Online shopping tips

By Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times,
published December 10, 2001

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Holiday adjustments Online retailers are trying to figure out how to lure customers to their Web sites and get them to buy, then how to turn the sites profitable. The secret to online customer service: Buy something If you go to the home page for Amazon.com this holiday season, you can find a Harry Potter Levitating Challenge Game, a Samsung Yepp Hip-Hop 32MB Digital Audio Player and the latest pick from Oprah's book club.

• Read privacy statements to find out the company's policy and how it will use your personal information. Some keep it only for their records, while others sell it.

• Give personal information only to companies you trust and when your credit card number, address or other personal data are relevant to a purchase.

• If a Web site prompts you to set up an account, create a password with as many characters as possible, and use numbers and letters.

• Ask your credit card company about liability limits in the event fraud is committed against you.

• Use a secure connection. Once you reach the checkout page on a site, the Web address typically starts with "https" instead of "http" to denote security. Also, a padlock or a key appears in the border of your browser window.

• Cookies are small text files created by Web sites and stored on your computer so that the next time you visit, the site can automatically access your information. Most Internet browsers have an option that allows you to protect yourself from cookies.

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