Smart shopping with Mastercard this Father’s Day

For many the mere idea of navigating through bustling shopping centres and standing in long queues, is a nightmare. It is for this reason that the world of online shopping has really taken off. Ahead of your Father’s day shopping, Mastercard has shared a few tips on how to be a savvy online shopper.

-Become familiar with the e-tailer: “Review previous customer ratings and reviews as this often provides good insight about overall customer service and the quality of the items sold. Also check out their return and refund policy before placing your order. MasterCard recommends that if you are buying from an online store outside of your country, that you familiarise yourself with the current exchange rates. To ensure that dad gets his gift in time, find out how long it will take to arrive,” stated Mastercard.

-Deliver smart solutions: It is always useful to enquire about the store’s delivery policy before purchasing. While most stores offer free delivery for items under a certain amount, other’s charge. In this case it is would be worth your while to look into getting the item delivered to your nearest local store branch.

“Don’t forget, most stores now offer options to personalise your gift. They will wrap it and include a special note from you to make him feel extra special,” added Mastercard.

-Go cashless and save – Mastercard is for the most part an accepted brand, globally, making shopping anywhere that much easier.

“If you have a profile already set-up with a retailer and have your card-on-file, be sure to keep track of your spending to ensure you don’t blow your budget. These digital payment solutions give you full control,” Mastercard explained.

-Buying made easy: All it takes is the downloading of the MasterPass app.

As in the case of most mobile wallets, you can load your card into the app, allowing you to be bypass remembering card details. This in turn makes shopping a whole lot more convenient.

-Ensuring your security, conveniently: “Online retailers that offer MasterCard SecureCode  are serious about protecting you. This one-time-pin offers you security when shopping; it authenticates your identity at the time of purchase and is quick and easy to use. The best way to pay is online and with more than 575, 000 online retailers supporting transactions made with SecureCode, the digital ecosystem is more secure.

“You also have peace of mind knowing that your transactions get independent approval every time. Working with your existing MasterCard account, it is easy to activate and does not require downloading,” said Mastercard.

 Handy Tip: If you have an issue managing your spending habits and subsequently your debt, apply for debt counselling here.