Released: February 01, 2017

Free guides help online shoppers deal with post-holiday returns and order issues

Consumer Action publishes tips for online shoppers to avoid—or get successful resolution for—customer service disputes

Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 202-544-3088 | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 727-871-3204

San Francisco, CA—Each year, millions of online shoppers attempt to return or exchange merchandise in the weeks following the holiday shopping frenzy. To help these consumers get the resolution they’re looking for, Consumer Action shares tips for resolving disputes and avoiding online shopping threats in their two new guides.

In Savvy Online Shopping: Tips for Trouble-Free Transactions, downloadable here, consumers learn how to enjoy the many advantages of online shopping while reducing the likelihood of potential issues. There are numerous security tactics consumers can employ to transact safely and efficiently online. This newly published guide provides helpful information in an easy-to-implement manner.

Because problems sometimes arise despite best efforts to avoid them, a second guide, Savvy Online Shopping: How to Resolve a Dispute, was created. Downloadable here, this publication guides shoppers through the resolution process with best practices and cost-effective resources.

“After the holidays, consumers who did much or most of their gift shopping online might have a number of issues to resolve, from returns and exchanges to price adjustments and missing-package claims,” said Linda Sherry, Consumer Action’s director of national priorities. “Our guides are intended to give these consumers the knowledge and tools to feel empowered to resolve any problem they might have and to practice safe and savvy online shopping in the future.”

The consumer publications, available for free download on the Consumer Action website, are part of a full training module, including a topic backgrounder (Q&A), lesson plan and companion PowerPoint presentation to be used by consumer educators nationwide in their communities. The training materials will be available on Consumer Action's Savvy Online Shopping Module page by March 1, 2017, and will be promoted by email to the organization’s national network of nearly 7,000 community groups. The two guides, available in English and Spanish, are available now.

eConsumerServices, an online mediation service for consumers and merchants, served as a contributor to and sponsor of the Savvy Online Shopping project.

“Well-educated consumers are one of most important building blocks of a balanced economy. It was an honor to work with Consumer Action and contribute to such an effort to increase awareness and inform customers about the potential new threats and the helpful resources available today. With more retailers moving online, nothing could be more relevant to sustainable success,” said Monica Eaton-Cardone, co-founder of eConsumerServices.

* * *

About Consumer Action: Consumer Action has been a champion of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, Consumer Action focuses on consumer education that empowers low- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers to financially prosper. The organization also advocates for consumers in the media and before lawmakers to advance consumer rights and promote industry-wide change. By providing consumer education materials in multiple languages, a free national hotline, a comprehensive website and annual surveys of financial and consumer services, Consumer Action helps consumers assert their rights in the marketplace and make financially savvy choices. Nearly 7,000 community and grassroots organizations benefit annually from its extensive outreach programs, training materials and support.

About eConsumerServices: eConsumerServices provides dispute mediation services to ensure equitable conflict resolution for those engaging in eCommerce transactions. The company helps bridge the gap between credit card holders and merchants, working to facilitate a safe and satisfying online shopping experience.