web shopping confidence

[Mosey]

How many of you shop on the web and buy from places you never heard of? For example, I did a google search for futon covers and came up with several places including http://covers4less.com/, which has great prices. But, I'm nervous about actually buying something because if I fill out the form and give them my credit card number, how do I know if I'll really get anything in the mail? Or if I do, I don't know if it will be decent quality or chintzy. It's not like ordering from a reputable place like a JC Penny catalog, there are so many web sites there' no way to know which ones are on the up and up. Has anyone been ripped off recently?

 

[MikePA]

I've bought ton's of stuff over the Internet and have never been ripped off. covers4less uses a secure server for the credit card information so they're doing that part right. But the rest of the site looks kind of amateurish, which doesn't make them crooks or their merchandise bad, but I'd rather not have a site at all versus one that creates a bad impression.

One thing I always do before I buy online from a new place is to search at both google.com (Internet sites) and dejanews.com (newsgroup discussions) for the place to see what, if anything, others are saying about them. This is how I learned about what places to avoid when buying a digital camera.

 

[RobS]

I've done a fair amount of on-line purchasing but I tend to stick with the biggies like Amazon, Tool Crib and such. Also use names that I've already done some paper catalog business with.

My wife ordered something from an unknown (at least to she and I) and did have trouble. She was about ready to get the credit card company involved but finally got some resolution.

I don't think I'd use an unfamiliar name without some pretty solid recommendations from people I know (which would include fellow TBNers) /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[TerryinMD]

Mosey,

If the site is using secure processing or a service like PayPal, you can have a reasonable assurance that your transaction is safe.

I personally have never had any problems with ordering anything over the net. Now, that does not say that there haven't been problems. Just my personal experience.

Terry

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

Here's my take on it..

Using a secure connection means nobody can get your card number during the transaction, but the current state of many web sites is such that hackers can later break into the site and steal the list of card numbers. So, yes, you are taking some risk. But let's put it in perspective. If you hand a waiter your card at a restaurant, and they disappear with it for a few minutes, certainly they can write down your card number too. So, keeping the card number out of other people's hands is probably close to impossible.

I have never had a problem, and I tend not to worry too much since there are laws in effect which limit your liability to the first $50 once you report the card lost or stolen.

I agree with the others that it's best to go with a company you've at least heard of. They probably have a reputation in business that they would prefer not to see tarnished.

Bob

 

[snowman]

I don't worry about it. Really not much different than giving your credit card info to a clerk in person at the store. There's probably as much of a risk of them stealing the information or screwing around with your card as there is with the internet.

My only reservation with online buying is then being inundated with email ads, as sometimes you need to give them an email for order confirmation.

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

<font color=blue>...My only reservation with online buying is then being inundated with email ads, as sometimes you need to give them an email for order confirmation.</font color=blue>

That's what "throwaway" email accounts are good for. Open a freebie one at Hotmail, or whatever, and give them that address. That one will probably get spammed.. but you don't care. Just visit it after placing an order, for the confirmation, and then once a month, go and delete everything in it, and your normal account is safe from the scum.. er, I mean the spammers. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[snowman]

good idea....

 

[Mosey]

The waiter and clerk in the store are good points when it comes to security regarding my credit card number. But, there's still a difference. Once I've given the waiter the card, I've already eaten, so I know what I'm paying for. Also, at the store I have the item in my hand and if it turns out to be junk, I can go back to the store and return it in person. But, if I buy from a web site and want to return it, I have to pay the shipping to send it back, then hope they credit my card. I never really have felt comfortable using a credit card. The only reason I ever got one in the first place was so I could rent a car.

 

[snowman]

Actually, I wasn't thinking about it from the perspective of getting what I paid for. I was talking about having someone steal the credit card information for later use.

You're right; there is that risk. But generally, if you definitely don't get what you ordered, you can tell them that you don't intend to pay for it and will ship it back only if they pay for the shipping. Your "ace" is that you can contest any charges on your credit card.