Americans buy almost everything online, from furniture to groceries. It is useful when you have no car, but a few habits keep you safe.
Create an account with your US address written the American way: number, street, apartment number, city, state, ZIP code.
Add your phone number so the delivery company can text you.
Pay with a credit card if you have one. Credit cards have stronger protection if something goes wrong (see the guide on debit vs credit).
Read the delivery date before you pay. "Ships in 2 days" is not the same as "arrives in 2 days".
Home delivery: the package is left at your door, in the lobby or in a mailroom. In apartments, ask the office how packages work.
Lockers: Amazon and some stores have lockers in shops and stations. You get a code and open the locker yourself.
Buy online, pick up in store (often called BOPIS or curbside pickup): you order in the app and collect it at the store, often the same day and free.
Same-day delivery costs more. Many stores offer free shipping above a minimum order, for example $35.
Your rights when ordering
Under the federal Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Rule, a seller must ship within the time it promised. If it gave no time, it must ship within 30 days. If it cannot, it must tell you and let you cancel for a full refund.
Buy from websites you know, or check reviews of the seller on other sites.
Look at the seller's name on marketplaces like Amazon or Walmart. "Sold by" may be a third-party company with a different return policy.
A price that is far lower than everywhere else is a warning sign.
Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers or crypto for an online order.
Watch for fake "your package is delayed" texts. See the guide on scam calls and texts.
If a package does not arrive
Check the tracking page and look around your building and with neighbors.
Wait until the end of the delivery day. Drivers sometimes mark "delivered" early.
Contact the seller (not the delivery company first). Most big sellers refund or resend.
If the seller does not help, dispute the charge with your card company.
Leaving expensive packages at the door for hours. Use a locker or pickup when you are away.
Forgetting free trials of delivery memberships that renew automatically.
Ordering big furniture without checking that it fits through your door and stairs.