When I check online shop for digital camera, many online stores give good deal and chep price compare to big chain stores. Is it safe to buy electronics from online stores?
Thanks for your suggestions. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. I have been looking in to buying a new camcorder, and I am very tempted to buy one from these stores that advertise cameras that are normally $1,800 as $700. After a little research, I found out that stores like these are "bait and switch" scammers. They lure you in with very competitive prices and force you to call them to confirm your online order. Once on the line, they pressure you to switch to more expensive stuff that actually turns out to be grey market items without a warranty (hence the name "bait and switch"). If you decline, they usually say that your item is out of stock, so they charge you a cancellation fee. Either way, you will lose out with a cheap foreign imported item, or with the cancellation fee.
Basically, before you buy from almost any electronics website, you should google it, or look it on on
http://www.epinions.com
or
http://www.resellerratings.com
And again, remember: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. It should be if you see a Verisign or Trust-E certificate on their webpage. If you pay with a credit card, you have the option of getting your money back through a chargeback request if all else fails. Any reputable online retailer will have some sort of recognised payment option. If they want only cash....BEWARE! Check on the site with BBB or resellerratings.com If the price listed looks too good to be true, it usually is. |
