There was a time when shopping on the internet was considered to be a very risky affair. People were not comfortable in purchasing something which they could not touch, feel and try.
In case of eyeglasses and contact lenses, they were not comfortable with the idea of something so delicate being delivered by post. However, online shopping has managed to win over all its critics.
Today, people are comfortable in purchasing even contact lenses over the internet. If you are planning to do so, follow these precautions:
o Read up about various online stores and sift the good ones from the bad ones. Choose to deal only with reliable online stores.
o Prefer big names like Wal-mart. Opt for smaller stores only if they have been recommended by someone you trust.
o Do not fall for extremely attractive prices. Quality of service also matters.
o Beware of outdated information. Make sure you deal with only those websites which are updated regularly.
The advantages of online shopping are listed below:
a. You can compare prices of different products in a jiffy
b. Just visit websites like MySimon, Yahoo! Shopping, BizRate or Froogle and locate the best deal in a jiffy.
c. Get a lot of information about the products without any hassles. You can access reviews and feedback of customers to determine whether online shopping is a good idea or not.
d. You can contact the various sellers using email and obtain additional information regarding the products. If you were to do this by visiting shop after shop, you would have to spend a lot of time, effort and money.
Do not forget to read the fine print. Some websites offer great bargains only if you purchase a year’s supply of contact lenses from them. If you want just three month’s supplies, you may have to pay a higher price.
When buying contact lenses on the internet, avoid haste in placing the order. Once the order is placed, it will be very difficult for you to back out from the same. Hence, always make it a point to place the order only if you are sure of your decision.
Before placing the order, obtain as much information about the store as possible. Prefer large stores as they would have large inventories and would ship your order quickly. However, the chances of large stores messing up your order are also very high. Always deal with credible stores. Size may not be the only factor in determining credibility. Big stores may offer shoddy service which small stores may offer excellent service. You should search for information before taking a final decision.
Always remember that you will have to disclose your credit card information to the online store. If you make the mistake of dealing with the wrong website, you may become the victim of a financial scam.
Always check out the ‘About Us’ page of any and every website. If it is filled with clichés and if it is devoid of precise information, give that website a miss.