From Our President: Buy More Safely Online

The internet has revolutionized our purchasing practices. Virtually every one of our Top Picks of 2024—including kitchen essentials; laundry, cleaning, and home care items; and tech gadgets—can be bought online. Even products we once shopped for in person—like home appliances and used cars—are now commonly purchased online. So much for "kicking the tires!"

The ease of online shopping is, I confess, enjoyable. But it can also obscure serious concerns when it comes to platforms like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, where people sell items to one another. These services can be great for finding deals, but they can also expose us to safety risks, such as buying recalled products, or giving personal info to scammers who want to take your money.

CR’s experts have suggestions for keeping you and your money safe when using these online marketplaces.

First, avoid buying child car seats, bike helmets, and other products where safety is of paramount importance. And make sure the item you’re buying hasn’t been recalled by searching for it at Recalls.gov.

We also advise that you not share any personal info—your home address, credit card number, or email address—with the seller. And be sure to communicate through the site’s messaging feature.

When you meet to collect your purchase, choose a well-lit, heavily trafficked public location—never your home. Meeting in front of a police station is a good choice, and some towns designate "safe zones" just for this purpose.

Finally, avoid paying in cash. Instead, after inspecting the product, use an app such as Apple Cash or CashApp—but be aware it may offer limited fraud protection. Send a small test payment or scan the seller’s in-app QR code to ensure you’re sending money to the right person.

Online bargain hunting is great. CR is here with the advice you need to reduce the risks.