How to check if a website selling goods is trustworthy?
You should always know from whom you are buying online. How? By checking the “legal notice” or “general terms of use” on the seller’s website. Their full contact details as well as other detailed information should be recorded there. Follow our tips to verify the trustworthiness of your online seller and to avoid falling for a scam.
Tips to assure the seriousness of the seller
Before purchasing something on a foreign online shopping website, check:
The name and contact information of the seller
You should find them in the legal information of the website or in the terms and conditions.
The mailing address
Type the address you found on the seller’s website in a search engine and search street views. If it shows you a brownfield, a residential neighbourhood, or any other strange place for a company that sells this type of product, move on to a different seller.
The URL
If the website has a name or URL that doesn’t correspond to the goods sold on the website, it is not a good sign!
Example: The URL refers to the name of a construction company or sports activities when you thought you were buying clothes online!
The general terms and conditions of sale
You should be able to find them easily, often at the very bottom of the website. Make sure they are written in a clear and understandable way. If you notice any gaps in the text or generic terms, this should alert you. The seller has probably used a template without making any effort to adapt the terms of use.
Example: Welcome and thank you for using a service provided by [insert company’s name] and registered at [insert company’s address].
Telephone number
If the website displays a phone number, call it! Avoid premium-rate telephone numbers. Ask for additional information on the product, the after-sale service, or the delivery condition. How your demand is dealt with will give you a first impression of the seriousness of your seller.
The quality seals
The website might display a quality seal or brand of trust. Find out about the rules of the award and the services and guarantees it offers.
French spelling
If the site is written in a broken form of French (misspelling, a poor grasp of the language, etc.), run away!
Other sites and online reviews
Other buyers may have given their opinions on your seller and their bad experiences, if any.
When you buy on a marketplace
Did you find your dream product at a bargain price on a marketplace? You only have to confirm and pay, but do you know exactly who you are buying from?
The EU regulation “Digital Services Act” imposes certain obligations on online marketplaces that are European or that target European consumers. These marketplaces must check the identity and contact details of the seller or professional service provider whose ads they are hosting.
So, wait before you order on a major e-commerce website! Make sure you can see the name, country of residence and contact details of the seller you selected. The seller may be completely foreign to the website. If you see that the information is incomplete or the reviews about this seller are negative, then it’s best to move on to another seller.
Once you have identified your seller or service provider, go through our list of advice (see above). Go to the seller’s website to gather more information if necessary.
Any marketplace that doesn’t identify the professional sellers and service providers on its website may potentially be penalised. The fine imposed by the authorities can be up to 6% of the platform’s annual worldwide turnover.
Miracle products: what if the video is fake?
You may have already seen these videos of products with extraordinary performance: a pressure washer that removes particularly stubborn dirt and cleans an entire courtyard in a matter of seconds, or a household cleaner that instantly leaves a surface spotless and ultra-shiny after a quick mop.
These adverts are often shared on social media. They can sometimes be staged or have been created or edited using artificial intelligence.
The use of AI makes it possible to alter a product’s appearance, create visual effects or transform an image or video. What you see on screen is therefore not a genuine demonstration of the product’s performance and features. However, many videos of this kind are never accompanied by a disclaimer, as regulations would require in the case of a deepfake. Be wary if the advert seems too good to be true!
If you have any doubts, do take the time to check what is hiding behind the video. Look up the product’s name, check whether the seller can be clearly identified and assess their reliability. Consult reviews from several sources and, where possible, look for demonstrations carried out under real-life conditions. Also compare the specifications and price with offers from other sellers or for products with similar specifications.
If your research is inconclusive or if, on the other hand, a detail seems fake or inconsistent, walk away. You can report the content on the SignalConso platform.
Secure your payment on the Internet
If you still have doubts about your online seller
Vérifiez l’adresse internet du site via WHOIS, DENIC (pour les noms de domaine terminant par « .de »), AFNIC (pour les noms de domaine terminant en « .fr »). Vous pourrez ainsi déterminer qui a enregistré le site de vente en ligne et quand. Si l’identification du propriétaire est impossible, et seul l’hébergeur est identifiable, redoublez de vigilance.
And when it’s too late?
If you have already paid by card to a seller who has not respected his commitments, you can request a refund of the paid amount via the “chargeback” procedure, if your card has this protection.
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them..
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