Disputing a Price on an Item Purchased on the Internet

For the most part, doing business on the Internet is a positive experience.  Not to mention that you can get very good deals even with shipping and handling charges.  Case in point: a local merchant had prices of $39.95 and up on new cell phone batteries.  But online the identical battery was found for less than $6.00 and shipping was just $3.00.  Worth it?  You bet!

However, what about those times when you have a bad experience with something you purchased from a merchant many miles away?  Here are some tips to help make sure you have a happy ending to your experience.

Before you buy.  Part of the process of making a purchase on the Internet has to do with researching from whom you are buying.  Make sure that the company is reputable.  There are several ways to do this.  First, many websites carry the Better Business Bureau icon to let buyers know that they at least care about customer satisfaction.

But this is not always a sure-fire way of insuring this, so you must go an extra step.  Look up the name of the merchant on Google or any other search engine with the word ‘dispute’ or ‘fraud’ after them.  You might be surprised to find out information about the company that you would otherwise have missed.  Just keep in mind that there are forums that feature entries from disillusioned buyers who had an isolated bad experience.  Look for trends in viewing the results of your search.

Check and Double Check.  Make sure your order is correct before you click ‘submit.’  Many mistakes are made by the buyers which can cause the same amount of angst over a purchase.  To help in this, be sure to print out a copy of your order to keep handy.  Or, make a screen copy of the window and paste it into a document for later reference.

Make Every Effort.  If you find an error in your order, contact the merchant as soon as possible.  Never allow the trail to grow cold on a mistake.  It is always easier for merchants to remember or find information regarding your transaction of it is done soon thereafter.  Be persistent, but not rude or cruel.  Remember that these merchants handle many, many transactions during the course of their work and it might be difficult to keep you separated in their mind from all of the rest.

Find a Way to Resolve it.  Make every effort to resolve the problem.  Keep an open mind and realize that part of the error might be on your end, too.  If the merchant offers a resolution, look at it realistically and make a determination if fixes the situation to your satisfaction.  If not, then make sure that you communicate the reasons that you are still unhappy.

There are some government organizations that can help with merchants who treat customers badly.  If you feel that is the case, then contact your local state Attorney General’s office.

Keep these points in mind and have a great experience on the Internet with your next purchase.