My best tip? Steering-wheel spike 
Let me explain 
The economic theory of risk compensation suggests that laws intended to increase safety, such as mandating safety belts in cars, can sometimes have the opposite effect by making people feel safer and therefore encouraging them to engage in riskier behavior. This is also known as the Peltzmann Effect.
This concept inspired the economist Gordon Tullock to come up with the idea that instead of mandating safety belts, it would save far more lives if the government required that large spikes were installed in the center of steering columns, because this would make drivers more acutely aware of the danger of driving too fast. This steering-wheel spike is referred to as the Tullock Spike, or Tullock Steering Column.
I’m not suggesting we make shopping more dangerous, but my tip is to 
imagine that it is, because in all likelihood, that view is closer to reality, and might just save you from a big mistake.
I heard the other day that Canadians are disproportionately targeted more than some countries by scammers because as a culture, we’re generally more trusting. This can bite you even if it’s not “technically a scam”. Between built-in credit card protections, big companies like Amazon offering solid customer service and return policies, and all manner of shopping becoming increasingly casual, I think it’s easy to feel like satisfaction is guaranteed - that nothing can really go too wrong (unless perhaps you’re straight up handing info to a scammer). We shop too often with more confidence than we should, worried less about how likely each layer is to save us because there are so many of them.
Brush aside this modern vision of commerce, and think back to how a patron had to think in the proverbial times of “buyer beware”, making cash or trade deals in a seedy back-alley market with no such protections or guarantees.
The next time you’re looking at something, especially if it’s a retailer you haven’t dealt with before, don’t jump ahead! Research and think about every layer protecting you as if it’s the only one, because in the end, it just might be. Ten factors that each might help won’t do anything. You’ll be saved - or not - by one that worked, and the “higher up the chain” it is, the more you have to fall back on should the need arise.
- How confident am I that I’ll be happy with this product? Be as certain as you can by checking reviews, pictures, etc. as outlined above. If there’s any uncertainty, just walk away. Better to miss something (that in all likelihood is not as rare or important as you feel in the moment anyway), than to get something only to realize it was a big mistake and you’re in too deep now.
- Check the refund/return policy (as you mentioned). Not all stores or products offer this to the same degree, or even at all. There might be a restocking fee, a shipping fee, or just no returns accepted full stop. Think about what you’d do if the need came up and it wasn’t offered.
- Look into their warranty and/or customer service. How reachable and amenable is it? Are you confident they would help with any issues that might arise?
- What else could go wrong? What if they simply don’t send the product? If they revoke access later? If it arrives and isn’t what was promised? If they go bankrupt?
- What’s the motivation? Things don’t need to be outright scams to be problematic, they just need to be predatory in some way. Although most transactions are with a well-meaning individual or company who wants the best for you both, don’t assume that’s always the case. Consider the possibility that they’re just after a quick buck and couldn’t care less about the rest. With that altered context in mind, how does this impact your confidence in the quality of the product, or your ability to seek restitution if it’s not what you wanted?
- Don’t count on credit cart protections. If everything else falls through, don’t assume this will save you as a last resort. They can and will side with the merchant depending on the situation.
Some of this is probably common sense - maybe all of it is. Speaking from experience though, I think some of us (myself included) could use a poke every now and then to keep it in mind. I certainly won’t forget the lessons I’m drawing on to write this any time soon.
