As online shopping intensifies in the lead-up to Christmas, consumers are today being asked to buy from Irish websites and know their rights before purchasing.
The last Monday in November has been branded “Cyber Monday” because of the volume of online shopping that takes place in the run-up to Christmas.
Irish shoppers are expected to spend €420 million on online gifts during the period.
There were risks with online shopping such as non-delivery of goods, returning items and and ensuring they arrived on time, said the National Consumer Agency.
Shoppers should check expected delivery dates, warranties and know what they are entitled to – such as a seven-day period when they can return items and get a refund, the agency said.
Consumers were more informed about online fraud and knew about buying from trusted sources, said Joan Mulvihill, chief executive of the Irish Internet Association.
Online shopping allowed people to ensure they were getting the best price for products by checking various websites, she said. It was also important that shoppers try to buy from Irish websites. “I would encourage people to shop local within Ireland when going online,” Ms Mulvihill added.
Online shoppers in Ireland are expected to spend an average of €227 each before Christmas, according to credit card company Visa.
Another major day for online shopping is December 10th, when the company predicts 10 million transactions will take place across Europe.
The National Consumer Agency said it had received 1,349 queries on online shopping to its helpline this year.