Buying Toys Online Simple Guide

Probably you are looking for a particular toy collectible that isn’t available in your local toy stores. If hope is gone, why not try looking online? Now there are two kinds of online shopping and that is buying online locally and internationally.

Buying online locally means searching for toy items that are being sold online by local sellers who lives in your country. For example if you live in Manila, you can try shopping at websites like olx.ph, ebay.ph, GreatToysOnline and more.

Now there are also facebook pages that you can add to your list who also sell toys online and accept preorders. Some facebook pages are Kramer Toy Warden, Big Boys Toy Store, Sonny’s Toy Art, Land orys, Lanz Collectibles and GreatToysOnline.  If you found an item that interests you, you have the option to have it ship to your doorstep, pick them up from their store branches or do meet up with the seller.

GreatToysOnline offers membership where you get 10% discounts on purchased items. You’ll also be provided with a membership card. Registration fee is P200. They also offer preorders where you can deposit as low as P100 for reservation. Same goes with Big Boys Toy Store and Kramer Toy Warden.

Basic Steps In Purchasing Toys Locally:

A. Online Store Shopping

For this topic, we shall use ebay.ph which is commonly used for online shopping-not only for toys but for other products as well.

1. Browse your item by typing in the keywords in the search tool.
2. Click on the item that interest you to bring you to the main item page.
3. Read the item description first. Make sure you also understand the seller’s instructions when it comes to payment, shipping and meet up places.
4. Some item does not include the shipping cost yet so you need to contact the seller first before making the purchase.
5. If you find the total price reasonable, it’s time to buy it.
6. Hit the blue button that says “Buy It Now” and don’t forget to contact the seller regarding your recent purchase.
7. Let the seller know where you want it delivered and what kind of payment method you’ll be using.
8. Don’t forget to get his contact number so you can let him know if payment was made so to have him ship your item immediately.

The number of days before you get your item depends on the courier service but usually it takes 1-2 days if the item is coming from your region.

Most online shopping websites have the seller/buyer feedback feature that tells how they worked before with previous clients. It’s a way of telling you if sellers are reliable and trustworthy. To do this, click on the seller’s ebay account name, then look for the feedback scores.

B. Toy Pages In Facebook

In this topic we’ll use Big Boys Toy Store page. Most new items can be found in their timeline.

1. Leave a comment about your inquiry in the particular toy post. You can also private message them and leave the link of the post you are referring to.
2. If it’s still available, go ahead and tell them you want to put an order.
3. Get the payment details like how much should you add for the shipping cost.
4. Ask the payment methods on how you can send your payment to them.
5. Get their contact information to let them know if payment is done already.
6. Ask for the tracking number of the shipment and what courier they used.

Some fb toy pages have its own store branches where you can claim your item that could save you from the shipping charge. Decide by comparing the shipping cost from the transportation cost.

Meeting Up With The Seller

This is another way of saving you from the shipping and this is meeting up with the seller. You can both agree for a certain place to meet so you can pay him and get the item. Be sure to get his cellphone number before you meet to update yourselves on your whereabouts.

Some advise for first time meet ups:

1. Have a buddy to accompany you.
2. Choose a safe venue.
3. Let the seller know if he needs to bring a change.
4. Check the toy if it matches the picture and description.
5. Confirm with the seller exact amount received.

Payment methods

Here are some common options to pay the seller (for Philippine residents only)

1. Bank deposits. You need to get their account number and whole name.
2. Pera Padala. You need to get their whole name, address, and contact number.
3. Globe GCash or Smart Money. You need to enroll to this service.
4. Paypal payment. This requires signing up.
5. Cash on Delivery.

Basic Steps In Purchasing Toys Internationally:

Now let’s move to a more broader way of shopping… internationally. Thanks to the Internet and the reliable international couriers that made shopping easier. Let me remind you that some items are much cheaper in other countries but are expensive when it comes to shipping charges. International shipping charges are computed based on item size, weight, value and its destination.

A. Online Store Shopping

We will be using again ebay.com in this topic in which I believe the idea you get here can help you purchase from international online stores like Amazon, Entertainment Earth, Dorkside Toys and BigBadToyStore.

You can also apply the basic steps in purchasing locally but this time, the method of shipping internationally is somehow different.

Two Main Payment Options To Purchase Toys Internationally:

1. Paypal
2. Credit cards

Most sellers and buyers prefer Paypal payment because it’s just sending instant money to the seller’s email address. Paypal is like an online prepaid card that you can use to pay transactions to any Paypal account holders.  To get a clear picture, go to Paypal Buy Overview.

Let’s say you have chosen an item in the seller’s ebay store. Here are simple steps to do:

1. Browse for the item and check the description, seller’s origin and price.
2. Most of the time the currency is in US dollars or pounds. You may need to convert them using an online currency converter.
3. Contact the seller about the item’s condition and let them know what country you want it delivered.
4. Sometimes in the Postage description, the seller indicates a shipping computation for a specific country.  You just choose from the dropdown list to get the shipping rate.
5. Check your Paypal or credit card balance before making the purchase.
6. You will be given the choice as to what payment method to use.
7. After a successful transaction, let the seller know of the recent purchase. Mention your complete name and shipping address. Ask them for the tracking number if it’s available.
8. Shipping time depends on the country of origin and its destination. Normally it takes from 15 to 45 days before you can receive your order.

B. Toy Pages In Facebook

1. Leave a comment about your inquiry in the particular toy post. You can also private message them and leave the link of the post you are referring to.
2. If it’s still available, go ahead and tell them you’ll be purchasing the item.
3. Get the payment details like how much should you add for the shipping cost to your country.
4. Get the payment methods on how you can send your payment. If they accept Paypal then great!
5. If payment is successful, private message the seller and give your complete name and shipping address.
6. Ask for the tracking number of the shipment and what courier they used.

You can also check out this guide for on How to Buy Toys from the US and Ship to the Philippines.

Some Safety Reminders When Purchasing Online

The Internet is an open gateway and everything has a way to access and share information. Let me warn you that the Internet is also crawling with thieves and impostors.

So here are some friendly advise:

1. Always check the credibility of the seller or online store. Make some online research or read a buyer’s comment who have purchased from them.
2. Get to know the seller better by asking questions. Check his consistency and availability to get in touch with you.
3. Never give your personal information in a public post instead private message or email the seller your complete name and shipping address.
4. Ask for the seller’s contact information.
5. For toy pages in facebook, it’s better if you could add them as friend so you can check their background.
6. Check if the toy page is a closed group. If it’s an open group, chances are that your comments will be seen in the news feed by your friends and the public.
7. It’s better to ask for a Paypal invoice before purchasing to protect both parties.

I hope this article will guide you on your first purchase online. The Internet can present you lots of toy items from different sources and it’s important that you also learn to be patient. Ask yourself many times if this is it. “Is this a good deal?” “Am I comfortable with the seller?”

Happy toy hunting!