What You Need To Know Before Buying Through FB, Instagram

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Tips To Watch Out

In December 2020, Srishti Gupta, a 28-year-old HR associate with a digital marketing firm from Mumbai, was keen to buy organic ingredients to make ‘healthy’ recipes. Like the hundreds of users who out of curiosity end up clicking on Facebook or Instagram ads, Gupta too landed on a page that sold organic stuff. What followed however was a not-so-pleasant experience. After shelling out a couple of thousand rupees, she found that the brand did not ship on time. Although Gupta kept chasing, the products never arrived, and she learnt a bitter lesson — always be careful before buying from random sellers on social media. “I wouldn’t say never again, but I do recommend treading with caution before buying anything on social media,” Gupta said. Nearly 90% of people on Instagram follow a business and about 50% of Instagram users are more interested in a brand when they see an ad on the platform. In fact, a normal Instagram or Facebook feed is full of pop-up ads — selling cookies, T-shirts, organic food — tempting one to look and maybe even buy the product. Yet, the internet is rife with online shopping scams and Gupta’s case may not even be that uncommon. Though Facebook has a rigorous process before it approves sellers on its platform, it is still not fool-proof. So, is it safe to buy from social media sites? Here are some tips on what to watch out for before purchasing from sellers.

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​Look Global, Buy Local

It is always a better idea to find local sellers on Instagram since delivery will not be too much of a hassle and will be relatively inexpensive. If you buy from international sellers, you might end up paying a hefty cost for shipping.

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Quality Of Photos

For an online seller, it is important to put out images that look genuine and authentic. If the seller you are looking to buy from has images that look grainy or do not have multiple shots, you are better off avoiding it.

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​Look For Red Flags

This is really effective. Do a simple search of product name/company name and online scams. If there is a red flag, simply avoid and look for other options. Online scams have been rampant — more so during the Covid-19 pandemic — as more people shift to online shopping.

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​S Stands For Safe

While selling on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram is relatively easier, do check whether the company you are buying from has a website or not. Ensure that the website URL has “https” and not simply “http”. The ‘S’ here stands for Secure, and only websites that keep your information — credit card or payment wallets — safe and secure, come with an extra S.

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​Double-Check Shipping

Always check for the terms and conditions of shipping. In a rush to grab that ‘unbeatable’ offer, often people click without reading all the details. Always check for the returns policy as well.

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Check Reviews

If you find too many over-the-top reviews for a product or service, chances are they might be paid reviews. Facebook is not the best when it comes to vetting people advertising on its platforms, so do your research. In Gupta’s case, a few glowing mentions on the seller’s social media page made her opt for the product, with disastrous results.

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