Shopping online offers many conveniences – most of all serious savings, both in cost and time spent not schlepping off to a bricks-and-mortar store. But what are the pitfalls involved with shopping online? Our advice covers your rights, returns, delivery times and customer service, along with invaluable tips on how to get the best experience shopping online.
Buying online
Buying online
When you're splurging on new shoes or ordering the latest bestseller online, it helps to know your rights and how to navigate the system.
Review and compare
Electronics store reviews
Over 7000 CHOICE members rate their experiences with stores including Myer, David Jones, Harvey Norman, Betta, Appliances Online and more.
Articles
Mosaic Brands customers still wait for hand sanitiser marketed amid COVID-19 panic
The owner of Katies, Rockmans and Noni B jumped into the hand sanitiser market, but have over-promised and under-delivered.
Click Frenzy online sale: deal or dud?
Click Frenzy's next online sale starts Tuesday 19 May: here’s how you can be a savvy shopper.
Subscription services that deliver to your door
We look at what you can get delivered during the COVID-19 lockdown, from books and toiletries to craft and gardening kits.
How to get your money back from a PayPal transaction
What to do when you want a refund for goods and services paid for with PayPal.
Top tips for shopping online
How to shop online like a pro, even if you've never done it before.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019 shopping tips
How to avoid the duds and find the best bargains in the sales.
The joy sublime of shopping online
The lazy person's guide to retail therapy
Online shopping subscription services
We compare Amazon Prime, eBay Plus and Shipster to see which has the best deals.
ShopMate and US freight-forwarding services
What are your postage options when US retailers won't ship your purchases to Australia?
Australians shopping online face $5 parcel tax
Will be in addition to upcoming GST tax on goods below $1000.
ZipPay: What is it and can you trust it?
The adage goes: if it sounds too good to be true...
Buying online from overseas retailers
If you receive a faulty product, what are your consumer rights in Australia?
Red Balloon fined by ACCC
Busted for profiting from card surcharges.
Click Frenzy clothing retailers put on notice by ACCC
Watchdog tells a dozen retailers to clean up their policies.
Will Australia Post's Shipster delivery service save you money?
Australia Post and more than 40 big-brand retailers have banded together to pre-empt the local arrival of Amazon.
Afterpay: What is it and can it be trusted?
The digital checkout service where you take now and pay later is quickly growing in Australia.
Thousands ripped off by education firm Get Qualified, rules Federal Court
The ailing company used unconscionable sales tricks and broke advertised promises.
Shopping online not without problems for Australians
More than a third of online purchases are damaged, lost or spoiled by a number of other issues.
Amazon announces plans to launch in Australia
The retail giant will make the multi-million dollar move to start a local operation.
LuxStyle website ripping off Australians, warns ACCC
More than a hundred reports against the Danish retailer filed to the ACCC in two months.
ACCC investigates fake online reviews
What you see is not always what you get when it comes to online review sites.
Government will block overseas websites that refuse to collect GST
Retail sites that don't follow new tax rules will be blocked to Australians, says a Treasury source.
Rio 2016 Olympic Games ticket scams
UK consumer organisation Which? points to a possible ticketing flim-flam.
Beware of 'subscription traps', warns ACCC
23 June 2016 | Some online retailers have been adding sneaky ongoing membership costs to single item purchases.
High cost of living with a disability
Mobility aids and other assistive technology is critical to the lives of Australians with a disability – but are we paying more for it than people overseas?
Targeted pricing online
Why you could be paying a higher price for online goods and services without knowing.
Hefty fees proposed for overseas purchases
17 June 2015 | Lowering the GST threshold could see online shopping costs skyrocket for Australians.
Bargain book buys
Real books, virtual bookstores
Buying cheaper clothing online
Australians are still being forced to pay a premium price for clothing, even when we buy online.
Counterfeit goods
Counterfeit goods are on the rise and getting harder to pick. We help you spot the difference between Fendi and a Prentendi.
Group buying sites
Should you trust group buying sites or should you steer clear?
High postage paid
Why Australian parcel postage costs so much, and "free shipping" isn't really free.
One cent and penny auction investigation
We delve into the murky world of one-cent or penny auctions to find out if they're too good to be true.
Online shopping checklist
Top tips for staying safe while buying goods online.
Online shopping guide
We give you the lowdown on how to shop the virtual marketplace.
Online shopping delivery and returns
Online shopping is convenient, but what happens when you need extra help? We see how online customer service stacks up.
Amazon enters Australia promising next day deliveries
A spot check on pricing indicates it's competitive in some categories, but not so much in others.
Foreign transaction fees when shopping online
You don't need to be converting currency to get hit with foreign transaction fees.
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Online shopping
The world's biggest shopping mall is always at your fingertips. Knowing how to navigate it properly can save you time and money.
Taking action and making a complaint
Don't just yell and scream to let off steam, get the outcome you want with some targeted complaining.