especially to encourage new shoppers to buy. There are also vouchers for signing-up and subscribing to newsletters, so be sure to make use of those too.
Click Facebook ‘Like’

In order to promote their facebook pages and increase their popularity, online retailers and blogshops often give out vouchers to customers who ‘like’ their pages. Hardcore Facebooker or not, these deals are too easy to pass up, so hit “like” and don’t miss out!

Compare, Compare, Compare!

Even though it can get tedious, the savvy shopper always compares prices before she commits. Although that kimono top with the gosselin-thin butterfly sleeves screams at you to buy it, SaveMoney heads must prevail before clicking “add to cart”. Check with other online stores and even brick-and-mortar stores. Visit forums like lowyat.net to check and compare different prices for items you want. This is a good place to keep abreast of the latest discounts and promotions, along with any customer feedback other users leave. More importantly, bond with your fellow shopaholics shoppers and swap priceless info. You could even start your own Online Shopping Consumers group and demand more discounts! (“Give us discounts, promotions, deals, or death!”)

Save on Delivery

Save on shipping costs by buying from merchants who offer free delivery. Sometimes there is a minimum amount you have to spend, though, so don’t deviate from your budget just to receive free delivery! Be aware that online merchants can use free delivery as a marketing ploy, since they could already have included the shipping cost into the item price.

Loyalty Programs

Sign up for loyalty programs with online retailers you buy from often. You can get store credit for items you purchase, which can then be deducted from the total amount of your next order. Sometimes stores may even offer cash rebates, although this is relatively rare.

Refund or Return Policy

Before you buy, read the online retailer’s policy on refunds and returns. Some are generous and allow exchanges within a certain period (usually a week or 30 days). In our experience, cash refunds are pretty uncommon, with merchants preferring to reimburse you with store credit instead. Items must always be returned in mint condition, so take care to do so.