Consumer Day 2019 takes place this Friday, March 15, and online and physical stores take advantage of the date to offer special discounts on various products. As with any promotion period, buyers should be aware of masked prices and possible scams. With some Internet tools, such as price comparators and coupon sites, and simple tricks, you can buy everything cheaply and securely.
Remember that the date was created to celebrate consumer rights, especially in retail, by former US President John Kennedy in 1962, and endorsed by the United Nations (UN). The date is celebrated worldwide on the 15th, but in Brazil, it is common for the occasion to take place on the nearest Wednesday this year, March 13 or throughout the so-called "Consumer Week".
Here are ten tips for circumventing problems and buying safely on the Internet.
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Consumer Day 2019 happens on March 15 Photo: Pond5
Want to buy a cell phone, TV and other discounted products? Meet the Compare dnetc
1. Access price comparators
If you already have in mind what you need to buy and are looking for a specific discount, it is important to check the history of the product not to be fooled. Use price comparison tools such as Compare dnetc to find out if the currently charged amount is the lowest in months, and check the store that offers the most rebate. Other famous and recommended alternatives are Zoom and Buscap.
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2. Use a coupon aggregator
Discount coupon sites and plugins can help lower your price when you checkout. At dnetc Coupons, you can find stores that lower the price on a particular product, period or by entering code. Cuponeria, CupoNation, Meliuz, Promobit and Pelando are other interesting options to explore and get the lowest possible price for the product you intend to purchase.
3. Investigate Store Reputation
Be extra careful when trying to take advantage of an attractive discount at a little known store. Check if the property has a CNPJ and physical address (usually located at the bottom of the page) and consult the company registration with the IRS.
Also, it is important to check the reputation of the store in Complain Here, always paying attention to the number of complaints resolved and rate of customers who would accept to buy again in the same place. Also, of course, be sure to read customer reviews on Google: just search by name, view star count and view the latest comments.
4. Make sure the site is true and secure.
In addition to assessing the suitability of the company, it is important to know if the site where you make the purchase is true and secure. Check the address of the page and, if in doubt, see if the link core matches a Google search for the official site. Magazine Luiza's website, for example, www.magazineluiza.br and www.magazine-luiza.br.
After ensuring that the site is suitable, it is also important to check for HTTPS protocol protection. If you use Google Chrome, just avoid pages that have the Unsafe label next to the address.
Scammers create fake websites with similar addresses to deceive consumers Photo: Reproduction
5. Update computer antivirus
If you are shopping for a PC, update your antivirus and do a full scan before you start shopping. If your computer is infected with simple adware, even official big-store pages can pose a danger by displaying false advertising over the true elements of the site.
6. Beware of offers on social networks
Scammers often take advantage of discount periods, when there is greater movement in online stores, to act via social networks. So be wary of wild offers on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter ads, and check out a fan page that advertises a certain real promotion. Reputable stores typically have a checkmark next to the profile title to confirm the company's identity.
7. No click on incoming links on WhatsApp
In WhatsApp, care the same. Promos are hardly advertised by major stores using chain scheme, so always doubt messages that come offering products at low prices or free with a suspicious link attached. Most of the time, a click on this conversation takes the user to a fake external site that seeks to steal your bank details.
WhatsApp scams are common; be wary of the links you receive through the app Photo: Tainah Tavares / dnetc
8. Do not use shared computer
Always use your personal or trusted computer to shop online. Machines for public use, such as those found in cafeterias, cafes, and universities, are a gimmick for viruses and other threats that endanger the integrity of your information. Even connected to an official, secure HTTPS site, a PC infected with a simple keylogger can record everything you type on the keyboard, including card numbers and bank passwords.
Just like a computer used by strangers, a publicly accessible Wi-Fi network can pose a risk when browsing. When shopping online, look for a password-protected Wi-Fi network that is not available for public access. If this type of connection is the only one available, enable the PC firewall, set the network to Public on Windows, and launch a trusted VPN service to protect your traffic from potential lurking hackers.
By connecting to public Wi-Fi, you expose yourself to risks; avoid putting personal data on free networks Photo: Divulgao
10. Use virtual credit card
When shopping online, always prefer a credit card to a bank transfer or bank slip. Card purchases can be reversed and claimed. In addition, it is an extra step to use a virtual card, something offered by many credit card operators in the market: your bank's website generates a unique use number, which does not compromise you if the information is intercepted by criminals. If you do not have a credit card, reload a prepaid billet card and use it for purchase.
