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Tips for secure
shopping online
Although shopping online has increased dramatically in recent years,
people are always asking if shopping online is safe. While there is not
a 'one size fits all' answer to this, there are some things you can do
to help ensure your privacy and security while shopping online.
I'm going to share some tips with you that can help you have a safer
online shopping experience.
The Online Retailer's Reputation
You should try to find out what an online store's reputation is before
you make a purchase. To do that you should first check with the
Better Business Bureau and see if they have anything on them. The BBB
now has the option to search by a web address so it makes it pretty
easy to do. If you find they have a lot of complaints or a lot of
unresolved complaints then you'll want to stay away from them. You also
should take into consideration how long they've been in business.
If they haven't been in business very long it doesn't mean they aren't
trustworthy you just don't have much to base it on. Another way
to check out a retailer is to do a search at http://www.google.com
just
type in the name of the retailer and see what comes up. If people have
had a bad experience with them you are likely to find someone who has
posted a comment about them somewhere such as forums or blogs.
Secure Server
You should never enter your credit card or payment information into a
form that isn't secure. A secure server means your information
will be encrypted while it transit so no one can read it. You can tell
if a website is secure if the web address starts with https:// instead
of just http://. The s on the end of the http means it's a secure
website. Your browser will also most likely have a way of identifying a
secure site. Normally they will display an icon such as locked padlock
some where on the window screen. If you still want to place an order
with an online retailer that doesn't have a secure server, you should
look for a number where you can call and place the order instead or
even mail it.
Do They Have a Good Return Policy?
When shopping online you'll want to be sure and find out what the
return policy is before you buy because there is always the possibility
that you may need to return an item. In general you should find the
return policy to be similar to that of a regular retail store. If you
find their return policy has a lot of restrictions you should beware as
they may be looking for ways to get out of accepting a return.
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