Seven Tips to buy online from Chinese sites and avoid shopping scams

Online shopping is greeted for its availability and economy. The well-developed international shipment systems make it potential for people to purchase anything from the other counties. Some online buyers purchase from China as they think that things made in China are cheaper with higher quality. However, many people are still skeptical of online shopping thinking that they are more likely to be taken advantages of online than in a shop. Actually, if you are common with the online spam and know the way to deal with them, you can still benefit from this famous way of shopping. Here are 7 tips to aid you to avoid potential traps you may face when making purchases from Chinese online sites and suppliers.

 1. Select reliable shopping websites.
Professional sites usually have qualified customer service and the quality of the goods also can be guaranteed. Shoppers enjoy smooth, fast, and safe purchasing. However, in many cases, shoppers have announced that the websites vanished after they have just paid. So, collect as much information as you can before you pay any penny.

2. be suspicious of sale or discount goods.

Sales or discounts sign are attractive, and no doubt that we all want to buy cheap and good things at the same time. However, as a Chinese old saying goes that you only get what you pay for; discount always includes poor quality, flaws, and other shortages. 

 3. be a realistic consumer and buy only the things you really need.

Some shoppers may find related or package items during purchasing an item. For instance, you are going to buy a swimming suit only but you ordered a swimming suit, a couple of swimming glasses and a cap at a package price. But actually, you already had a couple of glasses and a cap, and then you will have two of each one of them.

4. Protect your personal information.

Do not click on any unknown sites or links in strange emails, which would redirect you to fake or phishing sites. Once you begin to purchase on these sites, your personal details, including your name, address, birth date, your phone number, credit card number and passwords, will be easily stolen. 

5. Check well the shopping applications on your smart phone.

Many people are making purchases via their smart phones. But some shopping applications need access to the user’s details, such as contact lists, call records, messages, and passwords that they may then give away to immoral cheaters. Select applications that need less permission or restrict the apps’ access permission on any phone.

 6. Negotiate with the supplier before paying a penny.

7. Pay with a credit card via a reliable payment tool.

Legal online shops accept credit cards and also a third party payment tool. In case that a seller does not accept paying via credit cards or asks you to pay by wire transfer, stop the purchase immediately. If you pay via a debt (ATM) card or wire money and anything goes wrong, there is no other way to have your money back. A third party guarantees that you pay after you receive the item. In case you don’t receive any item, the bank that subjects your credit card can help you have your money back again.