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Ready to Shop Online? Important Tips for the Online Novice
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Posted On :
Mar-26-2010
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Article Word Count :
847
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The advantages of online shopping are almost too numerous to list. No longer are consumers limited by physical boundaries. As more and more companies expand their online stores, the options that potential buyers possess multiply exponentially.
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The advantages of online shopping are almost too numerous to list. No longer are consumers limited by physical boundaries. As more and more companies expand their online stores, the options that potential buyers possess multiply exponentially. More online sellers mean more options, more competition, and lower prices for customers.
Add to that the simplicity of shopping from the comfort of your own home and it is easy to see why so many people choose to buy on the web. However, if you are new to shopping online, there are a few simple measures that you’ll need to take to ensure your safety. Identity thieves lurk on the internet and prey on unsuspecting victims.
Shopping online can be a great convenience, but beginners need to know how to protect themselves. By following these tips, you can start taking advantage of the ease and excitement of online shopping in no time.
Research the Seller
Before you buy from a company, find out what they are all about. Is it a nationally known company? Do they have a real, physical location where you can actually go and talk to someone? If you aren’t sure about buying from an online company, don’t hesitate to look for a phone number and get a real person on the line before you trust them with your money. You can check a company’s reliability by searching online for customer reviews. There are also outside consumer organizations that should have information on any legitimate businesses. Look around. Do a little bit of research. If you can’t find any information on a company, odds are that it is a less than trustworthy website.
Look out for Red Flags
There are many ways to spot an online con artist. Be wary of “free” offers. Oftentimes they will promise something for free if you pay up front first. Don’t trust these offers. Nobody is really going to give you a free mp3 player.
Keep an eye out for get rich quick schemes. Con men will try to trick people into investing hundreds of dollars with promises that it will turn into thousands. The only person that is going to make money off of these schemes is the scammer.
Sellers also try to get around postal fraud by telling potential customers not to send anything by traditional mail. Don’t trust someone who tells you to send money by a private courier or a special overnight delivery service. If they are a legitimate company, they will wait.
Protect Your Sensitive Information
Before you use a credit card to buy something online, you need to make sure that the website uses proper encrypting software. Encryption takes personal information like your social security or credit card numbers and disguises it as gibberish. Only the company you’re patronizing can decrypt the information. If a computer hacker tries to peek in while the information is in transit, it will appear a scrambled mess.
Make sure that when you are on the page where you enter your credit card information, the web address starts with “https://.” That “s” on the end means that the transaction will be properly encrypted. There may also be a small padlock icon to the right of the web address or in the bottom right hand corner of your browser. Make sure you check for these important details.
Use a Credit Card
If you pay online using a credit card rather than sending cash or a check, your purchase will be protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. It also leaves a paper trail, which is something every con artist wants to avoid. If an online seller encourages cash and private courier services you can bet that they are trying to get around some laws. Any trustworthy business should accept your credit card. Just make sure they are encrypting your information.
Start Small
Have you followed all of these tips and you are still on the fence about whether a site is legit or not? Does everything look like it is in order but you still have a nagging feeling in your stomach? If you are new to online shopping, these can be common feelings. The best way to build your confidence and to see if you can trust an online seller is to start small. Order a used book before you spring for that new DVD player. Buy a memory card before you go all-out on a new camera. Once you get in the swing of ordering online you will begin to get a feel for which companies you can trust.
Shopping online can be a fun and rewarding experience. You can find great deals and open yourself up to a wider variety of products than you could ever have imagined. Just remember to watch out for con artists, research the businesses that you buy from, and protect your private information. Follow these tips and you will open yourself up to a world of possibilities through online shopping.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Ready to Shop Online? Important Tips for the Online Novice_14757.aspx
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Author Resource :
Rob Reed is a freelance writer who writes about product reviews and offers tips about how best to shop.
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Keywords :
Shop,
Category :
Fashion
:
Fashion
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