KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — With the Christmas holiday season coming up, the Better Business Bureau of West Michigan is warning shoppers of new scams.
Troy Baker of the BBB says that new trends in online shopping are concerning.
“What we’re seeing is a new trend in online shopping where people don’t know that the product they’re buying is really gonna come from China and be shipped from China,” Baker said. “In cases like this, it may take you three months to get it. A lot of these companies, you buy it, you think it’s gonna be a couple weeks and it’s gonna be several months, so we want to really get the word out that you need to be very specific with who you’re buying with this holiday shopping season.”
Baker says that many online retailers now use a process called “Drop Shipping.”
“Lots of website are doing this, and basically what they are is a middle man,” Baker said. “They’ll put a product on the website, wait for you to buy it, then when you make your order, they’ll buy it from a company in China and have that company send it directly to you. The difference is it’s gonna take weeks or months to get to you in an era where most of us think there’s gonna be two-day shipping.”
Baker says the best strategy to avoid Drop Shipping is to purchase from reputable online retailers.
“When you’re going to shop online, use a company that you know has a good track record, you know is gonna get it there on time, and if there’s any questions, look them up, do your research and know where it’s coming from beforehand,” Baker said. “Otherwise, that order you make in November or December may not make it on time.”
Shoppers are advised to stay alert as Black Friday and Christmas looms ever closer.
