Website: indiancraftcentre.com
Exercise caution when interacting with this website.
The website IndianCraftCentre.com claims to be an online shop for Himalayan and Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, bells, and other Buddhist handicrafts. However, several red flags indicate that this website might not be trustworthy: 1. **Unprofessional Design**: The website has a very basic and unprofessional design, which is uncommon for a legitimate online shop. The layout, color scheme, and overall aesthetic do not inspire confidence. 2. **Pricing and Offers**: The website prominently displays offers like "5% off on your 1st order" with a coupon code. While discounts are common in e-commerce, the emphasis on such offers can be a tactic used by scam websites to lure in customers. 3. **Limited Product Information**: The product listings lack detailed information. For example, the descriptions are very brief, and there's no information about the materials used, the artisans, or the cultural significance of the items. Legitimate sellers of traditional crafts often provide such details to educate and engage customers. 4. **Payment Security**: While the website claims to have a "secured payment gateway," this is a common claim even on scam websites. It's important to verify the security of the payment process independently, especially for lesser-known online stores. 5. **Contact Information**: The website provides an email address for contact, but there's no physical address or phone number. Legitimate businesses usually provide multiple means of contact, including a physical address for their business location. 6. **Inconsistent Pricing**: Some product prices seem unusually low for handmade or traditional items. This could be a tactic to attract buyers, but it's also a common strategy for scam websites. 7. **No Customer Reviews or Testimonials**: There are no customer reviews or testimonials on the website. While this alone isn't conclusive, it's a common practice for scam websites to avoid displaying genuine feedback. 8. **Limited Information About the Company**: The "About Us" section is quite brief and lacks detailed information about the company's history, its mission, or the people behind it. Legitimate businesses often provide more comprehensive background information. 9. **No Social Media Presence**: Many legitimate businesses, especially those targeting international customers, have a presence on social media platforms. The absence of links to social media profiles is a potential red flag. 10. **Language and Grammar**: Scam websites are often associated with poor language and grammar in their content. While this isn't always a definitive sign, it can contribute to an overall impression of unprofessionalism. Given these red flags, it's advisable to exercise caution when considering any transactions on this website. If you're interested in purchasing traditional crafts like singing bowls, it's often safer to rely on well-established and reputable sellers, especially those with a strong online and offline presence and a history of positive customer feedback."