How to Shop Safely

Shopping online is every bit as safe as shopping at a traditional bricks and mortar retailer. The big online retailers are just as reputable as traditional retailers, offering safe payment, fast shipping, and responsive service.

How do you know that you're shopping at a reputable online retailer? Simplelook for the following features:

• Payment by major credit card. (Not being able to accept credit cards is the sign of either a very small or fly-by-night merchant.)

• A secure server that encrypts your credit card informationand keeps online thieves from stealing your credit card numbers. (You'll know that you're using a secure site when the little lock icon appears in the lower-right corner of your web browser.)

• Good contact informationemail address, street address, phone number, fax number, and so on. (You want to be able to physically contact the retailer if something goes wrong.)

• A stated returns policy and satisfaction guarantee. (You want to be assured that you'll be taken care of if you don't like whatever you ordered.)

• A stated privacy policy that protects your personal information. (You don't want the online retailer sharing your email address and purchasing information with other merchantsand potential spammers.)

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  Credit card purchases are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, which gives you the right to dispute certain charges and limits your liability for unauthorized transactions to $50. In addition, some card issuers offer a supplemental guarantee that says you're not responsible for any unauthorized charges made online. (Make sure that you read your card's statement of terms to determine the company's exact liability policy.)

  
  

• Information before you finalize your order that tells you whether the item is in stock and how long it will take to ship. (More feedback is better.)