Where online shopping is concerned, many people are still hesitant to spend their money because they do not know whether a particular business is a scam or not. This is primarily a trend when it comes to tech and appliance electronics. And this is mainly because these are some of the more expensive items you can purchase on the market. Not only that but if you are spending that amount of money, you want to ensure that the items are of excellent quality and will not break within a few months. And this is where the importance of reading reviews comes in. Again, it is not as simple as scrolling through some forums but also looking for specific details. For example, with an international company like AWD-IT, you will look at the reviews for its service and products. And then you get online retailers who only provide products nationwide, such as the Mobiles.co.uk online site. Finding out if the latter is reputable may prove more complex to do, as they only ship within the United Kingdom.
Does the Retailer Provide Good Customer Service?
The first thing you want to look for when reading through customer reviews left for a particular company is anything related to their customer service. Many stores will promise things such as 30-Day Hassle Free Returns or Money-Back Guarantees. When reading reviews, try to find customers who have used their policies to see whether they were as accessible or straightforward as the website claimed. If you cannot find anything like this, just look for reviews where customers had to contact customer services with a query or complaint. Did the company respond? And were they met with a negative or positive reaction? These are crucial pieces of information as you do not want to shop at a place that has unreliable customer service, staff, and policies.
How to tell the Difference Between Real and Fake Customer Reviews
One thing many people fall victim to is fake online reviews. This is not your fault and can be easily spotted if you are aware that such a thing exists. Social media is the number one place you will see fake reviews and testimonials. With a quick google search, you can determine whether the business is real. It gets more complicated on (seemingly) official websites. Here you want to keep your eye out for negative reviews, which, ironically, is a positive sign. Usually, fake accounts will spam the review section with positive reviews, using language that exaggerates the greatness of the product. Also, if you can, then look at the account profile to see if it is real or a spam account. And always pay attention to the dates the reviews are posted. Too many posts within a short time period is a red flag. But to be safe, if you have to ask whether a website is legit, it probably is not.
What if the Business Does Not Have Any Reviews?
While generally, this is not a good thing when it comes to a business’s reputation; it can also mean the company was recently started. Therefore, try to find the opinions of other potential customers on platforms such as Reddit, Quora, or other reputable discussion forums. Here, you should find at least one other person who can help. However, be on alert for spamming threads and comments. If your alarm bells go off, then it is best to listen to your gut and avoid the retailer altogether.