Buying jewelry online can be daunting, especially when you factor in the value of the average purchase. Buying anything online comes with its share of risk and you need to be aware of this if you want to know how to protect yourself against them. When you understand the risks, you can start looking for the signs of a supplier you can trust. You’ll also be able to spot an imposter from a mile away. Here’s how you can safely shop for jewelry online.
Pay Safely
The very first thing is making sure that they offer safe payment methods. This will give you the protection needed in case the product isn’t as advertised or if you don’t receive it. You will also get your money back in most cases in case of fraud. Some of the options you want to look for include PayPal and most popular credit cards. You want to make sure that they’re verified as well or else you might not be able to get retribution.
Look at Their ‘About Us’ Page
Another thing you want to do is look at their About Us page. Look at what it says about their history. If there isn’t anything about how the company started and when, then chances are they’re either unestablished or fraudulent. Checking their ‘about us’ page will also allow you to see what they’re about and if their vision aligns with yours.
Stick with Local Suppliers
If you can, it’s always better to go with a local supplier. Working with overseas suppliers comes with all sorts of duty and tax issues, and verifying provenance can be a bit more difficult. Instead, you could buy Alaskan gold nugget jewelry at orocal.com. US-based suppliers like these will allow you to prevent additional costs and will be easier to reach if there are any issues. Communication will also be much easier, which is essential when dealing with something as precious as jewelry.
Look for an Address and Phone
You don’t want to just take their word, however. You want to check if you can get their physical address and verify it. Check if they have an actual office. Also, make sure that there is an easy to reach 1-800 number you can use. These are all signs of a company that cares about customer service, which is again essential for valuables like jewelry.
Look at the Reviews
The last thing you want to do is check what kind of reputation they have in the community. Make sure that you check their reviews and what people have to say about them on forums and comment sections. Also, make sure to check if they’re registered with the BBB. While it’s not a prerequisite, you will still be able to see if people have formal complaints to make about them.
Jewelry is not like any other item and needs to be handled carefully. Follow these few steps and you should be able to find a great retailer you can trust.
