A scarf for 40 euros, a fully automatic coffee machine for 350 euros and a container home for several thousand euros: These are three examples of goods that were ordered online by people in the Steinfurt district - and never arrived. In all three cases, contact with the seller simply broke off. The money was gone.
This is more than annoying. But it doesn't have to be!
If you want to store online - especially on platforms for used goods or those produced by private sellers themselves - you should follow a few rules so that you don't end up empty-handed later.
- Be suspicious when goods are offered at a particularly low price online. Make a comparison. Is the price incredibly low compared to other offers? Then refrain from ordering!
- If possible, do not pay in advance when ordering online, but only after receiving the goods or by direct debit authorization. The problem with bank transfers is that the money often cannot be refunded by the bank. This is possible with a direct debit authorization. Reputable companies usually offer other options on the Internet than just prepayment.
- Do not pay via the "Friends" function of the Paypal payment service. Anyone who selects this function has no buyer protection. This means that there is no chance of withdrawal. As a rule, the money cannot be recovered. The "Friends" function should only be used if you want to transfer money to people you know personally. In all other cases, be sure to select the "Goods and services" option!
- In some fake stores, the "Friends" function is preset after redirection to the Paypal payment service. Do not use it to pay - even if no other option is available. Cancel the process!
- Are you unsure whether it is a reputable online store? Take a look at the legal notice. If important information about the contractual partner is missing or the legal notice is missing completely, don't place an order! It is also worth taking a look at the online portal of the commercial register to find out whether the company actually exists.
- In general, when shopping online, it makes sense for customers not to rely solely on reviews within a store. Check whether reviews on the internet increasingly point to fraudulent activities.
Further tips and information about shopping on the Internet can be found in additional articles further down the page, documents and links in the outer column on the right.
