According to Statistics Canada nearly 7 million Canadians over the age of 18 placed an order on-line in 2005. Another 2 million were “web window shoppers” and used the internet storefront to browse before buying. On-line shopping is quickly becoming a weekly activity for many Canadian households alongside a trip to the local grocery store or gas station.
Canadians are much less weary of making purchases online, in 2005 approximately three out of four
Canadian adults who shopped online paid directly over the Internet with a credit or debit card (Stats
Can, 2005). Although many remain concerned over Internet privacy and exploitation of personal
information, there is a growing list of online retailers overcoming such barriers. Reputable online
retailers offer quality assurance guarantees and online certifications assuring users of their legitimacy
and trustworthiness.
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To protect yourself from being taken advantage of over the internet follow these guidelines when
shopping online:
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Familiarize yourself with any return policies, quality guarantees and all fees and charges before
you buy.
Look carefully at the privacy policy, ensuring the company recognizes Canadian laws about
opting out of the sharing of personal information. If a company is going to share your personal
information they must have your permission first.
Https:// is the lingo for a secured site. Any personal information should be sent over SSL (Secure
Sockets Layer), look for these signs especially during payment.
If you are purchasing through an online auction either from an individual or storefront, check the
site for dispute resolution services (such as PayPal’s moderation service) and customer
satisfaction ratings. Know the risk you face when dealing with individuals.
Do some research. Ask around or Google the company to see what comes up. If they have ripped
people off before then someone will have complained about it. (Shopping Supplement reviews
online stores after shopping them so you can be sure these stores are safe!)
For more information on protecting yourself when shopping online visit Canada’s Better
Business Bureau.
The internet is a
vast resource for online shoppers but it can be difficult finding exactly what
you’re looking for, particularly if you need it shipped to a Canadian address. For shoppers looking for
stylish clothing and accessories there are a number of options available: Department stores, Auctions,
Members-only sample sales, one-of-a-kinds, traditional retailers and exclusively online retailers.
Department stores offer a wide variety of brand names and ongoing sales with a wide selection;
keep in mind that many US based department stores ship to Canadian addresses such as JC Penny,
Nordstrom and high end retailers Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. If you are looking for a
common name brand not available in your area try here first. The most commonly know auction website
is of course Ebay.com. For a personalized Canadian experience visit Ebay.ca that tailors shipping
charges and currency for an easier bidding process.
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Members-only sample-sale sites are growing in popularity and
offer savings up to 80% off retail to registered members. These sites are
free to join and sales last for only a day or two. Sample sale sites that ship
to Canada include Beyond the Rack, Hautelook, Billion Dollar Babes and
the UK’s Reverse-Reverse. One-of-a-kinds refer to sites that sell
homemade or vintage items from individual sellers such as Etsy.com.
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Traditional retailers are stores that have physical locations but also sell their items online. Often
these online stores will have lower prices and a greater selection than in store. Exclusively online
retailers are just what the name suggests. These stores are a great place to find lesser known name
brands and deep discounts.
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Well established online retailers have a wide selection and can afford to offer lower prices
because they don’t pay to have a physical storefront. Try Zappos.com for shoes, Amazon.ca for books,
Shopbop.com or BlueFly.com for stylish clothing and the UK’s Asos.com.
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No matter where you shop you’re guaranteed to find something you didn’t expect online whether
it be a new designer, a great deal, or an entertaining experience. Many Canadians have taken their
shopping from the streets to the web and haven’t looked back. Just keep in mind that there’s no mall
security guards to protect you so keep your wallet and personal information close.
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Chelsea
shoppingsupplement@gmail.com
