Watchgeezer's Top 10 Tips For Buying A Watch Online - PART II

6. DELIVERY & RETURNS

Check out the delivery and return options on the website selling your chosen watch. When buying a watch of a significant value then free delivery is nice but not as important as having a secure, trackable delivery option so you get your watch in the best condition.

On the other hand, free returns is a great option allowing you to buy a watch with the freedom to say 'No' and return it for a full refund or to exchange it for another one. Just make sure the watch is not scratched or marked in any way and all tags and packaging remains intact.

Learn more about TIME²'s returns policy here

7. WARRANTIES & GUARANTEES

One of the dangers of buying online is that the watch being represented on the web page is not the same as the one that'll drop through your letterbox. Ensure the watch comes with a manufacturers warranty and guarantee, if the site doesn't specify this but looks legit, then contact them to find out.

8. COMPARE TO THE REAL WORLD

Going outside does kinda defeat the object of online shopping but if you're lacking the confidence to part with a significant chunk of money online then a trip outside may just provide you with the confidence boost you need.

You can visit some high street retailers and try on various watches just to get an idea of size and weight, then arm yourself with this information when you go back home to find the exact watch you love online and save some money in the process.

Alternatively, you can visit one of TIME²'s stores for inspiration.

9. WRIST SIZE

Some retailers offer bracelet resizing for those watches that come with adjustable metal link bracelets. Simply measure your wrist with a tape measure, or a piece of string and then measuring the string with a ruler, and send it off to the retailer with your order.

Measure your wrist where you'd wear the watch and hold the tape measure or string as tightly as you'd like the watch to be. Even better, if you have a watch that already fits perfectly, measure that.

Find out more here about TIME²'s wrist size adjustment here

10. SECURE PAYMENT & CONTACT INFO

Before parting with your money make sure you're giving to it a legitimate source. The best way of doing this is first checking that they use an approved payment method, usually scrolling to the bottom of the site will give you an indication, eg. TIME² specifies its transactions are 'Secured by SagePay'. Other secure online payment systems can include but are not limited to; PayPal, SafeBuy, ISIS Accreditation, GeoTrust, Comodo and VeriSign.

The second thing to do is once you have clicked through to the checkout page, make sure the web address in the address bar at the top of your browser starts with https:// - the 's' means the page is secure and using encryption to communicate your personal details.

You should also see a little padlock icon, usually at the bottom right of your browser, showing this is a secure transaction.

If you're unsure of the legitimacy of a site check for their contact information. Is it easily found? Is a street address shown? Is a phone number available? Does speaking with them give you more confidence? Only pay via credit/debit card, PayPal or Google Checkout. Using moneywire services doesn’t give you any guarantees or comeback. I would also be wary of imparting your card details over the phone.

There's more online shopping tips here at Consumerdirect.gov.