You can save a lot of money by buying your jewelry online, but there are some things to keep in mind. To be a practical online buyer you need to know what it is that you are purchasing. In other words, it is important to be educated about the merchandise. The best approach is to research the market and get a feel for the prices and quality ratings of the merchandise. Please read our "learn about Jewelry" section for more information.
Before entering your credit card information on a website make sure the address section of the page has "https" instead of "http". The lack of "s" indicates the site is not secure. If a site is not secure do not enter your credit card information.
You should also consider checking any online jewelry store's return policy, as well as reviews, testimonials, reputations, and history, by researching the site; search engines will often turn up some good information. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau-- you might be surprised at the kind of information you can find there. Finally, always make sure that the seller has the item in inventory and that it will be shipped out promptly.
The return policy is the most important factor to consider; since you can't see the merchandise close at hand, there is a high probability that you may want to return the item. Even if the seller's price is very low, always consider the return policy first.
Make sure not to send your credit card number or other sensitive information over e-mail.