Many people are apprehensive about purchasing personal gifts such as jewellery online, being able to physically see the product being often the preference. There is also still a degree of apprehension around security and the reputability of the online jewellery company you are dealing with. This article will explain why when searching for a special gift for a loved one or specifically looking for a beautiful new piece of jewellery you should turn to online stores and what you should look out for.
The single most important factor of purchasing from an online jewellery store is price! Most web only companies do not have the overheads of brick and mortar stores; you will often find designer brands or specialist items with large genuine cost savings from these retailers, an online jewellery store is able to pass on savings they make from lower overheads direct to the consumer meaning you benefit!
When buying jewellery online you need to ensure that the store you are purchasing from has some fundamental things in place.
1) A contact form
2) A published returns policy
3) Privacy policy
4) SSL security in place
The third point is the most important! SSL stands for secure socket layer. You will notice when you process payments online your web browser displays a padlock, this padlock indicates that your payment and card details are protected. Never purchase from any online jewellery store that does not have the padlock symbol on their checkout pages!
The next thing to understand from your selected store is if the jewellery is made by the owner, if so this indicates that they are a much smaller operation, this might make returns a little more risky if they are selling direct. My recommendation if you were looking for handcrafted items would be to use one of many large online companies dedicated to offering small one man band jewellery designers a platform to selling, that or of course eBay is an excellent source of handcrafted jewellery with all the protection of a major brand behind it.
The best thing about buying jewellery online is that it is so convenient! If the online retailer has the right software in place you can view the items in great detail, often in more detail than in person (unless you take a magnifying glass!). With the right packaging and gift wrapping selected, the right item chosen you can simply sit back and wait for your selected item to arrive from the comfort of your own home!
When looking to buy jewellery online simply take care to ensure you follow the above steps regarding security and you will have found a great way to buy jewellery.
