Thrifty Mommy

Top 10 Tips for Shopping Online

by Karen on December 7th, 2006

It’s the season for shopping and many of us will do our shopping online.  There are so many websites out there that are phony.  It’s easy to be taken advantage of.  Just about anyone can open up a website and start selling stuff.  Before you click the buy button, be sure you’re informed.

Here are some tips for online shopping:

1. Whois.net is a site that lists the person or company registered the site and when it was registered.  Stay away from sites that were just registered.  They are probably phony sites.
2. Epinions.com and bizrate.com are sites that rate companies and their customer service.
3. Protect yourself by using checkout.google.com when paying.  This is the rival of Paypal.
4. Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware.  This will help protect you from hackers.  I do a spyware sweep before I enter personal information online.
5. Use a low limit credit card for shopping online.
6. Read the vendor’s privacy statement.  Some websites automatically sell your personal information to other companies. 
7. Shop reputable companies.  You’ve heard of Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, and others.  Shop with well-known companies and you’re less likely to get scammed. 
8. Check and review a company’s return policy to avoid unnecessary or unauthorized fees.
9. Call the online company and place your order over the phone.  I have done this on several occasions.  Even if a website seems secure, I still feel better if I don’t give the information online.
10. Don’t give your checking account information.  If the vendor debits your account with the incorrect amount, you could face high overdraft fees.  Plus many of us have overdraft protection with our savings account.  Giving checking account information would allow companies to drain your savings account too.

Do you have any tips to share?

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