by sirg0508

Created on: August 09, 2011   Last Updated: August 10, 2011

As with buying anything online, there are some risks. Perhaps a little more so with the expense of jewellery but you shouldn’t let it put you off buying online altogether. If you don’t feel comfortable buying e.g. from Ebay then that’s not the end of the world. There are plenty of reputable High Street and high end jewellers with online stores.

Depending on which item of jewellery you want to buy, you need to know your size or you run a great risk of ordering something that won’t fit and need to be returned (usually at your expense). Even if you don’t have a jeweller nearby there are stores online which offer free ring sizers, gauges or tapes which should help a great deal. If you find a ring is too big but want to get it resized, a jeweller may not be able to do so with certain styles or reduce the size by great amounts. Pay close attention to lengths of necklaces and bracelets too or you may end up ordering something which is too short, too long, too big or too small.

While it’s a great idea to browse various sites to get ideas of different styles, even browsing high end jewellers and searching for cheaper but similar styles you do have to be wary of the site you’re thinking of buying from. It’s not always easy to tell which sites are trustworthy or selling genuine products so if you’re using a site you’re not familiar with, Google for reviews. People are far more likely to write a review if they have a negative experience of a company but new sites are popping up all the time so no reviews doesn’t necessarily mean good experiences. Reputable websites will have a secure page when paying so make sure your details are protected before entering them.

Even with reputable retailers there’s always a risk the item gets lost in the post, slow delivery or the item looks different to your expectations from the picture on the website. Contact the business/seller if you do have any questions. If you can, order online with a credit card as you’ll receive more protection than ordering with a debit card. Reputable retailers (at least in the UK) will send items with sufficient postage or opt for recorded/Special Delivery/courier so items can be tracked and are insured if they go missing. There can be delays in getting a refund or replacement item being sent while the item is found.

With websites selling fake goods or impersonating genuine websites there can be far bigger risks. There’s a

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>