"Not everything that glitters is gold"... How can you be sure you're not being ripped off when shopping online in Palestine?
Balfilastini website – We've all been there... You see a picture of a gorgeous blouse or a set of pots and pans on Facebook, you place your order and wait for the moment when you open the box, but when the delivery arrives, you pay and open the box... You discover that you've bought a pig in a poke! The blouse looks like it belongs on Barbie, and the pants fall apart after the first wash.
That's why, based on the principle of "ask someone who has tried it, not an expert," we at Balfilastini have compiled some golden rules to help you avoid falling into the trap and becoming the butt of jokes:
1. The rule of “comments are the balance”: Before you write “done” or “how much,” check the comments. If you find that the page has disabled comments or that they are all “love hearts” from fake accounts, run away, Fawzi! Palestinian customers praise when they are happy, and write in newspapers when they are unhappy. Check the "newspapers" to find out the truth.
2. Stay away from "fake" pages: A page that does not have a clear address, landline phone number, or known location is a "fly-by-night" page. A business that actually exists (in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, or elsewhere) will be more concerned about its reputation than a page that was created yesterday and may be shut down tomorrow.
3. “Payment upon delivery” is not enough. Insist on inspection: The biggest mistake you can make is to hand over the money to the delivery person and let them leave. Insist that the seller “open the package and check the goods before payment.” If they refuse, know that something is wrong. A store that is confident in its goods will say, “Open it, check it, and try it.”
4. The trap of "fake deals": When you see a "brand-name watch" for 50 shekels when its original price is 500, don't convince yourself that you're getting a bargain. Always remember: "Cheap is expensive." Today's artificial intelligence makes images look amazing, but the reality can be a "shock."
5. Take a screenshot of the conversation: Always have documentation of everything you discuss: price, size, color, and delivery time. These screenshots are your "weapon" if you need to complain or return the goods.
A word from the other side: E-commerce in Palestine makes our lives easier, and in shops run by young men and women, it raises their heads high and gives them a proper job. But the trick is to be a conscious customer and not let the glare of the screen blind you to the truth.
