Advice

ONLINE SHOPPING BEGINNERS BASICS

There's a new kid on the block and his name is E-commerce.

It seems that online shopping has been discovered. Magazine covers, newspaper articles, TV and radio ads have hawked the promises and perils of shopping the vast electronic mall called the Internet -- and you're eager to try it out for yourself.

But where do you start? And what do you need to know to make your online shopping safaris successful and safe?

Good questions. Here are the answers.

First, where to start. Coincidentally, I suggest you start right here. As you guide to the world of online shopping, this site can give you much of what you need to guide you through the online shopping jungle. But let's take each step one at a time.

Netting what you want.

Looking for a place to shop? I like Google. Type in a product you're looking for, and you can get hundreds of possible sites to shop for it.

And don't forget the shopping 'bots.' These new intelligent shopping agents can help you find not only the product you want, but also the best price for it. Check out both mySimon and Bottom Dollar to help you Net that product you want.

One last place to try for a wide selection of products is the Yahoo!, Lycos and Excite stores.

How do I know it's safe to shop a merchant?

More and more known and not-so-known merchants are opening shop on the Web each day. If they are a substantial merchant, here's what to look for:

A secure site that encrypts your credit card for transmission.
Many ways to contact them as possible -- phone number, fax number, street address, E-Mail address etc.
A stated privacy policy that protects your personal information.
A stated return policy and satisfaction guarantee.

Does that mean that smaller sites that don't adhere the above should not be shopped. Of course not. Just be sure to get as much information from them as possible before spending your hard-earned dollars at their site.

Next, check with the Better Business Bureau, the National Fraud Information Center, and the FTC's Consumer Alerts Page for any scams or merchants that have bad reports posted against them. Also check FlimFlam.com for their latest scam alerts.

Is my credit card safe to use on the Web?

There has never been a documented case of anyone having his or her credit stolen while buying something off the Web. Even Visa and MasterCard are telling their cardholders that the web is safe and to use their credit cards to buy from a merchant with a secure server. MasterCard has even established their Shop Smart program. At web sites that display the 'Shop Smart' icon, you can be assured that they provide the best available means to safeguard your transactions.

There you go. Now go forth and shop safe and shop smart.

SHOPPING ONLINE: ARE YOU SECURE?

You saw it. You want it. You want to own it. But should you use your credit card to buy it?

If you're squeamish about sending your credit card information through the vast regions of cyberspace, then read on.

Jerry Johnston, President of Internet Advertising Solutions -- a Web site design and hosting firm based in Lexington, Kentucky - gives you the lowdown this week on how to protect your credit card from thieves and information highwaymen lurking just beyond your keyboard. Jerry adds a few interesting twists on what to look for in a merchant site if you want to shop securely.

Jerry's company also maintains @InterMall - an online shopping mall - where he practices what he preaches.

There's no doubt about it - shopping online has really taken off. From a computer in the comfort of your home, you can comparison shop and purchase everything from angora sweaters to the latest Zydeco music album. Never before has shopping been so easy! Everywhere on the 'net storefronts are touting their extensive product line, ease-of-use, and security. However since most people prefer to purchase online using their credit card, the security issues of shopping online have many people asking questions.

There are several things to look for to determine if an online store is a secure place to shop. Just as you make decisions in the real world regarding who you buy from, you can apply these same criteria to the internet merchant. Here is a checklist of sorts to help you out.

Web Site Address

Does the merchant have their own domain name (www.virtualvin.com) or are they using free web space such as that provided by Geocities (www.geocities.com) or AngelFire (www.angelfire.com)? If they have their own domain it does lend some credibility to the merchant. You could make the "real world" comparison to a merchant with a large storefront downtown versus a guy with a fold-up cart on the side of the road. If you have a problem with your product, who are you more likely to find again to help get it resolved?

Site Design

How does the merchant's Web site look? Does it look professionally designed or amateurish? A professionally designed site will be appealing to the eye and means the merchant spent the money to have it done, thereby making a commitment to selling their product online. Just as you may have second thoughts about buying something from a poorly-lit store with holes in the ceiling and paint peeling from the walls, you should avoid the Web site that looks like it was an afterthought or slapped together in a hurry. Also, does the site mention secure shopping? Many sites will dedicate an entire page to shopper security to help you feel at ease.

Contact Information

Is the merchant's physical address and phone number prominently displayed on the Web site? E-Mail is great, but in the event of a problem sometimes you need to talk to a real person. The merchant should provide a means for you to do so.

Return Policy

The merchant's return policy should be posted somewhere on their Web site. Even if their policy is no returns, the shopper should be made aware of that from the beginning.

Secure Ordering

If you plan to shop online using your credit card, a secure ordering system is a must. How do you tell if the ordering system is secure? Well the wonderful folks at Netscape and Microsoft have built indicators into their web browser to show whether a site is using secure encryption techniques.

If you are using the Netscape Navigator/Communicator browser, take a look at the lower left corner of your screen. Depending on which version of the browser you are using you will either see a broken key or an open padlock icon. This indicates a non-secure site.

If you enter a secure area using Netscape, you will see either an unbroken key or a locked padlock icon (older versions of Netscape will also show a blue line at the top of the screen). Depending on your browser configuration, you may also get a notification box indicating you are entering a secure area. If you are using Microsoft's Internet Explorer, you will get a notification that you are entering a secure area.

What does this mean? It simply means that the connection between your Web browser and the web site you are viewing is secure, or in other words the information being sent is encrypted.

Note: You generally will not be on the secure portion of a merchant's Web site until you begin entering your credit card information, so don't look for it as soon as you enter their site.

Secure Shopping Site Examples

Here are a few web merchants that obviously have put some considerable time and effort into doing business online as is evident by their extensive web sites. These sites meet all of the criteria mentioned above. If you haven't yet ordered anything online and would like to get your feet wet so to speak, give these places a try:

Amazon Books
The folks at Amazon have really got it together. 2.5 million book titles to choose from (at this writing) and a fully functional search engine. Waiting for that next Tom Clancy novel to come out? Fill out a short form and they will E-Mail you as soon as it does. Do you like books on magic? You can receive a list of new titles by E-Mail automatically. You can also read Amazon's Safe Shopping Guarantee, linked right there on their front page. They have a secure online shopping cart, too.

Virtual Vineyards
Another site that has that professional look described earlier. They offer a wine of the month club and reviews on wine and food. Their site has links to ordering information, shipping rates and a money-back guarantee.

Cdnow
This Web site sells both music CD's and movies. They feature a search engine to look for titles and a section devoted to customer service with new visitor info, store policies and answers to frequently asked questions. Also offered are gift certificates and even an Album Advisor to assist you in making a selection.

I hope that the information presented here has shed some light on the security of shopping online. Provided the same precautions are taken that you would take anywhere else, your Web shopping experience can be safe, convenient and enjoyable.

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