Comparison
Shopping for Computers the Safe Way
by: Jay Lee
When computer shopping on the Net, it's always a good idea to consider the reputation of the vendor before you jump on a price. It's also important to use a recent web browser from Microsoft, Netscape, or AOL (versions 3.0 or above) so that not only will it be compatible with more Internet sites but also it will include newer security features. I'm a fan of the CNET Shopper website (shopper.cnet.com) because it includes bizrate.com reviews on the vendors. CNET Shopper focuses on personal electronics and computer-related items and produces reviews on them as well. In comparison, Pricewatch generally lists lower prices but doesn't give you any consumer ratings for the vendors. It's not for the faint of heart. I do visit Pricewatch because I've developed a level of trust with some vendors.
This time, I head to CNET Shopper to get a good price list and ratings on other vendors. I'm thinking of buying a printer that I could not find at a retailer. I enter CNET's section on printers. The website lists numbers on the right of the items to tell you how many products are being offered. I notice 4 and a half stars rating for a vendor offering the printer I want. BizRate.com rates vendors listed on CNET based on surveys of thousands of their customers. The detailed results are listed by clicking on the stars. Along with the results is contact information for the vendor that was reviewed. That's something to jot down if you already know which vendor you want to buy from. You'll need that in case you have problems finishing your order or after the order.
I head into a vendor with a 4 and half star rating. After I finish filling my shopping cart, I click on Purchase. Before I give out my credit card number I make sure the connection uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer). That's a fancy name to say your connection is made private by a process called encryption that scrambles the information passing between your computer and the vendor's website. You can tell if you have SSL by looking at the bottom left of your screen. Microsoft Internet Explorer includes a note (secure website), or a padlock graphic on the bottom right of your screen. AOL browser 3.0 and above includes a lock icon. If you put your mouse over it, it says SSL Secured. Netscape is a little different - you'll see a padlock on the bottom left corner with a yellow background. Now you have two things to boost your confidence - a review from a reputable rating website and evidence that the vendor took the time to protect you from eavesdroppers.
Now I start filling in the blanks for personal information. It's pretty standard for vendors to provide a blank for your email address - the tracking number is often sent by email. After clicking submit order, always print out the invoice, a final record of the purchased item(s), the shipping cost, and the order number. You'll need to give them that number so they can look up your order if you have problems or you need to make last minute changes before it ships. It happens. Within a day or two you should receive a tracking number by email. So that's it.
The important things about your on-line computer purchase are having a level of trust in your vendor and knowing what measures the vendor has taken to protect your privacy. An additional precaution is to check with your credit card company to see what steps you need to take if anything goes wrong. Discover makes a guarantee that you will not be liable for any unauthorized transaction while you are shopping on the Internet. Most major credit card companies provide additional warranties on the products you buy.
Happy safe shopping!
