How to shop safely on foreign websites?

With the pandemic, the habit of shopping on foreign websites has grown even more in Brazil and other countries.

How to shop safely on foreign websites?

The increase in purchases on international websites was driven by various factors, the main one being lower prices.

On these sites, we can purchase items at a lower price compared to national sites, especially when the dollar is low.

Furthermore, the variety and access to products unavailable in the local market is the second reason that leads a person to buy on foreign websites.

One of the main disadvantages, which is actually an opportunity for national e-commerce to win customers, is the delivery time.

Many consumers give up on carrying out online shopping outside Brazil precisely because of the longer delivery time.

Despite having more advantages, it's still crucial to adopt some safety practices when shopping. Check out some tips below!

#Check seller reputation and reviews

On marketplace-style sites, where products from multiple sellers are being promoted, such as Shoppe, Amazon, and Shein, you should check the seller's reviews.

In the reviews, you can get an idea about the product, seller, sizes, and other useful information.

So don't neglect this step. Plus, you'll get to see a real photo of the products and see if they're as high-quality as the promotional photo.

#Fashion on popular websites

There are many options of well-known and safe websites on the market, so the ideal is to do purchases on foreign websites known and safe.

However, it's important to be aware that even if the site is well-known and secure, you won't be exempt from a bad shopping experience.

The difference is that you can resolve the situation more easily, as the website provides the necessary support if you have any problems with your purchase.

#Use a virtual card

A great way to make your online purchases more secure is with a virtual card.

As it is issued exclusively for virtual use, it serves only that purpose, therefore, it does not present a risk of fraud, such as data theft and cloning.

#Site Reputation

There are many trustworthy websites, but they're not as well-known. In this case, the best option is to research the site's reputation.

Check if they have social media and look at customer reviews and ratings.

If you don't find any information, it's best not to do it until you're completely sure it's safe.

#Buy little at first

There's a very common method among consumers to test a website's trustworthiness: buy a cheap item, and if everything arrives in perfect condition, buy again.

It's a solution, maybe not the best, but it might work.

You can get a cheap item on your first purchases, at least until the third, if everything always arrives correctly, it means it is a trustworthy site.

This tip even applies to well-known websites; never make a purchase with a very high value at the beginning.

Among the best foreign websites for safe shopping are: Amazon, Shopee, eBay, Ali Express, Shein, UO, Wish and Americanas Mundo.

How does the currency exchange rate work when purchasing from foreign websites?

Typically, websites or applications come with the option to configure the Brazilian currency, Portuguese language, or something similar.

From there, the amounts are automatically converted and displayed in Brazilian reais. In addition to the product price, fees may be charged, such as:

Product shipping;
IOF;
ICMS;
Federal import tax;
Postal Dispatch of the Post Office.

Despite this, there's no need to worry too much; the rates depend on many factors. For example, IOF is only charged on purchases paid for with a credit card.

Federal import tax is waived for purchases under US$1,000,000 for individuals. In some cases, the tax is already included in the total purchase price.

It is very important that you pay attention to the final purchase value to see if it has already been converted to reais.

If not, the amount will be charged in dollars on your credit card statement. It is important to be aware of this issue to avoid unpleasant surprises on your statement.

Many factors can affect the tax amount, especially the state where you live and the card model, for example. Therefore, choose credit cards with the lowest rates for international purchases.

Best international credit cards on the market

With an international credit card you bring more practicality to your purchases on foreign websites.

Among the main advantages that this product offers, we can highlight, for example:

Rewards program;
Competitive rates;
Highest limit;
Debit, credit and prepaid card.

Check out our selection below!

Latam Pass Itaucard Mastercard	Free annual fee on invoices with expenses above R$$1000	Minimum income of R$800 to apply	Up to 2.5 points per dollar spent
PagBank Visa International	Free annual fee	Limit linked to CDB investment	Visa Classic Benefits
Santander SX International Card	Spend over R$$100.00 with the card and have the annual fee waived	Minimum limit of R$250.00, subject to credit analysis	Visa Gold Benefits and Esfera Program
Digio	There is no annual fee	Minimum income required of a minimum wage	Digio does not charge recurring interest, pays cashback and earns points on Livelo
Click Platinum Itaú	There is no annual fee	Minimum income required of R$800.00	Mastercard Platinum Benefits

There are still dozens of other great alternatives on the market, but we've diversified our list and presented good options with many advantages.

Speaking of which, in the “Credit cards” On our website, you will find more international credit card alternatives.

Conclusion

To do purchases on foreign websites brings many advantages, but it is important to be careful.

Put our tips into practice to avoid some headaches.

Life and Finance

Nara

Writer and aspiring Virtual Assistant. Passionate about the Digital Financial Market and its various aspects. Certified by Rock Content and HubSpot. ANBIMA student.

December 17, 2022