One of the challenges we all confront on the Internet is that we REALLY donât know enough about the companies who encourage us to part with our money through a great offer which is often supported by clever copy or systems.
A large number of promoters are often very small companies â sometimes someone sitting at home working from their kitchen table.
Now itâs terrific that the Internet has spawned a whole new wave of entrepreneurship ⊠and that people have the opportunity to start something that one day may blossom into a monster organization. Just look at how Google started!
Many of these entrepreneurs are very innovative — and very ethical. And generally these small operators are the ones who will give you the highest quality of service. Itâs their business and they want it to succeed! They’re the sort of people you can really enjoy dealing with.
However, there are also thousands of unscrupulous people working the Internet â you just have to look at the number of spam emails that come your way daily. [I personally receive over 700 every day and even after very tight filter controls are applied, more than 100 still manage to make their way into my inbox.]
Here are 7 things to look out for before you purchase online …
A Physical Address: Never deal with an online site which does not publish a physical address. Anyone not willing to publish their physical address should not be trusted. They can be gone in no time … and with them goes your money.
A Telephone Number, Online Chat  or Support Desk: Do not deal with anyone who doesnât publish a telephone number or offer online chat facilities. Online helpdesk systems are the most effective way to make contact with your supplier as these systems have a monitoring capability (i.e. you can check the progress of your submission). However, if you’re having trouble, then you should be able to speak to the company directly. Any company not willing to publish their phone number should simply be avoided.
Company History: Always look at their background. How long have they been in business? Do they have a track record? OK, start-ups such as Google many years ago had no track record. But then they werenât asking you to spend money either.
Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy: It may be a bit of a hassle, but read these, especially if youâve never done business with a group before. There are often things in the fine print in these documents which can be very scary. Any site which doesnât publish a Privacy Policy or Terms and Conditions should be avoided.
Unsolicited Offers (a.k.a SPAM): Keep away from any âunsolicitedâ offer you receive in your inbox. If you havenât opted into the senders list, then they are basically spamming you. Why would you want to deal with anyone like that, even if they point you to what may appear a reputable site? They will probably get a commission for that referral ⊠but do they deserve one when they have spammed you?
Unsubscribe or Opt-Out Links: NEVER respond to any âunsolicitedâ email promotion which doesnât include an opt-out link. Most spammers do not provide an opt-out link â or if they do, itâs generally fake and goes nowhere. Those who publish an opt-out link and their contact details (i.e. comply with Can-Spam regulations) in their emails deserve tolerance â but not necessarily your order if you havenât opted into their list!
Any Offer That Sounds Too Good to be True: (It probably is!) DONâT BELIEVE those claims that you can make easy money fast on the Internet. The classic example is the âout-of-the-blueâ Internet guru who made $1/2 million last year and now wants to show you how to do the same for $67. As you exit their offer (without purchasing), up comes a solicitation saying you can have it now for $29.95. Iâm sure youâve seen that one! There are many quality Internet gurus out there WITH a track record AND a genuine interest in helping / educating others. Itâs easy to spot them – subscribe to their list and youâll see that that the good ones will send you emails which contain marketing tips only as well as the expected emails which recommend a specific product / service.
A Physical Address: Never deal with an online site which does not publish a physical address. Anyone not willing to publish their physical address should not be trusted. They can be gone in no time … and with them goes your money.
A Telephone Number or Online Chat Support Desk: Do not deal with anyone who does not publish a telephone number or offer online chat facilities. Online helpdesk systems are the most effective way to make contact with your supplier as these systems have a monitoring capability (i.e. you can check the progress of your submission). However, if you are having trouble, then you should be able to speak to the company directly. Any company not willing to publish their phone number should simply be avoided.
