Wildberries and Ozon: how to check the seller on the marketplace and not buy a fake

Wildberries and Ozon made shopping convenient, but at the same time the number of dubious sellers increased. Attractive prices sometimes hide fakes, refurbished items, or items that do not match the description. You can check the store before purchasing in a few minutes — just know what to look for.

Don't start with the product — first study the seller

Many buyers immediately look at the price and photos of the product, but the first step should be different — open the seller’s page, advises xrust.

Check:

• how long the store is open for marketplace;
• how many products he sells;
• what ratings his purchases receive;
• how often buyers leave negative reviews.

You should be careful if a new store has appeared recently and immediately offers hundreds of different products from completely different categories: from smartphones to cosmetics and clothing.

Reviews are more important than the overall rating

A high seller rating does not always mean that there are no problems. Sometimes several thousand old positive reviews hide fresh complaints.

Study the latest comments and pay attention to the messages:

• “a copy arrived instead original»;
• “the product differs from the photo”;
• “the packaging was damaged”;
• “the equipment is incomplete.”

Reviews with photographs are especially useful. They allow you to see the real product, not an advertising picture.

Check the product photos

Reliable sellers usually have high-quality photographs from different sides: packaging, parts, markings.

Suspicion should be aroused by:

• identical images on different sites;
• photographs only from the manufacturer’s catalogue;
• lack of real pictures of the product.

Sometimes simply checking a picture through a search helps you understand where it came from.

Too low a price — a reason to look into it

A big discount doesn't always mean cheating. There are promotions and sales on marketplaces, but a strong difference from the average price should alert you.

Before purchasing, compare the cost:

• on the official website of the brand;
• from large sellers;
• on other sites.

You should be especially careful about electronics, cosmetics, expensive clothes and accessories of famous brands.

Look who is responsible for the warranty

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG17__ Original products usually have a manufacturer's warranty.

If instead only “store guarantee” is written or a very short verification period is indicated, it is worth studying the conditions more carefully.

This is especially important when purchasing:

• smartphones;
• laptops;
• household appliances;
• expensive gadgets.

Check the seller's name by searching

Before purchasing an expensive product, it is useful to simply enter the name of the store into a search engine.

Add the words:

• “reviews”;
• “complaints”;
• “fake”;
• “deception.”

Sometimes several found customer messages help you refuse a dubious purchase.

Look for official sellers of the brand

Large manufacturers often indicate a list of partners they can trust.

If an unknown store sells a popular brand at a price significantly below the market, and there is no confirmation of its official status, it is better to be careful.

Quick check before payment

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG42__ Before clicking the «Buy» button, check:

✅ the seller has been working for a long time;
✅ there are recent reviews with photos;
✅ the price corresponds to the market;
✅ there are clear warranty conditions;
✅ the store has a normal reputation.

Spending a few minutes can save you money and save you from long disputes with the seller.

Xrust Wildberries and Ozon: how to check the seller on the marketplace and not buy a fake