Tips for Being a Smart E-Consumer at Your Apartment in Gainesville

Internet shopping, or e-commerce, has been a rapidly growing industry for more than a decade, with shops selling everything from books and movies to clothing and jewelry. Nearly anything you want to buy can be found online in minutes and shipped directly to your door. However, the anonymity and international nature of the Internet makes fraudulent businesses more difficult to identify, which means that e-consumers need to be careful when they buy.

Here are a few tips to help you keep yourself protected when you buy online at your apartment in Gainesville:

• Do some research – While online reviews are often a good place to start, they can be easily manipulated or falsified. Another way to help you figure out if a business is legitimate is a “Whois” search, which can tell you where and to whom a website is registered.
• Look for “https” – Most legitimate websites will use a secure transaction processing page. Look for the first part of the address bar to change from “http://” to “https://” and for an indication they use a reputable transaction processor, such as VeriSign or PayPal.
• Know your rights – Be sure to read up on an online store’s return policies, dispute procedures, and other information regarding your rights so that you’re always prepared if you need to use them.
• Watch your accounts – The first time you buy from a particular online store, it always pays to check your account for the next couple of days. Be on the lookout for any suspect charges and be prepared to dispute them through your bank or credit card company.

Keeping these tips in mind will help you protect your financial information and allow you to enjoy the great deals you can find online.

Bellamay Grand residents are welcome to shop online from the Internet-connected computer in our business center and have plenty of room for their purchases in our spacious units. For more information on our luxury apartment community, contact our front office today.