The holidays this year certainly look a lot different than they have in years past. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have taken their toll and made shopping a little harder and a whole lot more dangerous than it was even a year ago.

Shopping for Christmas during the pandemic has certainly been a challenge for many, and especially for the proud members of the United States Postal Service who have worked around the clock to make sure everyone has a happy and merry Christmas season.

For many people who are now ordering their Christmas presents online, it’s been a little concerning when it comes to purchasing luxury items. People are afraid they won’t get their luxury item, or even that it won’t be the item they’re supposed to receive. In this article, you’ll find a few tips for buying luxury items online this Christmas season.

Always place your orders from a secure connection.

While you’re happy to shop new luxury watch arrivals online, you want to ensure that you’re placing your luxury watch order from a secure connection. The bottom line is, if your computer isn’t protected from viruses, malicious software, and possible hackers, then your financial information isn’t protected either. This tip goes for whatever you’re purchasing online, whether it’s luxury items or your medication, never place an order from an unsecured connection.

Research the merchant and their reputation.

If you already know the merchant and their merchandise, then you’re safe in assuming that their online site and shipping are just as reputable as their brick and mortar locations. For example, if you’ve purchased shoes and boots in every size at fair and reasonable prices from a retailer with success in the past, then you should be safe to order your wide width booties from that site as well. Whether you’re looking for booties with high heels, straps, or a classy leopard print, if you know the reputation of the merchant, then you should be fine.

If you aren’t sure of the site, please research it, and check into the merchant’s reputation by reading reviews before you make a final decision to buy luxury items from this seller.

Avoid the “too good to be true” offers.

As with everything else in the world, there are going to be offers on luxury websites at Christmas that seem a little too good to be true. Follow your instincts with these offers. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. If the price seems to be too low, consider whether the merchant secured the items legally, if you’ll get the items you paid for, and even if the items will be what you thought they were supposed to be.

Make sure the site is secure.

Never give any payment information to a site that you don’t know for 100% is secure. Look to see if there’s an HTTPS address on the page, not an HTTP. This will help you determine if the site is secure and ready to use.

Skip using a debit card.

There are many ways to pay safely online, but the best seems to be a credit card or PayPal. It’s best to skip using your debit card, as if for some reason your account is hacked or the site turns out not to be safe, you risk losing all the money in your account.

These are just a few tips for shopping for luxury items online this Christmas season. Remember, it’s safer to shop online than go out in today’s pandemic, so take your time, do your research, and buy your luxury items from sites that you can trust.