Whether you are a sports league or private company looking to organize an awards ceremony, chances are you will want to include plaques amongst your accolades. Though simpler than such choices as cup trophies or star awards, they do give a lovely professional feel and add a touch of difference.
Given the unique nature of these items, the easiest way to find a good variety of suppliers and designs is to go online. Online transactions can however sometimes be tricky. You have to be careful about the supplier you choose. Here are a few tips on how to manage this.
Ensure It Is Locked
Check to the left of the URL of the website. A padlock is a good sign that you are dealing with a safe site and can share your credit card information with them. This should be accompanied by verification from the browser that the site is safe when you click on the padlock.
Check Reviews
Well established sites with reliable performance often have online reviews. From Google to onsite testimonials, there are many places you can check to ensure you are dealing with a legitimate supplier of custom plaques online.
Variety
It is unusual to find a site solely devoted to just plaques. Most genuine vendors offer a variety of awards to choose from. Explore the rest of the site to see if the business offerings tally with what you would expect. Note that by offering a variety, these suppliers are also likely to facilitate bulk purchases. This can mean good savings if you make a larger order.
Payment Methods
The supplier should give clear information on their payment policies. They should openly state the various payment methods they support and terms. When you order plaques online, they should state if payment is required up front or upon delivery. They should also have a clearly stated returns policy. This is important in case the product delivered is not as promised.
Physical Location
Many online businesses are shells. It becomes very difficult to follow up on orders or resolve any dispute because you do not have any idea of where they are. They should have at least one office location and several working contact channels. This should ideally include a website contact page, email, phone numbers, and social media accounts.
Avoid Public Connections
Whenever you go online, especially to conduct a transaction, you should ensure you are on a secure network. Avoid connecting to the internet using public WI-FI, unless you are also using a virtual private network (VPN). This will protect you from the dangers of malware, hacking, password, and credit card information theft.