Online purchase is no more a techie’s term. It has crossed all the barriers and reached every household in India. Companies like Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal… have now become the generic names for the online shopping. With the luxury to shop by clicking a mouse and the choice to avail best bargains… online purchases seem good at the first look. But a few things to be taken care of before filling your cart.
 
Be sure of your requirement:

We often start with casually browsing the site and end up purchasing things that we don’t need. Online markets have thousands of products to display at reasonable prices. Products that tempt us and prices that prompt us might be a source of repentance in future. So let’s answer ourselves- Why should we purchase the product? Will that be a burden on our budget or the space we live in? Does it satisfy our long term requirements?

Before choosing the product:

Read the product details carefully. Conclude whether it would meet your requirement or not. For example: A graphic designer might need a laptop with latest processor (for rendering output). A Medical transcriptionist on the other hand might require a laptop with latest ram (for internet browsing). Always get acknowledged about the technical details of the product you wish to purchase. Words like `RPM (revolutions per minute) ` are indeed of great importance while determining the worth of a product.
Then compare the prices of different brands with same features.

Be sure of the details:

Let’s be sure of the minute details before adding the product to the cart. The details that were left unattended might prove disastrous. For instance: If you are tempted to purchase a reference book. Be sure of the facts like - number of pages, year of edition, size of the book, paperback or hardbound etc. Many book lovers often ignore the technical words like `abridged` which would disappoint them after the arrival of the package.
 
Don’t go by the name:

Computers follow keywords while searching the data. Humans follow the same procedure while selecting a product.  The ads we see, the words we hear might influence us for a purchase. A product that might have changed the course of history may now be obsolete.  A product might boast of a latest addition to its gadget that is useless. It’s not just the trend or the brand value that should affect your decision. Your own assessment of the product should be finale.
 
Before closing the deal:

A few more precautions might make a purchase to be perfect.

- It’s better to read the comments of the customers (particularly those of a single star) to be aware of the loopholes in the product.

- Whether the product comes with Installation and Demo services!

- Observe the warranty or the guarantees offered and the parts on which they are offered.

- Facility to return the product should be noted.

- Delivery charges, VAT or any hidden charges should be observed.
 
HAPPY SHOPPING

-nirjara