Reliability of a merchant site
How to check the reliability of an online shop
A lock and a nice page are not enough to prove that a shop is reliable. The right method is to link several verifiable clues before communicating its contact information or paying.
Quick response
Essential in a minute
Start by identifying the company that sells, check that the domain corresponds to the sign, then read the terms of delivery and return. Compare the price with other sellers and look for recent reviews off the site. If the identity remains unclear, if the offer seems unrealistic or if the payment goes out of the usual course, do not buy.
1. Identify who actually cashes
Search for legal information, general terms and conditions of sale and contact page. The trade name displayed at the top of the site may be different from the company that charges. Compare the name, address, country, email address and, when provided, the registration number. Isolated information is not enough: the whole must tell the same story.
- A name and geographical address are available.
- The contact uses a consistent domain with the shop.
- The seller and the possible marketplace are clearly distinguished.
2. Read the site address before its design
Examine the character domain name by character, especially after following an advertisement, email or SMS. A variant with a dash, reverse letter or unexpected extension can mimic a known brand. HTTPS protocol encrypts the connection, but does not guarantee the vendor's identity or honesty.
- The address corresponds to the official domain expected.
- No strange redirection appears before payment.
- Important pages remain in the same domain or an identifiable payment provider.
3. Test the consistency of the supply
Compare the exact reference, availability, price delivered and delay with two or three sellers. A spectacular discount on all products, a stock still available or a meter that resets are signs of caution. Also check that the description gives concrete characteristics and is not limited to promises.
- The product is described by reference, dimensions or composition.
- The price remains plausible in relation to the market.
- The fees and the deadline appear before the validation.
4. Get out of the site to check its reputation
Look for the store's name and domain with terms such as "avis", "scam", "delivery" or "reimbursement". Read recent, detailed and distributed returns on several platforms. A series of very short reviews published over a short period of time is less useful than a varied history describing actual orders.
- The notices cover several dates and situations.
- Critics refer to specific facts, not just a note.
- Customer service responds consistently to reported problems.
5. Keep payment in a controlled path
Before you pay, read the shopping cart, the seller, the delivery and the final amount. Do not follow a payment link received in a courier if you can return directly to the official site. A transfer to an individual, a gift card or a cryptocurrency often reduces the possibility of contestation.
- The final amount corresponds to the summary.
- No paid option n has been added automatically.
- The means of payment and its beneficiary are identifiable.
Compare
Signals to be interpreted together
| Index | Rather reassuring | To be deepened |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Coherent company, address and contacts | Wave name, address not found or only a form |
| Price | Explainable deviation and readable conditions | Extreme discount, permanent emergency or late fee |
| Payment | Encrypted path and full summary | Payment requested off-site or unexpected beneficiary |
| Reputation | Various and recent history | Avis stereotyped, all recent or only internal |
Before you continue
Final checklist : Check an online shop
Check the points you actually checked. Checks stay in this page during the visit; they are not sent to the server. A checked point does not constitute a validation of the merchant.
Guide: Check an online shop · Révision éditoriale : 14 September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful answers
Does the HTTPS lock prove that a site is reliable?
No. HTTPS protects the data exchanged with the site, but a fraudulent site can also use a certificate. You have to check the vendor's identity, domain, offer and conditions.
Does a domain in .fr mean that the seller is French?
No. The extension is not sufficient to establish the country of the company. Please see the legal information, address and identity of the company that is charging.
What if more information is not available?
Drop the order and look for another store. The impossibility of clearly identifying the seller is a greater risk than a one-off saving.
To check
Reference sources and documentation
The editorial update date does not guarantee a new verification of each source. See the references for an individual situation or regulatory evolution.
- DGCCRF — Secure Internet purchasesVendor identity, reputation, order and payment.
- Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr — Secure shopping on the InternetVerification of the site, seller and means of payment.
Putting into practice
Explore relevant shops
Continue
Other purchase guides
Second hand between individuals
Buy from a private seller
Announcement, identity, status, payment and delivery: a concrete method to verify and document a second-hand purchase from an individual.
Read the guide
Market places
Buy on a marketplace
Platform, seller, sender: Learn how to distinguish roles on a marketplace and compare an offer before ordering.
Read the guide
International procurement
Plan a purchase outside the EU
Country of dispatch, VAT, flat fee, carrier fees and return: estimate the cost before ordering outside the EU.
Read the guide