Online Shopping: An Addict's Guide

Learn how to safely shop online.

The Basics

First, let’s go over the basics of how an online store works. First, you head to a web address and browse the items. When you see something that interests you, you can click on it. A customizing screen should pop up, where you can pick sizes, colors, quantity, and other such things. Once you select that item, it will appear in a virtual shopping cart, where it is stored until you are ready to check out. You may either continue shopping or pay. When you are done shopping, you are brought to a checkout screen. You are asked to fill out a billing address and a shipping address. They do not necessarily have to be the same address, this way, you can send gifts to friends directly if you wish. Then comes the important payment screen. Here, you are asked to fill out the type of credit card, the number on the card, and the expiration date.

A new feature on many sites is something called a credit card security code. These are the last three or four numbers on the backside of your card. They protect you from someone who has stolen your credit card number. Without the actual card in your hand, you do not have access to this code, as it is not part of your credit card number. Your order is then processed and you receive an email confirming your order. Usually, the company will send you another email when your order is shipped.

There's a wide world of shopping just waiting to be explored

Security

There are many reasons why some of us don’t shop online; identity theft is a major one. The Internet is a tricky place for many people. We are told not to give out personal information, as hackers may be able to monitor this information and use it. Online shopping requires you to send out your name, address, and credit card information. Those are scary things to have in the hands of strangers. While online shopping isn’t completely scam-proof, there are many credible and secure shopping sites that are safe. Here are some basic things to look check for when you come across a site:

Does the site look professional? If a site looks cheap or poorly made, chances are they are not a big corporation and they probably don’t have the right resources to keep your information safe. Cheap sites usually have sloppy designs and graphics and are not visually appealing or easy to use. According to a recent report on CNNMoney a good way to track online sites is to check the address of the company. If the only listed address is a PO Box, stay away. PO boxes are easy to get and very easy to leave behind. Most scam artists use these as their primary addresses for this very reason.

When you access the checkout area does a window pop-up, telling you that you are about to enter a secure site? This pop-up usually only appears when you are about to enter a site that cannot be accessed by other people; therefore, information cannot be passed on to hackers.

When you type in your credit card number, is there a section that asks for your credit card security code? Sites that require a credit card security code are usually very reliable as they take that extra precaution to make sure that you are physically holding the card, as opposed to having stolen the credit card number.

Does the web site address begin with https or http? If the site begins with https instead of http, it means that secure Internet technology is in place and your credit card information is secure.

If you look for these four key indicators, you will have a great shopping experience. But if you're still nervous, here is a breakdown of a few types of stores that are secure.

Online versions

Many of your favorite stores in the mall have online stores. We know that these are safe and secure because they are part of the corporation that owns the stores that you shop at. The added bonus to shopping at the online version is that you can sometimes find items that aren’t stocked in your store, such as a wider array of styles. For instance, the online version of American Eagle Outfitters carries women’ s sizes 16 and 18 as well as XXL, and men’s sizes 42 and 44. These sizes are usually not available in most stores.

Discount shopping

In addition to the multitude of stores with online versions, there are also stores that are exclusive to the Internet. The discount stores Bluefly and Overstock.com are two of my favorites. Bluefly carries designer clothes, shoes, and accessories at 50 to75 percent off the price. Be warned, though, they are still relatively expensive. Overstock is devoted to clothes, electronics, jewelry, movies, and pretty much everything else you can think of. They have tons of merchandise that was overstocked at retail stores (hence the name) and now is anywhere from 25 to 75 percent off the original price. They offer really great deals, and even better security.

No matter what your reason for not trying online shopping, there’s still time to jump on the bandwagon. The sites above will get you started on your trip into digital retail and serve as a kind of wading pool before you begin searching for sites. Just Google whatever it is you are looking for, and I guarantee there is a site that sells it.

What's your favorite online store? Let us know!