It is important to take good care of your pets. But it can also be expensive. Pet food, pest control products, toys, accessories and miscellaneous equipment don’t come cheap. One way to keep the cost under control is to go online, compare prices with physical stores around you, and buy whatever is cheaper.
But there are a few things you need to keep in mind when shopping for pet products online. To find out what they are and secure yourself the best deals, all you have to do is read on.
Use only reputable providers
When shopping online, it’s important to buy from reputable websites. More so when you buy things like dog or cat food, flea treatments and deworming tablets. You need to be sure that what your dog, cat, horse or bird is going to consume is high quality and safe. There are several ways to determine if the website you are considering buying from is trustworthy.
Read the About Us page
The about us page can tell you a lot about the company you are buying from. Usually on this page the owners will tell you a bit about their business, including facts that you can check out elsewhere on the web. For example, they can say they are members of a specific professional association or are associated with the practice of a veterinarian.
Be sure to compare comparable prices
It’s always worth taking a little time to check prices on a range of sites. This will help you determine if the pet supplies website you are considering buying from has a good deal.
In doing so, pay attention to the amount contained in each unit. It’s too easy to think you’re getting a good deal only to find out later that the pet food you just bought is 100 grams lighter than on other sites. This pricing trick is increasingly being used by online and offline retailers, so keep an eye out for it.
Other Key Pages Genuine Retailers Usually Have
You should also check the Contact Us and FAQ pages. It is also important to check the return and refund policy and shipping rates. They should all be clearly explained. If they have a blog, read a few posts, you’ll quickly know if they really care about animals and have their best interests at heart.
Find and try phone number
Legitimate providers must provide a phone number. If you have time, give them a call and ask a question or two. This will allow you to confirm that they are a genuine retailer, verify that they respond to their customers, and give you a better idea of their knowledge of the pet products they sell.
Look for reviews online
It’s also worth taking a look to see if you can find any reviews from past customers. When you do, ask yourself if the reviews are genuine. Are they spread over several months or years or were they mostly submitted within a few weeks? If they all appeared around the same time, say more or less the same thing, and are all five stars, chances are the reviews aren’t genuine.
Use coupons to get bigger discount
Before hitting the buy button, check if there are any discount codes available for that particular retailer. For example, companies like CanadaVetExpress.com regularly distribute promotional codes that can offer you a discount of up to 25%. It’s a huge saving. The great thing about this retailer and others like it is that every product they list on their site has been vet checked.
Keep a note of good suppliers
Once you’ve found a business you like. Take note of this website. That way, when it’s time to place another order, you can easily do so without having to go through all the checks I suggested above.
