How to Shop Anywhere Online While Avoiding Scams

There are so many great deals to be found online. You could be browsing online looking for something specific, or maybe an advertisement pops up on your feed flashing an amazing deal you can’t miss. You find yourself on an unfamiliar website, excited about the great items and affordable prices. You click buy, the standard shipping time, and start waiting for your items.

 

Except, your items never come. Or they finally do arrive, and it’s such bad quality you feel like you’ve been scammed.

 

Okay – hopefully, instead of all that, you did a doubletake before you checked out your cart and stopped to ask yourself, is this website safe? Scammers con hundreds of thousands of people every year. And during the pandemic, the FTC reports that consumers lost $43.30M from online shopping fraud alone.

 

From years of consumer data and current research, Sitejabber has put together a checklist of all the red flags you need to know to avoid a scam website. Let’s get into the top things you need to know to shop safely!

 

Red Flags to Check if a Shopping Site is Legit

1. The website’s connection. Listen to your browser’s safety indicators. A URL should also always be “https,” not “http.” The “s” indicates that a website is secure. However, this is not an indication of legitimacy. A scam website can have a secure connection but still con you of your money.
2. Check the URL. If you’re shopping from a familiar website, check first that there isn’t anything suspicious about the URL. There are tons of copycat websites hoping to trick you. Also, check that the website doesn’t have any uncommon website suffixes, also called top-level domains (TLDs).
3. Scam websites often have poor grammar and spelling throughout the website.
4. Reputable websites should regulate their ads in an organized way. If too many ads are popping up, be wary.
5. Check for customer service contact information. It’s best if there is a phone number – call to make sure that the number works. The more customer support they provide, the less likely they are a scam. And if you are having trouble with your order, you’ll have someone to fix your issue.
6. Check to see if their physical address is their real location by using Google Maps. If they don’t provide an address, that’s a red flag.
7. Never use a website that requires you to pay through unsafe methods. Do not send money to a PayPal address, wire money, make a bank transfer, or send a money order.
8. Always check the shipping and return policies before you buy. If either of these policies is poor or nonexistent, save yourself from a headache and avoid the site. Oftentimes, they won’t provide much return information, and you’ll end up having to pay more to return the item than it was originally worth!
9. If you found the site from a Facebook ad, check their Facebook page and see when the page was created. If you’re searching up a website, use WHOIS to check when they registered. If the website is brand new, do additional research to see if people have had good experiences. If you find that the store is new while touting going out of business sales, this is a sure sign of a scam.
10. If you think the product photos look fishy, you’re probably right. If the photos are inconsistent, low-quality, or look photoshopped, avoid the site. You can also run an image search to see if the images can be found on other sites – if so, the designs are likely stolen.
11. Lastly, always check reviews. Whether you are starting your research process or are still unsure if a website is safe, previous customers who shared their experiences already are a valuable resource to help you decide.

 

For the full list and animations to walk you through each tip, check out the guide to spot a scam website here.

Header Image Source

The Best Budget-Friendly Clothing Sites

With clothing stores shuttered across the country and loungewear dominating the latest trends last year, how did you shop fashion?

Did you scour the internet for new ways to shop without breaking the bank? Or were you re-shopping your closet, mixing and matching outfits to create fresh looks?

As fashionistas around the world adjusted to a new era of fashion, several fast-fashion brands came out on top by keeping up with popular styles while maintaining affordable prices.

Sitejabber dug into the research and looked through their data from over 3 million reviewers to help you find out which brands shoppers reported as the best sites to look for cheap yet trendy clothes beyond the pandemic.

Here are the top 10 best budget-friendly clothing sites shoppers recommended.

 

ASOS

On almost every affordable fashion “best of” list, you’re likely to find ASOS. And to be honest, we’re not surprised. ASOS may be one of the most prominent brands executing a great balance between quality, fashion, and affordability. The retailer not only carries its own line but dozens of other designers, allowing them to provide a large variety of clothing. You’ll find that many of the pieces look sophisticated and are perfect for streetwear.

 

Chic Me

Despite a rough start, Chic Me has really elevated their services. Shoppers reported finding tons of amazing dresses and tops for a fraction of what the price looks like it should be. Chic Me has plenty of options for whatever you’re looking for, just make sure you order ahead of time as some reviewers report slower shipping times.

 

Fashion Nova

Fashion Nova was so popular that in 2018, they were the most searched-for clothing brand. They even beat out luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci! Fashion Nova is continuing to take over with celebrity-approved cheap dresses and jeans, solidifying their spot on this list.

 

Lulus

Heading to a formal event, or perhaps even walking down the aisle? Lulus could be your next favorite online store for cute, elegant dresses and outfits on a budget. They even carry a line of affordable wedding dresses! Although Lulus may not be quite as cheap as the other brands on this list, shoppers report loving the quality of each of their pieces.

 

Missguided

Missguided is another popular site shoppers flock to for the latest trends. Shoppers love everything from their loungewear to their slinky dresses. If you’re looking for extended sizing or a maternity selection, check them out!

 

Nasty Gal

Looking for something to wear for a night out? You might want to check out Nasty Gal for that “turning heads” outfit. Nasty Gal carries clothing for other occasions as well, always making sure to stay on trend for every season.

 

PrettyLittleThing

Endorsed by many influencers, PrettyLittleThing has grown increasingly popular for women in multiple countries. Despite its name, PrettyLittleThing designs both feminine and edgy outfits that keep up with the latest trends. Reviewers recommend finding your activewear and outerwear here.

Shein

While all the brands on this list offer low and competitive prices, none can do discount shopping like Shein. Shein has built quite a reputation for themselves and is now a go-to for many shoppers for amazingly affordable prices. Shein also carries the biggest variety of clothes for not only women, but men, kids, and your pets too!

 

Tobi

Whether it’s a cute dress or a cozy sweater, you’ll be able to find your next Instagram-worthy outfit at Tobi. They also constantly mark off their items by 50%, so shoppers advise to always wait for those sales (but you probably won’t have to wait long).

Zara

While Zara may already be a household name, they are trending more than ever! Zara is a retailer always designing runway-esque styles for the budget-conscious shopper. If you want to find classic basics, fashion-forward statement pieces, or power outfits for work, Zara is the place for you.

 

For more details on how reviewers rated their overall experiences with each brand, check out the full discount clothing guide on Sitejabber.

Header Image Source

Online Dating During the Pandemic – What’s Changed?

 

Are you single and looking? If you were hoping for a new love connection at the start of the year, the pandemic might have flipped your plans upside down. Even daters who say they avoid long-distance relationships like the plague…well, ended up having to cope with the barrier of sheltering in place and social distancing due to the pandemic.

 

In short, COVID-19 halted our love lives. Or did it? To find this out, the team at Sitejabber analyzed thousands of online dating reviews and published a study on the current state of online dating. Here are a few of their top findings you should know.

1. Online dating takes it to the next level

At the onset of the pandemic, online dating activity took a downturn. However, the drop in the number of online daters was short-lived, and by July 2020, people flocked to online dating. Not only were previous users hopping on dating platforms, but new users too. Sitejabber found a 27% overall increase in online dating reports compared to pre-pandemic 2019.

 

Another interesting stat occurs late into the year – online dating surged in September, when dating reports spiked by 118% compared to the beginning of 2020. Despite social distancing orders and sheltering in place, the loneliness of the pandemic sure motivated many singles!

2. International dating takes a break

Those looking for love internationally put their plans on hold last year. Reports of dating out of the country decreased by 21%. Perhaps travel bans and quarantine had something to do with it?

3. Sliding in the DM’s

Are you the type to text first?

If you’ve ever used a dating app, you know that most platforms allow you to match with potential connections by liking different profiles. Typically, you can only text each other once you’ve matched. And during the pandemic, women are taking the initiative.

According to Sitejabber and AI dating platform Hily, women are 5x more likely to text first. That’s an increase from 7% before the pandemic, to 40% now!

4.The loneliest states

If you live in California, you likely know someone who found their partner online (or maybe it’s you!). California is the number one state in the U.S. to report online dating. And even though international dating dropped during the pandemic, Californians actually ramped it up, reporting dating internationally 77% more.

 

While most of the U.S.’s online daters live in California, other states saw significant surges of online dating during COVID-19. Reports of online dating skyrocketed by 167% in the state of Washington, followed by Massachusetts, Arizona, Georgia and New Jersey. For these states, the pandemic contributed to a new culture of online dating.

5. Finding love in a hopeless place

How is the modern dater feeling during these unprecedented times? Unfortunately, negative online dating experiences increased by 12%. States like Massachusetts, Georgia, Nevada, Missouri and Michigan reported the highest frequency of negative experiences.

 

Despite all that, several states made the best of it. Many satisfied daters live in Washington, Illinois, Arizona, New York and New Jersey, sharing the highest frequency of positive online experiences.

 

How do you feel about dating during the pandemic? If you want to learn more about the latest dating trends, things to watch out for and how scammers are targeting online daters, check out the full study on Sitejabber.

Exit mobile version