Buying a piece of art is a personal experience, whether it is a gift or for yourself, every piece of art you own tells a small story of how and where you got it and why you love it. Buying art online has many benefits: from the comfort of your own home you can literally buy anything for anywhere in the world, no matter what your budget is you will find something for you without spending hours trailing around the shops.
However, whilst taking advantage of the benefits of online shopping, it is important to protect yourself.
Feedback from other customers, on sites such as Ebay where this service is provided in a secure manner, is very important. Or star ratings from sites such as Amazon. Many people do not bother leaving feedback so if a service has been good enough for people to take the time to do so then is it likely that the seller is trustworthy. I am wary of sites which give testimonials. They may be genuine but are easy to fake. Customer feedback is important but it must be secure.
Check before you make a purchase that secure payment is offered, something like Paypal where no bank details are given is best. Or check that they offer more than one payment method, as legitimate businesses do, so that you can choose the one you are comfortable with. Sending a cheque or postal order may be preferable to giving credit card details, however it is slower and for trusted sellers credit cards are a perfectly safe way to pay, though always check for the little secure padlock icon on the bottom right of your screen to make sure it is a secure connection.
Before buying find out what the shipping cost is. If it is hidden be wary. Sometimes sellers offer you a ‘bargain’ price then charge high shipping fees to make a profit. If the cost of post and packaging is clearly displayed you can judge for yourself if it is appropriate, taking into consideration the item’s location.
An important point that many people fail to consider is the seller’s returns policy. Do they offer complete refunds for damaged or faulty goods, or goods that are not as they were described? Some sellers will refund you the postage costs of returning an item, some will not. Some sellers will say that they take no responsibility for items lost or damaged in the post. If no returns policy is stated at all then it may be worth contacting the seller to ask. Rather than pay money for something damaged or faulty, make sure that you know upfront that any potential problems will be dealt with.
Ask the seller questions about the item. How quickly do they respond? How full are their answers, do they know their product well? Are they helpful and polite or do they treat your question as an inconvenience? This will give you a good idea of how they treat their customers.
Ensure that you have read the item description correctly, pay attention to the specifics. If you can compare different sellers selling similar items, are the prices and the service offered comparable? Do a little background research into your item so that you understand any technical terms used by the seller. Know exactly what you are buying. If you make the mistake and buy the wrong thing the seller doesn’t have to refund to refund you.
Finally, keep all receipts and paperwork and any tracking information given. Take a note of the contact details of the company you are buying from just in case a problem does arise.
There is a lot of beautiful and unique art for sale out there. When you find the right piece for you, buy safely and you will have something you can treasure for life.
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