Buying merchandise online can be scary. You’re giving out your credit card number and personal information to someone you can’t see, with no real knowledge of who will get access to it.
But the convenience is incredible, great deals are everywhere, and the Internet is fast becoming the shopping mall of choice for the collector. With some sensible precautions you can take steps to keep yourself and your cash safe.
Use a secure browser. Your browser should comply with industry security standards, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). All current standard browsers — Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Netscape, Opera, etc — do. This means that the information you send over the Internet during a purchase is scrambled, making your exchange secure. Make sure that when you enter confidential information that you’re on a secure page (the page address or URL should begin with “https” and you should see a symbol of a locked padlock somewhere on your browser’s status bar).
Stick with companies you know, or companies that are too big and too well-established to be fake such as Amazon, eBay, etc. Making a webpage, even a professional-looking one, is easy. If you’re not sure about a company, go to Google and type in the company’s name to search for other buyer’s experiences with them.
Check the company’s refund or exchange policy before you buy anything.
When you register with a site,don’t give them the same password you use for anything else and make it creative. Don’t use birthdays or pet names or the last digits of your Social Security number.
Pay by credit or charge card. That way your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, you have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them. In the event of unauthorized use of your credit or charge card, you generally would be held liable only for the first $50 in charges. Some companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return and/or purchase protection benefits.
Pay by PayPal. PayPal is a free online account service that allows you to make and receive payments by e-mail to anyone in the US and many other countries. Once you set up your account you can use PayPal to make purchases without having to give anyone your credit card number or banking information. PayPal is convenient to use and makes eBay purchases fast and easy. Sign up!
Be sure to print a copy of your purchase order and confirmation number for your records. Also, you should know that the Mail and Telephone Order Merchandise Rule covers online orders. This means that unless the company states otherwise, your merchandise must be delivered within 30 days; and if there are delays, the company must notify you.
When using eBay, check the seller’s rating and buyer comments before you bid. Avoid jumping at a great deal for something expensive from someone with a low or zero Feedback score. If something seems odd to you about an auction, e-mail the seller and ask. Use PayPal for your purchases to avoid giving out your credit card information. If you purchase something from eBay but never receive it, report it to them.
I have been buying and selling online for almost ten years and have never been seriously burned. The only danger I’ve run into is where to put all this stuff. But there are indeed people out there who hope to scam you so keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
