Online shopping amounts to billions of dollars every year, and it's expected to grow to $414 billion by 2018, according to Forrester Research Inc., a leading research firm.
Many people shop online for convenience or because it saves time and gasoline, but consumers can buy disappointment if they shop on sites that aren't secure or those that don't deliver on promises.
Before you shop, make sure your computer has a firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware installed. A secure computer can protect you from sites that are more about obtaining access to your personal information or sabotaging your computer than about satisfying shoppers.
Consumers should read and understand a site's privacy and refund policies as well as shipping schedules before placing an order. It's important to know how a shopping site will handle exchanges or refunds and how it will use any information you supply as part of a transaction. Before you enter your credit card number, look for "https" on the page where you enter that information. The "s" indicates it's a secure site.
More tips for online shopping:
Beware of too-good-to-be-true deals. Offers on websites and in unsolicited emails may display free or very low prices on hard-to-find items. There may be hidden costs, or your purchase may sign you up for a monthly charge. Look for and read the fine print.
Beware of phishing. Legitimate businesses do not send emails claiming problems with an order, account or a package to lure the buyer into revealing financial information. If you receive such an email, Better Business Bureau recommends that you pick up the phone and call the contact number on the website where the purchase was made to confirm a problem.
Pay with a credit card. Under federal law, you can dispute the charges if you don't receive an item. Shoppers also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on the card, and many card issuers have zero-liability policies if someone steals and uses your card number. Check your credit card statement regularly for unauthorized charges. Never wire money to someone you don't know.
Keep documentation of your order. Save a copy of the confirmation page of an order or emails confirming the order until you receive the item and are satisfied.
Obtain a tracking number for shipments. If you need the product by a certain date, find out when the seller intends to ship it and, if possible, how it will be shipped. The tracking number can help you find a lost order.
Know your rights. Federal law requires that orders made by phone, mail or online be shipped by the date promised or within 30 days if no delivery time was stated. If goods aren't shipped on time, shoppers can cancel and demand a refund. Consumers also may reject merchandise if it is defective or was misrepresented.
Mike Harrison is regional director for the Mid Missouri Better Business Bureau, whose mission is to create a marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other.