Safe Online Shopping

By Kim Eyer
Posted Friday, August 27, 2004

You may find it hard to believe because of stories you've heard and so forth, but Internet shopping is not dangerous! The sad fact is, we hear all about the bad news stories of Internet credit card fraud, etc. - but, we never hear the good news stories about the millions of satisfied Internet Shoppers out there.

Now I'm not saying fraud isn't a concern, and I certainly recommend being a prudent shopper. The point here is, there's a lot of hype and story telling going around that makes people afraid to use Internet shopping. What a shame! Here are some things to look for and keep in mind for safe, prudent shopping:

1. Is there a privacy statement, a customer service section, and contact information on the website? These are all good signs of an honest merchant or business offering legitimate service to you.

2. You should be on a secure browser when asked to provide a credit card number or bank information. Look at the bottom of your browser window, you should see a small security seal (usually a small yellow padlock). This indicates SSL (Secure Sockets Layer, an encryption technology) is activated. Many shopping carts and website order pages collect standard contact information first, then send you on to a secure area for credit card or bank information. That's OK, just make sure you are on a secure page with a security seal showing on your browser and an address that starts with (https://) (note the "s")before entering your card or bank number.

3. Do not shop with older browser versions. Use Netscape 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0 or above. Older browser versions may not support SSL. You can get a free download for updated browser versions by visiting either the Microsoft or Netscape website(s).

4. Comparison shop, just like you would do when shopping in everyday stores. Prices are very competitive on the Internet. Internet Malls and Directories of Stores make comparison shopping easy.

5. Once submitting your order, wait for the transaction to be completed and the screen to change. Impatiently clicking the submit button again will not help, but might get your bill charged twice!

6. Print the page at the end of the transaction using the print button at the top of your browser. This gives you a record of your order, order number, amount, etc. Most merchants also send a confirmation to your email address.

Here are answers to some other commonly asked questions about online shopping:

Why do merchants have "membership"? What does it cost?

Merchants maintain membership lists to help their shoppers. Membership is usually free. Membership lists store information like your current order, shipping information, etc. This makes it easier for you to check on your order, and easier the next time you shop for products because simple information is stored so you won't have to fill out forms again.

What is a "shopping cart"?

The shopping cart on a merchant website works just like using a shopping cart at any walk-in store. As you find items you want, you place them in the shopping cart to carry them for check-out later. You add items to your cart by clicking the "add to shopping cart" or "buy now" links and buttons beside products. Don't be afraid to use the shopping carts, you can always remove items from your cart and put them back. When you decide to checkout, you will be given a list of products in your cart and an opportunity to delete any item you no longer want. If you close a shopping cart window before completing checkout, there will be no order processed for you.

What is a "wish list"?

Many merchants offer you a wish list for keeping up with products you might want to purchase at a later date. Putting an item on your wish list does not obligate you to purchase the item at a later date. Its a lot like keeping a list in your desk drawer or on the refrigerator, except, the merchant helps you by keeping up with the list and where the products are located on the website. You can change wish lists or delete them anytime you like.

About the Author
Article by Kim Eyer, owner of EyerStation Web Development. This article is an excerpt from her FREE eBook, The Internet World. You can get a complete copy of the eBook, and the FREE bi—monthly eZine, the eInTownObserver, by visiting (http://www.eintown.com). Or send a blank email to mailto:info@eintown.com with the word Subscribe in the subject line.