With internet penetration improving gradually and the cost of smart phones and internet data going down, shopping is no more a hustle on the ground. With time, more and more brands, both domestic and international, are now going online to sell their products besides having their brick and mortar point of sales, in place. With ease of shopping online from your comfortable homes and thousands of options to choose from, eCommerce is not going anywhere anytime soon.

With a wide range of products available at a competitive price with convenient options of returning a product, our minds could easily go for a spin. But with all its perks, here are five things that must be kept in mind while shopping online.

1. Shop only from authentic eCommerce sites or the brands’ exclusive websites

With a new eCommerce website popping up every other day with attractive discount or cash back offers, it is hard to resist the temptation. However, try and choose the well known and trusted eCommerce portals like Amazon, Flipkart etc. as they own up their legal liabilities and could be held accountable otherwise.

2. Check the security and authenticity of the payment gateway partners before making the payment online

Most of these websites display their payment or credit partners. But before you make the purchase, make sure to verify the credibility, authenticity and security of these payment gateways. They must have credible certified security logo or trust marks from authorities. Also, refrain from saving your credit/debit card or bank details on any eCommerce website.

3. Read shopping, return & refund policies carefully before accepting the terms & conditions

While accepting the Terms & Conditions, make it a point to carefully read the policies to be in the clear in the event of a legal conflict. Also get yourself acquainted with the return & refund policies in case you are not satisfied with the product and might want to reverse the transaction.

4. Check customer reviews of the products before buying them online

As most products will have a mix of good and bad reviews, weigh out if there are more good reviews than bad. Any product with over 60-70% of approval ratings is generally considered worthy of buying.

5. Reach out to the customer care or support team in case of any queries or doubts

The credible eCommerce websites usually have a strong customer care or support team. You may choose to reach out to them in case you have any queries or complaints regarding their process or any of your transactions.