Online shopping: check the reliability of the merchant site

Some checking is required

Before placing an order, make sure the seller is legitimate by verifying his identity and reputation online. See the general terms and conditions of sale and the legal notice to avoid unfair terms. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) recommends that enter the name of the site or product on a search engine, possibly associated with the term scam ”.

Beware of consumer reviews, they can be false positive reviews written by the professional (or an agency) or negative reviews posted by the competition, even if the practice of false comments is prohibited in France.

Place Order

When placing your order:

• beware of attractive offers;

• read the product description carefully (full name, size or measurements, composition, accessories provided or not...). Don't settle for the photo alone;
• choose a european or french site (which guarantees the right of withdrawal). In the event of a dispute, your claims against foreigner sites outside the EU will be less likely to succeed.

Online payment

Before you pay

You must be able to check the details of your order, its total price and delivery costs in order to correct any errors. If there is no mention of delivery times, be aware that, by default, the merchant site has a 30-day period to move the goods. Also check the pre-checked boxes and any additional payments that could have been added to your cart without your knowledge.

The consent of your order is characterized by a double click:

• on 1^er Click to check the nature and composition of the command and the possibility to modify it.
• on 2^e click allows you to confirm the order definitively (this is the conclusion of the contract between the seller site and the buyer).

Payment

Make sure you are on a secure page. If so, the “http:// »” turns into “https:// »”, with an “s” for “secure”; a closed lock can also appear in your browser window.

It is recommended to accept double authentication with your bank to make your purchases (code received by SMS, digital key...).

After payment has been validated

Once your payment has been validated, you must receive a confirmation of your order listing the goods or services purchased, the price, the delivery and a withdrawal form. Verify that the amount charged to your account matches the order made.

In the event of a dispute, what remedies are available?

In the event of a product that does not comply with the description, a delivery problem, or a refund not being made, you can take action by contacting customer service to explain your problem. First by telephone and then by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (keep a copy of all your exchanges) if the call was not conclusive.

You can report any problems encountered during your online purchase to the DGCCRF via the website SignalConso.