Selling merchandise online can be a fabulous means of creating new streams of income, but rising rates of fraud and online theft can render it a risky business if you don't defend yourself.
This is especially true if you often sell on auction sites or operate an independently-owned online store instead of selling through sites like Amazon.
com.
More sophisticated advancements for safeguarding online transactions are being introduced everyday.
Unfortunately techniques of fraud are getting adopting more sophistication.
Con artists quickly learn to foil new security measures and discover new methods to cheat people out of money and goods.
The use of an escrow service can markedly lower your risk when vending merchandise online.
This is particularly true when selling high value products like electronics, video game consoles, jewellery, watches and similar goods, or if you regularly display merchandise on an auction site like eBay.
Interestingly, eBay is all for utilising online escrow services for such articles.
An online escrow service ensures that neither merchant nor shopper has control of both product and funds at the same time, which gives both of you peace of mind.
When using an escrow service, there is still need to display your merchandise on your own web site or an auction site, but the moment a shopper decides to order your products you close out the deal on the escrow service's site.
The escrow firm is a neutral third party who can facilitate the deal securely and make certain both customer and merchant are protected and contented.
For a small fee, you can register your trade with an online escrow site and the shopper makes his payment to the escrow service instead of paying you directly.
The escrow service confirms the payment before you ship the items.
The moment the buyer confirms receipt of the products and approves it, the escrow firm relinquishes custody of the money in your favour.
In this manner both you and the customer are safe.
You are assured that the settlement is guaranteed before delivering your merchandise.
There's no need to think about charge backs, bad checks, bad payments or non-payment.
The purchaser can look out for his contentment with the items, before releasing the payment to your account.
And since you won't receive any clients' credit card or banking information, there's no need for you to worry about storing them or about identity thieves intruding into your site and stealing that information.
Occasionally, swindlers have designs to rob sellers of goods by going through fake escrow services that falsely represent to have received funds and advise you go ahead and deliver the items.
If a shopper prefers to use an escrow service of his choice, seek proof that it's legitimate.
Search the Internet for independent citations like reviews, articles and directories that indicate it has been in operation for a reasonable period.
Go through a WHOIS database to be certain the owner of the web address is the escrow service.
Also, verify the site is protected with 128-bit data encryption - it should have a URL (address) that commences with "https://".
Additionally, your escrow experience will be more enjoyable and rewarding if you pick an escrow service with these features: * A dispute resolution service to provide a forum for you and the buyer work out any problems that may come up * Various payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, and wire transfers * A user-friendly and dynamic interface that makes it quick and convenient to conduct business.
* Multi-currency facilities that accept transactions in the leading global currencies, including EUR, USD & GBP - especially if you offer merchandise to customers in other countries * Detailed support and FAQ section * Step-by-step transaction instructions
This is especially true if you often sell on auction sites or operate an independently-owned online store instead of selling through sites like Amazon.
com.
More sophisticated advancements for safeguarding online transactions are being introduced everyday.
Unfortunately techniques of fraud are getting adopting more sophistication.
Con artists quickly learn to foil new security measures and discover new methods to cheat people out of money and goods.
The use of an escrow service can markedly lower your risk when vending merchandise online.
This is particularly true when selling high value products like electronics, video game consoles, jewellery, watches and similar goods, or if you regularly display merchandise on an auction site like eBay.
Interestingly, eBay is all for utilising online escrow services for such articles.
An online escrow service ensures that neither merchant nor shopper has control of both product and funds at the same time, which gives both of you peace of mind.
When using an escrow service, there is still need to display your merchandise on your own web site or an auction site, but the moment a shopper decides to order your products you close out the deal on the escrow service's site.
The escrow firm is a neutral third party who can facilitate the deal securely and make certain both customer and merchant are protected and contented.
For a small fee, you can register your trade with an online escrow site and the shopper makes his payment to the escrow service instead of paying you directly.
The escrow service confirms the payment before you ship the items.
The moment the buyer confirms receipt of the products and approves it, the escrow firm relinquishes custody of the money in your favour.
In this manner both you and the customer are safe.
You are assured that the settlement is guaranteed before delivering your merchandise.
There's no need to think about charge backs, bad checks, bad payments or non-payment.
The purchaser can look out for his contentment with the items, before releasing the payment to your account.
And since you won't receive any clients' credit card or banking information, there's no need for you to worry about storing them or about identity thieves intruding into your site and stealing that information.
Occasionally, swindlers have designs to rob sellers of goods by going through fake escrow services that falsely represent to have received funds and advise you go ahead and deliver the items.
If a shopper prefers to use an escrow service of his choice, seek proof that it's legitimate.
Search the Internet for independent citations like reviews, articles and directories that indicate it has been in operation for a reasonable period.
Go through a WHOIS database to be certain the owner of the web address is the escrow service.
Also, verify the site is protected with 128-bit data encryption - it should have a URL (address) that commences with "https://".
Additionally, your escrow experience will be more enjoyable and rewarding if you pick an escrow service with these features: * A dispute resolution service to provide a forum for you and the buyer work out any problems that may come up * Various payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, and wire transfers * A user-friendly and dynamic interface that makes it quick and convenient to conduct business.
* Multi-currency facilities that accept transactions in the leading global currencies, including EUR, USD & GBP - especially if you offer merchandise to customers in other countries * Detailed support and FAQ section * Step-by-step transaction instructions
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