Online shopping is fun and a great way to purchase things quickly. However, if you receive a product which is damaged or not as per what was specified on the site, the returns policy on the site will play a critical role in how much savings you make!

Issues to consider
There are a couple of things you need to check on regarding the returns policy of a site such as who bears the shipping costs, whether there is a timeframe within which you need to return the goods, are there restocking charges applicable in case of returning or cancellation of the order etc. You also need to check if the online store is providing you with a complete refund or just allotting store credits to you. The reason is that in the case of store credits there is a timeframe within which you need to use up this credit. 

Contact and reputation
There are other vital aspects to look out in regard to the customer service levels on an online shopping site. For example, you need to check if the site has relevant contact details in case of registering complaints, how many of experience the company has, as well as can you approach their local branches for services or repairs etc. You also need to check on the extent of warranty applicable on the product or items purchased. Make sure to also check on who bears responsibility for giving this guarantee on the product. Also it helps to check on the timeframe within which you need to claim your warranty and under what situations a claim is applicable.

Keeping a record
A good idea is to keep a copy of the returns policy of the site for the specific product you purchased. You also need to print out a copy of the web page that has the company contact information on it. Product information page that showcases the specifics of the product code, description, price etc. are also important documents to keep as a reference. This will help later when you need to make a warranty claim or need to return the product. Make sure to keep these documents safe for the entire warranty period if not more.

Shipping details
As per law any ecommerce site will need to ship the products within the timeframe defined in its site. If it fails to do so or if there is no time limit indicated then you as a consumer have the right to what’s called an ‘opinion notice’. In cases where there is no time stated for shipping it is mandatory for the company to ship the product in 30 days. The ‘opinion notice’ enables you as the consumer to return the product, cancel the transaction and receive a 100% refund!

Added benefits
You also need to check with the website if they provide labels to enable free shipping if you need to return the product. The market is so competitive that most ecommerce sites go the extra mile to ensure their return policies are flexible and generous. Many sites will also never charge consumers for restocking and this applies even to situations where the return is not because of merchant error.