Watch Out For All Bugs This Holiday Season

The holidays are synonymous with gift giving. Online shopping has become a huge convenience for many of us. The number of packages being delivered is mind blowing: during the 2020 holiday season alone Amazon delivered 1.5 billion packages. Although online shopping can be very useful, there can be problems. To make sure your online shopping is the best experience it can be, take these four precautions.  

First, when placing an order, make sure there is a secure connection. Avoid shopping on public “free” Wi-Fi networks if possible because they are less secure than private networks. It is much easier for hackers to intercept your important information like credit card details, login credentials, and personal data if you are using a public, non-secured Wi-Fi network. If you are using a wireless connection, make sure your information is encrypted.

Next, know the merchant you are dealing with. Make sure they are known to get deliveries out when they say they will, and that they stand behind their products. The last thing you want is to get a cut-rate gift or have your gift delivered to you after you see the person it was intended for.

Another important precaution is to never use a debit card. Most credit cards offer you protection against unauthorized charges while most debit cards do not. You may want to consider dedicating one credit card for online shopping and nothing else. That way, if your card is compromised you can cancel it without worrying about other types of transactions like automatic bill paying.

Lastly, make sure to carefully check your packages when you get them. It is obvious that you will check to make sure the items are not damaged and the correct items were sent, but there is another important thing you should check. Inspect your package to ensure there are no stowaways in your delivery box.  There are a number of pests that seek refuge in cardboard boxes including spiders and roaches.

How do you check for stowaways? If possible, open your packages outside to reduce the chances of you introducing pests into your home. Take the items from the packaging, collapse the box and take the cardboard directly to an outdoor recycling can. If you need to open the packages inside, make sure to open them as soon as they come into the house. If there is an unwanted pest in the package you will find it quickly, and it will not have the chance to leave the package and find refuge somewhere else in your home.

What do you do if pests do come into your home in boxes? If you find unwanted pests, your best option is to call Cowleys.

The holidays are not the time to have uninvited “guests” so taking precautions and contacting Cowleys when necessary are important steps to follow.