Suggestions for the first time online shopper.

[amir786_z]

Hi there guys. I wanna purchase something online for the first time. Can someone give me some tips how to stay safe and protect my credit card info. Do i need special card for online shopping or simple visa card will do? Thanks.

 

[shortylickens]

I would just use Amazon. They're pretty darn secure.
Anonymous tried to hack them a while back and failed miserably.

You only need a normal card. You'll just have to type in the card number, expiration, and probably the special code (found on the back).

 

[amir786_z]

Thanks. Can these sites to which I provide my credit card info, can exploit my credit card?

 

[Newell Steamer]

Amazon.

However, I would avoid 3rd party sellers. Not for exploitable concerns, but over concerns that the merchandise is usually overpriced (they follow a demand pricing model) and sometimes counterfeit (I once got a bootleg copy of Mario Kart 3DS).

 

[MongGrel]

I would just use Amazon. They're pretty darn secure.
Anonymous tried to hack them a while back and failed miserably.

You only need a normal card. You'll just have to type in the card number, expiration, and probably the special code (found on the back).

Amazon.

However, I would avoid 3rd party sellers.

All of the above.

Yeah, 3rd party sellers can have some really slow delivery dates, look at that before you order as far as shipping.

 

[WilliamM2]

I've never had an issue with 3rd party sellers, and they seem to ship faster than Amazon if you don't have prime. Amazon took 8 days to ship my last order, a new record.

 

[shortylickens]

I've never had an issue with 3rd party sellers, and they seem to ship faster than Amazon if you don't have prime. Amazon took 8 days to ship my last order, a new record.

They are MUCH better with prime members. Its almost like a special club with everyone else being treated like red-headed stepchildren.

 

[MadScientist]

I use a Citibank Mastercard virtual credit card number for most of my online purchases. https://www.cardbenefits.citi.com/products/virtual-account-numbers.aspx

 

[WilliamM2]

They are MUCH better with prime members. Its almost like a special club with everyone else being treated like red-headed stepchildren.

Too bad really, they used to always ship my orders the same, or at least the next day. Now if I need something quick, I just buy it elsewhere. Their loss.

 

[zCypher]

Been shopping online for years with normal credit cards at all kinds of sites and I haven't had any issues. It's not like shopping in real life is risk-free either. Credit cards can be compromised in many ways at retail establishments, restaurants, whatever. Employ the same common sense that you would during any other transaction and you'll be fine.

Credit cards offer good protection against anything that goes wrong anyway. Just don't put yourself at more risk by shopping at really shady places.

Otherwise, don't put too much stock in any one given site in terms of prices. There are a lot of sites like Shopbot that can search many merchants and point you to the one that has the best price on a particular item. So shop diligently and compare merchants, keep in mind any taxes and shipping charges. not all sites are equal in that regard and it can make a big difference in the overall price.

I think that's about it?

 

[brianmanahan]

Hi there guys. I wanna purchase something online for the first time.

wait, did i get teleported in time back to 1998?

 

[poofyhairguy]

wait, did i get teleported in time back to 1998?

Exactly. Had to make sure this wasn't a necro thread.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Thanks. Can these sites to which I provide my credit card info, can exploit my credit card?

Sure they can. But that's bad business. So like 99.9999% of the time, they don't.

A lot of folks - the more paranoid types - will get a specific credit card that they only use for online purchases. Most CC companies are pretty good about fraud protection now - they've gotten a lot of practice.

 

[Nebor]

Wait wait wait, are you telling me that I can BUY things through the internet? I thought it was just for chat rooms and flash player games.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Stick with major retailers in the beginning. Just google searching may turn up lower prices than places like amazon, but the safety of going with a well known place is more valuable than getting something $3 cheaper I'd say.

Visa, mastercard, and discover are all widely accepted. If it's got one of those logos on it, chances are it'll work.

I would recommend going with an actual credit card rather than a debit card with a visa logo though. That way if something does happen nobody is getting into your less readily replaceable funds.

 

[Sheep]

Wait wait wait, are you telling me that I can BUY things through the internet? I thought it was just for chat rooms and flash player games.

And downloading porn over a 14.4k modem.

I echo the advice to stick with the majors at first. If you do any price comparisons you may be tempted to save a few bucks by going with a no-name seller. While the odds are against anything going wrong buying from lesser-known sellers, there's a peace of mind going through Amazon or Newegg or other established online retailers.

 

[amir786_z]

Thanks guys for your time and suggestions