IFSM Discussion

Determining Whether A Site Is Safe

Theft and fraud issues are very prevalent in online shopping sight in the current days, for one to secure themselves, the following is put into considerations. 

1. Customers response

One thing to check is the feedback from the clients for the site. This is inclusive of the ratings of the site. By going through this feedback information, one can gauge the safety of the website before shopping.

2. Level of information asked.

Personally, I considered the information a vendor asks from me so as to ship or deliver my order. This is because as much as the information is required some of the information is not needed in the delivery process (Sarkar, 2011). For example, a vendor that requests information about, my bank account number, or even social security number is not genuine. 

Need To Use a Credit Card for a Purchase in Stores

The same scrutiny applies to the store as the online vendors too, only at this point there are additional points to check. For example, the reputation of the store and how long it has operated in the area. This helps in building the confidence of the store’s operations. 

Consumer Advocacy Groups or Government to Control Irregularities or Complaints.

The government is best suited for handling all the unsecured online sites; this is because the government has the resources as well as the legitimacy to arrests. On the other hand, it is not easy to evaluate the legality and legitimacy of all the consumer advocacy groups. Which also suits the government to handle all complaints. 

Purposes of Consumer Advocacy Groups

The groups help in protecting citizens from cooperating abuse, for example, false advertisements, pollution as well as fraudulent lending to name a few. They are also mandated to serve the citizens with information with regards to the safety of the products in the market (Goldstrom, 2006). 

The Method of Filing a Consumer Complaint

At first one is to file all the purchase information required, for example, the receipts from the product bought. Then contact the seller, one is to start with the sales person and raise your complain/problem. If the problem is not solved, one is to contact the head office for help. Again if the issue is not resolved, then one is bound to raise a complain through the local consumer protection agencies as a third party, where if the problem is not attended to, one can seek legal action and sue the company or business. 

Reference

Goldstrom, I. D., Campbell, J., Rogers, J. A., Lambert, D. B., Blacklow, B., Henderson, M. J., & Manderscheid, R. W. (2006). National estimates for mental health mutual support groups, self-help organizations, and consumer-operated services. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 33(1), 92-103.

Sarkar, A. (2011). Impact of utilitarian and hedonic shopping values on an individual’s perceived benefits and risks of online shopping. International management review, 7(1), 58.