A final checklist for shopping smart and safe this holiday season
The cart is full. The timer says 00:04:59, the free shipping voucher expires at midnight, and your thumb is hovering over “Place Order.” Maybe you’ve done everything right. You compared prices, read the reviews, and inspected the item at the mall last weekend. Still, it’s worth one more look before you tap, because the riskiest part of shopping often comes at the very end.
DEAL OR BUDOL?
Start with the simplest question: did you want this before you saw it? If it only landed on your radar after a creator’s video or a “recommended for you” banner, there’s no harm in sleeping on it. Good deals rarely disappear overnight, no matter what the countdown says.
Then check whether the sale is really a sale. A “70% off” badge means little if the original price quietly went up before 11.11. If you added the item to your cart weeks ago, you already know its usual price. If not, a quick look at other stores will tell you whether you’re getting a bargain or just a big red label.
SPOTTING A SCAM BEFORE IT SPOTS YOU
Sale season is also scam season. The tricks change, but the warning signs tend to repeat. Be suspicious when a seller asks you to pay through a direct bank or e-wallet transfer, or to continue the conversation on Messenger or Viber. Once you leave the platform, you leave its buyer protection behind.
Prices far below what everyone else charges deserve a second look, especially for phones, gadgets, and branded items. Be skeptical of brand-new shops with no reviews, or with reviews that all sound strangely alike. And if a text says you’ve won a voucher or your parcel is on hold, don’t tap the link. No legitimate platform, courier, or bank will ask for your OTP.
Scammers also go after people who have already been scammed. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has warned about fake pages using its name and logo to ask victims for fees in exchange for help recovering lost money. Government hotlines are free to call, so anyone asking for payment to “recover” your money is a red flag.
PAY LATER, BUT PAY ATTENTION
Pay-later options such as SPayLater and BillEase have put big-ticket purchases within reach. Splitting a new phone into monthly payments can be practical, especially if you’ve planned for it. But a pay-later plan is still a loan, often with fees and interest on top, and missed payments get expensive fast.
Before you choose “pay later,” work out the total you’ll pay, not just the monthly amount. Check how many plans you’re already paying off, since three small installments can add up to one big problem. And if you’re counting on your 13th month pay to cover it, make sure that money isn’t already spoken for by Noche Buena, gifts for the inaanak, or January’s bills.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS AN ONLINE SHOPPER
Online shoppers in the Philippines have more protection than many realize. The Internet Transactions Act of 2023 (Republic Act No. 11967), fully in effect since June 2025, requires e-marketplaces and online sellers to give shoppers a working way to raise complaints and to protect users’ data. E-marketplaces must also collect identification and contact details from sellers before they can list anything, making it easier to trace a seller when you’re chasing a refund. The law also created the E-Commerce Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to handle these concerns.
There’s one catch. The law doesn’t cover personal sales between private individuals. That pre-loved bag from someone clearing out their closet may be a steal, but if something goes wrong, you’ll have fewer ways to get your money back.
WHEN AN ORDER GOES SIDEWAYS
Even careful shoppers get burned sometimes. If your parcel never arrives, or arrives as something else entirely, start with the seller and the platform. Raise the issue through the app, and keep your receipts, screenshots, and chat logs. The law requires you to try this step first, but you don’t have to wait forever. If your complaint is still unresolved after seven days, you can take it further.
From there, contact the DTI through its 1-DTI (1-384) hotline or at [email protected]. If you’ve been scammed, move quickly. Call your bank or e-wallet provider first, then report it to 1326, the government’s toll-free anti-scam hotline, which runs 24/7, holidays included. You can also file a report through the eGovPH app.
ONE LAST LOOK
Before you tap “Place Order,” run through these:
- Did I want this before I saw the ad?
- Is the price really lower than usual?
- Did I read past the star rating?
- Have I counted shipping, fees, and interest?
- Am I paying inside the app?
- Will I still want this tomorrow?
The mall, the app, and the chatbot all have their uses, but none of them can tell you whether you really need something. That part is still up to you. If you answered yes to every question above, go ahead and check out. Enjoy the unboxing.
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE Volume 27 Issue No. 4