Hi Folks,

I'm Amanda, the designer of Amanda's Online Shopping Index. I know how scary it can be to "take the plunge" and enter your credit card number to purchase online. I have been shopping on the internet since 1996. I now work for an e-commerce e-tailer, so I have the inside information on what makes a good, secure shopping experience and what doesn't. Feel free to send me your questions and I'll answer them here!

Q: Is it safe to use my credit card to shop online?

A: It depends. Read my "10 Questions to Ask" below. The advantage of using a credit card to make purchases online is that most credit card companies protect you from all but $50 of any liability you might have from fradulent use. Most credit card companies will also go to bat for you if the transaction turns sour. How much your credit card company will protect you varies by card, so check with the company that issued your card to find out how much protection you have.

Q: Is it safer to use my debit card to shop online?

A: Probably Not. Unless your bank has special protections set up, your debit card is much less safe than a credit card for shopping online. The liability protection I mentioned above doesn't usually apply for a debit card. Check with your bank before you use your debit card online.

What are the top 10 questions to ask to find a reputable e-commerce site?

Even if the company does not have all 10 things in place, they still may be reputable. These items are just suggestions of things to look for and are approximately in order of importance.

1. Do they use a secure server? Depending on your computer and how it's set up, when you press the submit button to send your important information to them, you may get a message from your computer telling you you are submitting to a secure server. The bottom left corner of your browser window should look something like this:

  or  

This indicates you are connected to a secure server. If you "View -- Page -- Info" (Netscape; all browsers have a similar command), you should be able to see information about their Secure Server Certificate. Many certificates are issued by RSA or Thawte. Both these sites have information on Certificates that you might be interested to read.

2. Do they publish a security policy and a privacy policy? The retailer should tell you what information they are collecting from you while you are on their site. This includes cookies, information entered while ordering, information you use to build a profile (i.e. My CDNOW etc.) or any other information they ask you for while you're there. They should tell you how they store the information, and whether or not they ever sell or share the information with third parties. If you are not satisfied with the answers, don't give them your business!

3. Do they list their physical address (not a P.O. Box) and phone number all over their website? If you're still feeling unsure, check that their phone number is registered to the listed address. You can check anywhere in the U.S. free here at Whitepages.com. Use the "Lookup Phone Number" feature with the company's phone number.

4. Do they respond to your inquiry? An e-mail or telephone call phrased like this: "I'm interested in buying one of your products, but I need to know if it comes in green" should get a response by the next business day. If not, this may be a warning sign. Reputable e-tailers want to answer your questions as quickly as possible so they can get the sale.

5. Do they have a help desk or an faq? Most reputable sites have a "Help Desk" or "Customer Care" area with F.A.Q.'s and policies clearly posted. There they hopefully also have several ways for you to make contact with them. Make sure you are familiar with their shipping and return policies before you order. If you are unclear on anything, contact the merchant before you order (See Question #4). Remember: "The large print gives and the small print takes away."

6. Print out and save the contract and terms of business; it is very easy for the seller to change the wording on their web site after your purchase. Keep a copy of the web page/e-mail. Also keep a copy of the receipt you get after the transaction. If you don't get a receipt, beware, and get on the phone with the company right away.

7. Will they accept your order by phone? If you're still not comfortable with the whole "ordering online" experience, reputable retailers will be happy to take your order over the phone. They may not have 24-7 "800#" ordering; some of the most reputable retailers out there are mom-and-pop small businesses that are open during business hours in their time zone. This is okay, but watch out for any retailer that won't part with any telephone numbers for contact. Also, never give your credit card number over a cell phone or a cordless phone. Simple police scanners can clearly transmit your conversations on these devices to anyone, including scammers.

8. Do they know what's secure? Beware if a company encourages you to e-mail your credit card number. E-mail is not secure! If they don't know what to ask for, how do they know anything else? This is sometimes an indication of a scam; scammers won't invest in secure servers, so they want you to email the information. Don't go there.

9. Is anyone else talking about them? Newsgroup archives like RemarQ have discussions related to buying online. Do a search on the company name and see what people are saying. Remember, one or two disgruntled customers out of thousands is not so bad; watch out for sites that get complained about again and again.

10. Do they belong to a rating system or "watchdog" site? This is an independent website that verifies their security. Some of these sites, such as Bizrate and ePublicEye.com offer company reports you can view online so you can check out the merchant before you buy.

What other ways can I protect myself when shopping online?

Use the latest version of your browser. Most people use Netscape, Microsoft IE, or Opera. You can download any of these browsers free from the links on their names. I think all 3 will mail you a CD of the software, usually for free, if you can't do the long download.

Trust your instincts. If a price or a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Use your common sense. You might be able to find something cheaper on the web that you do at the mall, but read the fine print and figure out the total cost of the item before you order. Extra charges can add up quickly for "shipping, handling" etc.