Here’s a brief online shopping guide to help you get safely through the Christmas shopping season without having to face crowded malls, endless parking lots, or long lines. The first step is learning the ropes of safe and secure shopping on the Web.
Safe and Secure Shopping
Most people are a bit nervous about shopping online, however after taking the plunge of an online purchase several times, these anxieties tend to subside. Just consider the millions of online transactions that take place safely every day.
My first tip is to choose trustworthy companies. Due to credit card fraud, most reputable companies have put a great deal of effort into ensuring that your shopping experience is trouble-free, your personal information is protected, and your transactions are secure.
Finding a Reputable Company
Many of your favourite brick-and-mortar stores, to whom you have been loyal over the years, now offer you the convenience of shopping online from their "click and mortar" stores. These stores are usually safe places to start.
Sometimes you are faced with deciding if you want to make a purchase from a store that is completely unfamiliar to you. Let’s say you have been browsing the Web and you find a great buy on a waterproof jacket. You find your size and you like the colour, but you’ve never heard of the company. What can you do to help ensure that your money and your privacy are protected?
Before you place your order, check the company’s website for information about its mailing address (not just a post office box) and its telephone number. Try to find out if they have a toll-free telephone number for further information.
Next, read the site’s privacy policy. Some online websites sell the information you give them to other companies. When making your purchase, be sure not to give them permission to share your information with other companies. If you do not like their policy don’t do business with them.
Paying by Credit Card
The most important thing to watch out for when making an online purchase is whether the web page on which you put your personal information, particularly your credit card number, is secure.
There are two very simple ways to identify a secure web page. The URL in the address bar begins https://, the extra s means the page is using Secure Socket Layering (SSL), which is a particularly reliable encryption process that scrambles credit card information after it is entered and before it is transferred. In addition to seeing https://, you will also see a closed padlock, in all browsers. Remember do not do business with any company that does not offer you a secure page for your credit card, shipping, and billing information.
Check the Return Policy
When shopping online, do not place any orders until you thoroughly understand the company’s return policy. You do not want any surprises, so do your homework. Most companies make this information easily understandable and accessible on their websites.
Keep Good Records
When you have completed an online transaction, the last screen usually shows your order and confirmation number. Always print this page, just in case you have a problem with your purchase. You want to keep a written record of all shipping and handling costs, as well as the amount of the item(s).
It is a good idea to promptly check your monthly bank and credit card statements as soon as possible against the records of your transactions to make sure that any billing errors are reported within the required timeframe.
Comparison Shopping
The Internet becomes a beautiful place to shop when it helps you find the best price on any particular desired item. You simply surf over to a comparison-shopping website and let the website do the work of finding and comparing the prices on the item.
For example, I visited such a site to compare prices on an ASUS Laptop that I could not get at a store. From the numerous shops listed on the site, I found a reliable and near enough online store (in case I would have to visit there) from where to buy it at the price I was willing to pay. It shipped – no problem, and I got exactly the product I had carefully tested in a “brick-and-mortar” setting. If you have never been to a comparison shopping site before, you will be amazed. Examples are: kelkoo.de, geizkragen.de, guenstiger.de, idealo.de, preisvergleich.de and ciao.de. These sites enable you to compare every thing from magazine subscriptions to automobiles.
Google’s Froogle
Google has a service called Froogle to help online shoppers find a bargain. It allows you to enter and search for products. The results can be sorted according to relevance, price, etc. much like eBay. You can also select a price range and find out what is in your area. You can list further products from a particular seller, visit the vendor’s website. If you want to check it out, go to http://froogle.google.de/. Some shopping sites have Web-only specials that aren’t available at their physical stores or from their paper catalogues.
Auctions and Used Stuff
What would a chapter on shopping be without a mention of one of the most popular Internet pastimes, online auctions? My advice on eBay is to buy from Power sellers, who have an interest in maintaining a positive evaluation, look at past auctions on the same product so you do not overbid and read the description carefully before bidding, to make sure you really want that particular product.
If you are a real bargain hunter, try Freecycle at http://www.freecycle.org, where everything is free. This network of groups across the country allows you to "recycle" your unwanted items and lets you obtain free "treasures" from other people’s junk. A truly unique shopping experience!
The bottom line is you no longer have to "shop till you drop." Now you can shop in your robe and slippers using the Internet to make all your purchases.
