by Katherine Iglinski
Shopping, god’s gift to women, has just gotten easier!
For those who hate the long lines at the cashier, the constant weaving in
and out of other shoppers’ way, and the ear-piercing screams from children
running around the mall... well, welcome to the world of online shopping. It
is quick, easy, and at the simple click of a button you can buy almost
anything you could wish for, hassle-free. Or is it?
Perhaps the real question is: what do you value more, the
convenience of buying from home or the risk-free idea that your personal
information stays personal? For those who are Internet savvy and enjoy the
idea of online shopping, are you comfortable with the information that you
have to supply on the Internet that you are willing to forgo the idea that
someone else might now be able to have a little spending spree at your
expense?
In the world of e-business there is a great concern for
the capabilities hackers may possess. If a hacker can tap into the United
States Justice Department’s website and make a few alterations, what then
could possibly be stopping him or her from finding out your credit card
number for his or her own personal gain?
Perhaps all this sounds like some huge conspiracy theory
that has more of a place in a movie like "The Net" than it does in
a newspaper article, but Internet privacy is something that should concern
you. More and more, the Internet and its many uses are taking over our
society. With remote accessing and increased search engine capabilities
people no longer look to each other for answers to their questions, they
look to their computers and the online world!
So what then can be done to keep up with the modern
advances of technology while still being able to ensure you do not enter
into debt for a what-would-have-been top-of-the-line computer, camcorder, or
whatever else you had decided to purchase online before someone else got
hold of your credit card number over the net?
When shopping online, remember to:
* Find out who runs the site from which you wish to buy
your online product. How reputable does the organization seem? How long have
they been in business? Remember, if they will not tell you who they are, who
is to say this is the only thing they are not telling you. It is also wise
to find out if they have an actual address and telephone number. Sites on
the Internet can come and go without a trace, but an actual building cannot.
All this information can generally be found in the About Us section of the
website.
* Check out the privacy clause. What are they going to do
with the information they collect from you? Are they going to share this
information with a third party, and if so why? What kind of encryption
program do they use? They should use one of some sort, so if they do not you
should probably look for your online purchase somewhere else. This is
probably the most important point to shopping online, so if anything in this
section of the website makes you uneasy then be very wary about using the
website for your online buy.
* How often is the website updated? The more current and
up to date the website is kept, it is more likely it is the company takes
good care of what they are selling.
* Take a look at the Shipping and Handling Clause. How
much do you have to pay to get it from their warehouse to your front door?
Sometimes your initial purchase looks like a great bargain, but then when
you add on the shipping charges it ends up costing you more than you can
afford. Also, what happens if your package bought from the virtual world is
damaged en route to your front doorstep?
* Understand the Return Policy. Oftentimes online
companies will not return the shipping and handling fees, or sometimes not
even the full amount of the purchase, if you wish to return it. So it is
best to understand these terms beforehand. It will save you a lot of
aggravation later if you do in fact have to return the product. Each online
company has different Return Policies, so if you do not like one, try a few
others.
The online world is still one in which people are only
now beginning to explore in any great depth, but hopefully with the above
tips in mind you, too, will be able to enjoy the convenience of such
amenities like online shopping without the worry of your credit card number
becoming public knowledge.
