The
Connecticut BBB is warning
students and parents to be cautious when shopping for prom and graduation
apparel online. BBB warns that unethical
sellers will switch stock garments' labels with designer labels; sell cheaply-manufactured,
low-quality merchandise that looks different than the online advertisement; and
ship merchandise late or not at all.
Online
shoppers should take the following precautions.
- Check the website's reputation. BBB business reviews contain information
about the quality of the seller's products and services as well as a
record of complaints and government actions against the seller.
- Look for hidden costs and policies. Keep shipping and handling fees in mind
and ask whether you can return the garment for a full refund.
- Stick with a safe payment method. Credit cards and online payment
processing services (such as PayPal) protect consumers when there is a
dispute over unauthorized charges.
Debit cards do not offer the same protection. Do not trust websites that require
payment by wire transfer or prepaid gift card.
- Make sure you can find the seller. The seller's website should list a
physical location and a working phone number.
- Look for HTTPS://
along with a padlock icon in your browser's address bar. This tells you that the website is
taking precautions with its payment processing system.
Consumers
who encounter a problem with an unethical seller can file a complaint with the Connecticut BBB, Federal Trade Commission, or FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
