Be Informed
What to expect and look out for when ordering products or services through electronic media.
Shop with companies you trust. If a company is unfamiliar, check its complaint records with your national or local Consumer Protection Association. Check also your National Direct Marketing Association or Mail Order Association. You can find information about such trade groups at
1. The European Mail order/Distant Selling Association: www.emota-aevpc.org and
2. FEDMA: The Federation of European Direct and Interactive Marketing: www.fedma.org
Look for the crucial information that all reputable companies should display:
Contact Information. Look for a physical address for the company, as well as a telephone number. If the only form of correspondence a company gives you is an e-mail address, you may want to shop elsewhere.
Return/Exchange policies. Never expect your order or product to be perfect all the time. What happens if you don’t like your new sweater after all? What if you accidentally ordered the wrong size? Always look for a company’s return and exchange policy before you place your order. If you make a purchase, you are agreeing to the terms outlined by the company. Also read the satisfaction policy carefully. Note that many products, for example CD’s, cannot be returned if they have been opened.
Shipping/Handling. Know when to expect delivery of your product and what will happen if it is out of stock. Also know what shipping options you have and what the final cost will be.
Additional Charges. Look out for smaller charges that may creep into your bill: sales tax, processing fees, insurance charges are just a few of the fees that you may not notice at first.
Keep records of your transactions.
