Site Safety For Sock Shopping

Site Safety For Sock Shopping

Common mistakes to avoid when buying socks online

Buying socks online should be quick, convenient, easy, and hassle free.  Often it is, if sock buyers go to sites like BLACKSOCKS and other high-end eCommerce retailers.  BLACKSOCKS, the first sock eTailer to sell men’s socks via the Internet, provides advice for consumers to make sure the right choices are made.

Shopping online is convenient, until things go wrong.  Here are some things to look for safe shopping sites and avoid any scams or fraud.

Look for contact details

A reputable, legitimate site will display contact details on its site including an address, email, phone number and some with even a live chat option.  All genuine online stores invite customers to reach out to them for information. If there are barriers to get in touch, then that is a red flag.

Customer Feedback

Customer reviews have become a staple on shopping sites so look for them.  Customers can also do a quick search with the site’s name and the word “scam” or “fake” and you can quickly find out whether other people had issues or bad experiences.

Secure Technology

Websites that include an “s”: https: are inherently safer as they include SSL security technology.  SSL stands for Security Sockets Layers, a global standard security technology that enables encrypted communication between a web browser and web server. It is used by millions of online businesses and individuals to decrease the risk of sensitive information such as credit cards usernames, passwords and other private information from being stolen or tampered with by hackers and identity thieves. SSL ensures for a private conversation between the buyer and the seller. The other secure sign is the padlock icon right before the address.

Whois Lookup and Google Safe Browsing

If you want to be particularly vigilant you can run the name of the website through this site:

https://www.whois.com/whois/

Most websites are registered through his international association. If the details match the contact details listed on the website, then chances are it is safe to buy.  There is also a tool Google developed to check if the website you are visiting is unsafe. Sometimes even legitimate sites have been comprised by hackers.

https://www.google.com/transparencyreport/safebrowsing/diagnostic/?

Professional Look and Feel

A professional looking site that is easy to navigate and works intuitively are the first signs of a legitimate website. Is it well laid out? Are the images high-resolution? Is the language free of grammar and spelling errors? Visitors can also compare the site to other sites that you trust.

If you follow these tips, you should be able to tell whether a site is safe and genuine, or if it doesn’t look legitimate. No single one of these tips will guarantee a website is safe, but when combined, chances are you’re dealing with the real thing.