Follow these smart shopping tips to enhance your shopping experience:

Tips for smart shopping by phone or mail

Shopping by phone or mail can be a convenient and satisfactory way to shop for goods. Many marketers provide toll-free ordering and quick delivery. However, as with any type of transaction, there are still things you should keep in mind.

When ordering:

  • Shop around and compare costs and services.
  • Deal only with companies or charities whose reputation and integrity are known.
  • Don't be pressured into acting immediately or without the full information you need.
  • Before ordering, check the company's return policy.
  • Always keep a record of the name, address and phone number of the company, goods you ordered, date of your purchase, amount you paid (including shipping and handling), and method of payment.
  • Never give out your credit card number or personal, financial or employment information unless you know with whom you are dealing.
  • Keep a record of any delivery that was promised.
  • If you are told that the shipment will be delayed, write the date of that notice in your records and the new shipping date, if you've agreed to wait longer.
  • If merchandise is damaged, contact the company immediately. If you're asked to return it, get a receipt from the shipper.
  • Report all fraudulent activity to your provincial or territorial consumer protection agency or the Better Business Bureau.
  • To reduce telephone calls and limit unwanted advertising mail, register with CMA's Do Not Contact Service free of charge.

Unsolicited goods:

  • You are under no obligation to accept or pay for any merchandise you receive in the mail that you did not order. In most provinces and territories, when the sender asks for the merchandise back you must return it at the sender's expense; however, in some provinces and territories you cannot be required to pay for the goods or services unless you agreed to do so in writing. To complain about unsolicited goods, contact your provincial or territorial consumer protection agency.

Tips for smart shopping by television

Shopping from the television offers consumers a fun and entertaining way to purchase innovative products that are often not yet available in stores. Using caution and common sense when purchasing products through this channel still applies. Keep these tips in mind next time you purchase a product from the television:

  • Before ordering, check the company's return policy.
  • Know what you are paying. Many of the products seen on television are from infomercials that are broadcast on U.S. stations. Before agreeing to a purchase, do the math and figure out what the price will be in Canadian dollars. Most people fail to accurately convert the value of currencies and they end up paying more than they hoped as a result. Make sure you include the shipping and handling costs.
  • Always keep a record of the name, address and phone number of the company, goods you ordered, date of your purchase, amount you paid (including shipping and handling), and method of payment.
  • Keep a record of any delivery that was promised.
  • If you are told that the shipment will be delayed, write the date of that notice in your records and the new shipping date, if you've agreed to wait longer.
  • If merchandise is damaged, contact the company immediately. If you're asked to return it, get a receipt from the shipper.
  • Pay attention to product claims. They are often those of the advertiser and not objective or independent evaluations of the product.
  • Just because an ad for a product airs on television does not mean that it has been "cleared" or otherwise reviewed by a federal agency. And don't assume that a television station has done anything to check out the claims made by the advertisers; most broadcasters take no responsibility for the accuracy of the ads they air.

Tips for smart shopping from the Internet

Canadians are surfing the Internet in growing numbers -- for information, communication, entertainment and shopping. The World Wide Web offers a wide range of exciting opportunities. But you should remember to take the same type of precautions as you do when you shop and communicate in the offline world. Before you decide to enter personal information on a website, or make a purchase online, here are a few tips to remember:

  • Deal with companies you know by reputation or experience. If you aren't familiar with the company, do your research. Find out where they are based, and what their policies are on issues such as privacy and security. Do not do business with a company that doesn't list a physical address or telephone number on its website. When dealing with international vendors the risk is higher. Different laws and standards apply and it may be difficult to get local authorities to act on your complaint if you feel a vendor has dealt you with unfairly.
  • Know exactly what you are buying. When shopping in a retail store you have the added benefit of handling the product and seeing the person who is providing the service - benefits that are not available when shopping online. Look for a vendor that provides enough information for you to properly evaluate what you are buying, including details such as the size, colour, weight and texture of the product.
  • Know what you are paying.The final price for online items is often considerably different from the listed price. Any reputable vendor's website will calculate the shipping and handling costs for you before you make a final decision to purchase an item.

    Before agreeing to a purchase, do the math and figure out what the price will be in Canadian dollars. Most people fail to accurately convert the value of currencies and they end up paying more than they hoped as a result.

    Additionally, Canada Customs will calculate and add GST to the cost of most purchases made outside Canada. The agency will also charge you an inspection fee for doing so that may be more than the actual GST on small purchases, such as books and compact discs.

  • Look for a privacy policy. Be sure that you are comfortable with how the company collects, protects and uses your personal information before submitting any details. Responsible marketers have an "opt-out" policy, which allows you to choose whether your information is shared with third parties. Also look for the opportunity to decline to receive any communication by email.
  • Make sure transactions are secure. Do not enter any financial information if you see a broken-key or open padlock symbol on your Internet browser. This means that the transaction is not secure and could be intercepted by a third party. When the key is complete or the padlock is locked, your browser is indicating a secure transaction. Remember, unlike secure order forms on a website, email messages are not private. Do not send confidential information by email.
  • Check for endorsement by an association or a quality assurance program. There are several "seals of approval" for websites that confirm the credibility of the company and the website. For example, the Canadian Marketing Association member logo signifies a company that abides by a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, which includes a comprehensive privacy policy and a section on responsible Internet marketing.
  • Read the fine print before you buy. Make sure you understand all contractual information presented online before agreeing to purchase, including the policy on fulfillment, returns, warranties, etc.
  • Avoid spam (unsolicited commercial email) by being careful about disclosing your email address both on and offline. Check a company's privacy policy to find out whether your email address could be shared with other companies. CMA members will not send you marketing email without your permission and will give you the option to decline to receive further emails at any time.
  • Talk to your children about online activities. Instruct them to keep their personal information private unless you say it's ok. For more information on helping children protect their privacy online, see the CMA's Tips for Parents.