Do you find online shopping safe?

[Living Brian]

I've never really had a problem buying online - it's always felt safe.

Then again, I've always had to buy online for business purposes, so it was hardly a jump to buy consumer items online.

However, even still, I still prefer to keep to companies I know and "trust" already - but I've had to buy outside of that remit a few times.

One time in particular I wanted to buy my eldest child a learning toy that Toys'R'Us had out of stock just before Christmas. So I did a search online, found a single vendor stocking it, and bought it online - no problems at all with the transaction and delivery.

So overall I guess you could say I find online shopping safe.

Anyone here have reservations, though? If so, what sort of things make you feel less safe buying online?

[Alexa]

I don't feel myself safe shopping online. I bought only a few books I couldn't find otherwise. Why ? Maybe I saw two many movies with hackers who can transpass any password.

Instead, I use my bank online service to pay bills. I hope I won't regret it one day.

[Leto]

Alexa, it's just as safe as buying offline from a catalog.
The only things I won't buy online are fresh foods and clothes. I need visual contacts and try-out before buying these items.

[Living Brian]

I remember the days working in retail before electronic processing when someone would just hand you their card, and you'd make a copy on a little machine, then hand it back - done.

Incredibly unsafe - I could easily have kept copies and used and abused them. But people didn't realise the risks, and the Credit Card companies seemed keen not to highlight them.

Online, though, many merchants will never even see the numbers.

[Leto]

Before the pin code ? Yes, it's was very unsafe. almost never known this time as we use pin code on our banking card since the end of the 80s.

Online shopping is great for one thing : home delivery. Just made my monthly grocery shopping on the Web (water, milk, nappies, sandlitter, etc.) It's environmentaly savvy, as just one lorry is going round for the deliveries, instead of each family taking their car to the supermarket, and it's more convenient, as someone else is taking up to my flat all the heavy items I buy.

[vicki2]

I'm a confirmed online shopper because I live in a rural area and have city tastes LOL. On the serious side, I feel far safer giving credit card information online than I do over the phone!

[palefrost]

I buy everything online. Groceries come right to the door and all my ebay purchases. I rarely go out to buy anything. All my Christmas shopping is done online. I haven't had a problem yet. I dont use small type websites only the big name sites. Amazon, ebay etc.

If your really nervous just use your credit card and not a debit card on the sites. Your card is protected if its used fraudulently.

[eldragon]

I've been buying online for years now, and yes, it's absolutely safe.

I do everything online, and honestly do not know how I lived without the internet!

[techluck]

I have never had a problem shopping on line with the exception I may purchase more because there are so many more choices.

[mtatum4496]

Personally, I have never had a problem with online shopping. It is exciting to see how there are more fun places to shop each year. And it is great to be able to use my search engine and find several places where I can consider purchasing whatever I am looking for.