Online shopping does have a number of drawbacks. Here are some that you may find it useful to know about:

• You need access to a computer.

• You usually need either a credit or debit card to buy anything.

• You're likely to need an email address. This is because once you've bought something online, the company you've bought from is required by law to send you confirmation of your order. Most do this by email.

• You can't have a good look at what you’re buying or feel or try it on.

• You can’t get your hands on your shopping instantly but instead have to wait until it is delivered.

• The cost of delivering your shopping to your home can make shopping online more expensive so it's important to check how much delivery is going to cost. This is particularly true if you are buying from abroad.

• If you're not at home when the items are delivered you may need to go to a central post office or out of the way courier depot to collect them.

• There is always a chance that something will get lost or broken in the post.

• If you don’t like something you have to organise to return it.

• There is a chance you could get ripped off by a site that isn’t what it claims to be.

Have a look at the section Do I have any rights and Consumer Rights and Responsibilities to find out more about your right to return goods or how to claim money back when goods are not satisfactory.

www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/after_you_buy/online_shopping/problems-uk has more information on what to do if something goes wrong.