Do you feel comfortable buying products over the Internet? Should
you? Probably.
If you feel comfortable tossing your
credit card to a waiter in a restaurant (he could copy down your
number)...or giving out your credit card number over the phone (people
with a scanner can intercept your analog calls), you should be comfortable
making purchases over the Internet.
Every
year, more and more people are using the Internet to shop. That's
because every year more and more people are discovering that shopping
on the Internet is fast, easy and safe.
Unlike
most stores, the Internet is open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the
year. You can shop at your convenience, from your home or office.
Purchases
made over the Internet are usually cheaper, even when you factor
in the cost of shipping. (The online stores have a much lower overhead
and businesses want to create incentives for new Internet consumers.)
Shipping
is easy...next day delivery is usually available. Immediate delivery
is available for software...just download your purchase directly
into your computer.
Most
online businesses have the same "return policies" as regular stores.
I have made several purchases over the Internet...hassle-free
each time. I have bought software. The list of what you can buy
over the Internet is endless.
Typically
the experience goes something like this:
- You go to the
Web site where you plan on making the purchase. You browse,
just as if you were in a store, then you find what you are looking
for.
- You click on a
"link" indicating that you wish to purchase the product.
- You are then transferred
to a "secure server." All the information that is transmitted,
from this point on, is encrypted (scrambled).
- You will be asked
for your name and address...and the address you wish the purchase
to be shipped (this could be a gift for someone else!)
- You will be asked
for your credit card number.
- You will be given
several different shipping options.
- You will be given
an opportunity to cancel your order...or proceed with it.
- You will usually
be able to download software to your own computer just as soon
as your credit card is approved
It's
just that easy! The company will notify you by email when the product
was shipped and when you should expect to receive it.
I
suggest that you take the following precautions before you by anything
over the Internet:
- Shop with companies
you are already familiar with, and ask your family and/or friends
who they shop online with.
- Make sure the
companies Web site includes a real street address & phone
number.
- Credit card information
should only be transmitted on "secure servers" (you can
tell if the server is 'secure', usually there is a small yellow
lock located near the bottom of the page on the status bar,
like on your internet banking page).
| Some
Favorite Web
Sites |
Amazon.com
Buy just about anything under the sun. Books,
music, computers... |
Ebay
Internet auction site. Lots of fun and plenty
of items to bid on. |
Best Buy
Great products, great service, great prices and great
selection. |
ByRegion
is a Network of Directories divided
by Category
& Location.
Please explore our Network to locate information about
any Community or any Category. |
Circuit City
Purchase on-line and pick up at a local Circuit City
near you. |
Office Depot
The world’s largest seller of office products and an
industry leader in every distribution channel, including
stores, direct mail, contract delivery, the Internet
and business-to-business electronic commerce. |
Island Blue (Victoria,
BC Canada)
Island Blue Print Co. Ltd. was founded on July 4, 1912
when the assets of the "Electric Blueprinting and
Draughting Company were purchased by Joseph B. Davenport,
an draftsman and partner, Bateman Hutchinson, a land
surveyor for the sum of $1000.00. That same year, a
fire at "T.N. Hibbens Co., Booksellers and Stationers"
company destroyed their original map of Greater Victoria.
Mr. Davenport was commissioned by the city to replace
this map. This really marked the beginning of a new
firm to be known as "Island Blue Print & Map
Co. Ltd". The main function of the company throughout
the years was the drafting and the sale of maps of small
communities and cities on Vancouver Island along with
the sales of drafting supplies and blueprinting. Craig
and Rob Shemilt at the helm. A unique business, Island
Blue operates three different divisions, the "Reprographic
Digital Print Center" and the "Art Store"
and a book printing division "Printorium Bookworks".
The company continues to grow with the purchase in 2003
of the building next door, bringing the total square
footage to over 17,000, supported with a staff of 45.
|
Staples
STAPLES Business Depot is Canada's largest supplier
of office supplies,business machines, office furniture
and business services to small business and home office
customers. |
|
Walmart.com
Features a great selection and high-quality merchandise.
|
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