Ideas on Customer Service

Part II of a two part series.

BBB offers advice for finding the perfect gift for dad
It is that time of year again. Father’s Day is right around the corner and consumers are looking for the perfect gift to honor dad. Whether it is a new shirt or tie, a cool electronic device or a bottle of cologne, your Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin advises you to shop smart when you hit the mall. If you would rather avoid the weekend shopping crowd, many of the same retailers can be found online.
According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2015 Father’s Day Spending Survey, 75 percent of Americans are expected to celebrate Father’s Day this year. Nationwide, spending for dad is expected to reach a total of $12.7 billion. The average consumer will spend about $115 on gifts, approximately the same amount as last year.
When it comes to gifts for dad, the NRF said nearly 40 percent of consumers will purchase apparel items while others will opt for other gifts, such as tickets to a sporting event or a special meal at a restaurant. The NRF also said 36 percent of consumers will shop for gifts in department stores, while 29 percent will shop online.
This Father’s Day, BBB advises consumers to take caution when shopping and ordering merchandise online. What you see online may not be what arrives, (or doesn’t arrive), on your doorstep. In 2014, BBB received nearly 5,000 consumer complaints nationwide against online retailers. Most consumers reported issues with advertising and delivery.
For helpful online buying advice, BBB recommends the following:

• Read customer reviews about an item before purchasing. BBB offers customer reviews on its BBB Business Reviews available at bbb.org. Customer reviews often say a lot about the product and the retailer and help give other customers a good idea of what to expect when the item is received. BBB recommends consumers read the whole description of the item and compare prices against other safe websites that may offer the same item.
• Carefully read any fine print. Find out the terms for exchanging or returning a gift. When buying gifts, get refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee policies in writing. Make sure you know the expiration date of any offers and if a refund is available.   
• Know the terms and conditions when purchasing gift cards or gift certificates. Check that the expiration date and any other conditions won’t be problematic. If you are giving a gift card to someone who will make online purchases, be sure the gift card is redeemable for Internet shopping and not just for in-store use.
• Ask for gift receipts. Gift receipts generally include a description of the item purchased but do not disclose the price paid. Without proof-of-purchase, the recipient may be turned down for returning or exchanging the item, or risk receiving an exchange at a lower price. 
• Pay with a credit card. Try to always pay with a credit card when ordering online. A purchase with a credit card is protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. This act protects consumers in the event that credit card information is stolen and used without permission.