The Internet has changed our shopping habits. Many people have found the convenience of shopping online to be a great experience. You can easily click and view the product. You have fun shopping, browsing, reading and learning about the products. And you don’t have to take time out of your busy schedule to fight traffic, crowds, and lines to buy the perfect gift for your recipient.

It’s no wonder the internet business generated $ 301 billion in revenue last year, according to an estimate from the University of Texas.

If you compare online versus offline shopping, you would think that security wise you would favor offline shopping, right? Not really.

In the past, shoppers were more reluctant to shop online; now things have changed a lot. And that trust in consumers directly reflects the huge growth in online sales.

I have a friend who took his wife for a romantic evening at a local restaurant. The last place you would expect credit card fraud to occur. By the time she realized she had been charged double for dinner, it was too late to go back to the restaurant. He called me and we concluded that it must be a mistake. We later found out that the reputation of the restaurant owner was a bit shaky. Apparently, he frequently overcharged customers in the hope that they wouldn’t notice.

I do not know. It is a fun world we live in.

Does this mean that the Internet is safe? Relatively yes, but don’t forget, the internet is an open field and there are some bad elements out there.

We have been buying online for years. We never had a problem with credit card fraud on the Internet. But again, we always take precautions. From this point on, you will see 10 checkpoints that online merchants must go through to secure our business …

Will your credit card details be safe?

Reputable online companies know that one of the things that prevents customers from placing orders is that customers are not sure if their credit card details will be safe. Responsible companies have taken this concern on board and configured their systems to provide the customer with maximum security.

How would you know if you are entering your payment details on a secure page?

You should see an image of a padlock in the lower right of the screen. This lock will appear on the page you complete when ordering and ensures that your name, address, and credit card information are sent to the online store via an encrypted code. This encrypted code means that a hacker will not be able to steal your credit card information.

Does the online store value your privacy and confidentiality?

Before the days of the internet, when I used to order something from a mail order company, they would mysteriously send me advertisements from companies that I hadn’t done business with. You did not know at the time that companies sold your personal information for advertising purposes to other companies.

Receiving spam was annoying, but due to the cost involved, it didn’t happen all the time. Imagine now if you do business online with a company that does not respect your privacy and sells your email address.

The next time you open your email software, you will be bombarded with emails ranging from a dozen to hundreds. That is not annoying, it is intolerable.

So the moral of the story here, make sure your email address is not sold. Make sure the online store has a privacy statement stating that it will keep your personal data in the strictest privacy and confidentiality.

Does the online store have contact details?

You may of course think that an online store would display your contact details on their website. It would surprise you. I was. No email address, nothing. This is a sure red flag.

Reputable companies will have contact details.

Do you have a refund policy?

Offline stores have a refund policy and you go into the store, physically select the product, and then you can return it for any reason. If a refund policy is important in offline stores, it is twice as important in online stores.

The convenience of the internet beats the offline world when it comes to shopping, but one thing it can’t match is that offline you can physically touch the product. So a 30-day refund policy is great, the more the merrier. There is no refund policy and I would steer clear.

Do they send you some kind of confirmation when you place your order?

When you place your order, what you need is something to tell you that they have received it, a receipt if you want.

A reputable company will email you one or show you a new page on their website thanking you and telling you that the order was successful and that your product is on its way.

When do they deliver?

What times do you deliver during the day? Do you deliver on weekends? Can you choose a time for your gift to be delivered? Will it be delivered in person to the intended recipient or will the courier drop it off outside your door?

How will your gift arrive?

If it’s flowers, will it come with a vase or in a nice box or wrapped? Will your bouquet contain flower care instructions? How about flower food to make your flowers last longer?

If you have ordered another product as a gift, will it be wrapped? In what type of material will they deliver it? Do they tell you these things on their website?

How long have they been in business?

This may not mean much. There are companies that start and outperform all others. But perhaps for your peace of mind, you may want to use an online store that has been in business for a few years. Checking the company’s history is easy.

You can go to networksolutions.com and click on “whois” on the top bar. You will be taken to a page where you can enter the web address of the online store that you want to consult and you will receive the relevant information.

Is the online store site easy to use?

Is it easy to navigate? Is it easy to search for products? Do your graphics download in a reasonable time? A sure sign that you are a fond of the eye is if your website is packed with information.

Have they received bad reviews?

A reputable company is not necessary one that does not have bad reviews to its name. It is practically impossible to please everyone.

There have been companies that I have bought from and I have loved them. So sometimes I am surprised when I stumble upon a bad review about their products or even bad comments about them.

So when is a negative comment about a company worth considering? I take note of the reviews in which the writer complains about:

• not receive the product
• not receive a refund
• have no response to your emails

If you want to see what kind of reviews a business can get, click on alexa.com. When you get to the website, type in the address of the store you want to verify. This will also show you how long the business has been in business.

Online shopping is fun. Take care of yourself and make it an experience! Happy shopping!