An Online-Shopping Primer

For those of you that have never shopped online before, it's quite an experience – and an exciting one at that. There's just no limitation to the number and variety of products available, so much so that you may feel a bit intimated at first. That's okay; just relax and take some time to browse websites that you may be familiar with, learn to navigate around, and then choose a familiar store and make your purchase. But, be forewarned: once you begin the process of shopping online, you may find your visits to traditional brick-and-mortar department store severely curtailed in favor of the convenience of the Internet!

Of course, nothing is perfect or foolproof, and there are two sides to every coin. So let's take a look at some 'pros' and 'cons' of online shopping. First, the pros:

• Shopping online affords you the opportunity to buy items such as clothes, CDs, DVDs, electronics, groceries, household items, furniture – just about anything you can think of.
• Some online stores offer absolutely free shipping, or free shipping with the purchase of a set minimum amount of merchandise. Many other stores charge only a small fee. And, for those stores that are outside of your state of residence, you won't be charged sales tax.
• Instead of standing in long lines at department stores, you can shop online from the comfort of your home at any time of the day or night.
• Most online stores offer security encryption services that protect your personal and financial information.
• Coupon sites abound online that offer substantial discounts at major stores.
• Returning merchandise is just about as easy as buying it. Most stores offer a return label free of charge.
• You can download movies, ring tones and countless other items for immediate usage.
• You can comparison-shop online in order to find the best bargains.
• You can buy from auction sites online and save money on gifts, antiques or whatever hobby you're interested in.
• Virtually every well-known store (and most lesser-known ones, too) now operates a website to make your shopping experience easy and convenient.

Now, the cons:

• Identity theft is a major concern for many individuals that shop online, and it's a problem that has continued to grow over the years.
• Every website does not offer the highest security encryption services, so you must be extremely careful about where you conduct your business.
• Some merchants offer minimal contact information, posting only an email address but no address or telephone number.
• Some websites provide minimal levels of customer service; for instance, limited hours or no live response.
• Some websites offer seemingly great prices, but there are often hidden fees.
• Check the date at the bottom of the site to ensure that it is being updated frequently.
• Ignore email ads that offer specials, unless you are familiar with the company.
• Once you use your credit card for online shopping, be sure to check your credit report annually to determine if there has been any activity that you don't recognize and are not responsible for.
• If you are buying from an auction site or store where feedback is given about the seller, take time to read the information offered by other shoppers. Anyone with a 95% or lower rating should generally be avoided.

Okay, now that you've digested the pros and cons and are still interested in getting your feet wet, here are some tips and suggestions to keep in mind as you shop online:

• Use only one credit card for all of your online purchases. Then, once you've received your monthly statement, try to pay it off as quickly as possible. Because of its ease and convenience, online shopping can create a mountain of debt if you're not careful.
• When you're ready to buy an item from a website, you will need to register with the site by giving them a username and password, address, telephone number, and credit card information. (No reputable website will ever ask you for your Social Security Number, so don't give it out to anyone at any time, either online or via the phone.)
• Ensure that the website has the highest level of encryption software for security purposes. Well-known companies typically post this information under their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page or directly on their home page. Websites that are 'secure' will have a URL address that begins with "https" when you reach the page where you're asked to provide your credit card information.
• Look for a company name, address, and telephone number listed on the site (usually on a "Contact Us" page or the website's home page). If they do not provide this information, don't do business there.
• Start out by frequenting sites with familiar names such as Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target and other stores that you know are reputable. Browse their sites to get a feel for how things are done over the Web.
• Most of the better company websites will send you an email immediately after you've made a purchase. The email will be a confirmation of your order, and will break down the specifics of your order as well as the total price. Save the email so that you can refer to it later.
• Print out the confirmation of your purchase from the website, as well as the confirming email, and place it in a folder so that you can check it against your credit card bill. Most companies will actually prompt you to "print" the Confirmation Page before signing out.
• After you've completed your purchase and printed out the necessary information, be sure to 'log out' or 'sign out' of the site. Bookmark the site so that you have it available in your browsers "Favorites" section for future use.

These tips and suggestions are just an overview of the basic information you should know before you get started. If you're not sure of something, ask a friend that's familiar with the process. It may take a few weeks or so before you truly begin to feel comfortable with shopping online. But once that first package arrives, you'll likely ask yourself why you didn't do it sooner.