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Shopping on the Internet is extremely convenient and prices can be compared in a matter of minutes. The merchandise gets delivered to your house. But there are a few points one has to be aware of before punching in a credit card number.
- If you are not familiar with the company, read the "About Us"
(Customer Service) section on their website.
- Always look for contact information: mailing address, email address, and a customer service phone number. Depending on the amount you intend to spend, dial the number and check if somebody will answer the phone.
- Is the desired item on stock? If you are not sure, call customer service.
- Read the privacy policy regarding the personal information they collect from you.
- Is there a possibility to shop and pay with a cheque or money order?
- Always check the return policy of the company. Will the product be exchanged or will the money be refunded?
- Always print or electronically safe a copy of your entire order.
- Have a budget.
Always make sure the online store uses a secure socket for their check-out process. This means all your credit card information will be scrambled. You can either check the address bar (see 1 on the image: https) of your browser, the padlock (see 2), or an unbroken key icon on the bottom left. If a website does not use a secure check-out process, do not proceed.
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