Shopping Online Will Save You Dollars
by Fonda Compratka

Today, almost everyone has had the chance to check out the Internet in some fashion. But, not everyone has done any of their shopping on the Internet, and this is a shame. On the Internet, overhead is low (no bricks and mortar), so online vendors can consistenly offer you lower prices and great terms like free shipping. And not only can you buy luxuries - like jewelry and even cars - but you can also purchase some of your essentials - such as clothing and food. But beware! There are some dangers in online shopping as well.

The first thing you should be aware of when shopping online is secuirty. You not only have to worry about people stealing your credit card numbers, but you also need to be careful of identity theft. So, before you start shopping online, you need to take a few precautions.

Whenever buying anything online, it is always best to pay with a credit card. This is so that if a charge needs to be disputed, the credit card company can be used to assist the card holder to retrieve his or her money.

But, even though a credit card might be your best way to shop for goods and services online, it does have its drawbacks. For one, it can be a real test of patience when
you need to work with your credit card company to dispute unauthorized credit card charges. There is a lot of time spent on the phone, and the credit card companies don't always seem to have your best interests at heart. But, even with these types of delays, a credit card is the fastest, safest method of purchasing online.

Another thing to watch out for when shopping online is to always make sure you understand the return policies of any store you wish to make a purchase from. Plus, you will want to immediately examine any item you purchase when it arrives at your home to make sure there are no defects or shipping damages. If there is a problem, you will want to quickly contact the seller's customer service organization to arrange a refund or return.

One way to make sure you stay on top of your online purchases is to immediately print out the invoice after you have purchased something online. Write the following
information on the printed invoice if it is not already there - web site URL, address and telephone number, the date of purchase, and the expected arrival date. And, if you can't find this information on an online shopping site, it is best to find some other online vendor to make your purchase.

And finally, one of the best "gut checks" for an online shopping excursion is to trust your instincts. When shopping on the Internet, oftentimes you will see bargains that are too good to be true. Once in a while, you might get lucky if you trust these types of sites. But most often you are setting yourself up for a big disappointment. If it looks too good to be true, it most likely is. And remember - have a safe, and happy, online shopping trip!