Safe Shopping Tips
Just about anyone who has been on the internet has seen something they'd like to buy. Whether it is a gift for someone or just something they've been looking for and haven't been able to find around town. Internet shopping can be a great way to find things and to often times the easiest way to find the best price.
When shopping online it is always good to be careful. You wouldn't want to give your credit card number out to just anyone. Established businesses are always a good place to start. Online stores like Amazon and Barnes and Noble are stores that have good reputations. Another way to check out a business' reputation is to go to the Better Business Bureau. You can search for a business by the name, phone, or by the web address. If you look up the Barnes and Noble website you will see that they have had no customer complaints in the past three years.
If you choose to use something like eBay where you are buying directly from a person and not a business then there are some different things to look for. Always make sure that you are okay buying on that person's terms. Sometimes there are hidden costs, like shipping that you may not see at first glance. Also make sure that person has a good reputation as well. Like with the Better Business Bureau many sites, including eBay, Amazon and Barnes and Noble, have rating systems for their sellers. By checking their stars or feedback you can get a sense of how that person is. If there have been very few mistakes and the seller has always made good that person will have a good rating. However if that person has plenty of bad comments and ratings then it might be wiser to look for another seller. 
Another safe practice is to see how long the business or seller has been in business. In general if a business or person has been doing business for a long time then they are probably doing a good job and satisfying customers. While some newer businesses may have better deals the problem is you may not know if it's a well established business or someone who plans on closing shop next week and not sending anything that you've bought.
If you have a bad experience with a company you should try to resolve it with the company first. Most businesses are willing to fix any problems you had. It's just good business if they make you a happy customer. Sometimes though you come across one that doesn't want to. If you're unable to resolve it you should file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Simply go to their page and follow the link to filing a complaint.
When buying from a site where you have to pay a person and not a business sometimes using a pay service is a good idea. Cash can be lost in the mail and credit cards can be stolen if you buy from the wrong person. That's why it's usually a good thing to use a service like Paypal. More and more sites and sellers are accepting Paypal payments because they are more secure. Paypal also does what it can to try to get your money back in case you are hurt by fraud.
Buying online is easy, and usually a safe thing to do. But like most things, it's your money and it is up to you to be careful with it. When shopping online remember to think about the seller's reputation, time in business, and the seller's terms. If you are careful with where you shop then you should have a good online shopping experience.
For more information you can look at these links:
Safeshopping.org
Better Business Bureau
Last Updated: 10/15/2008