There are many people that get online every day to shop. Shopping on the internet is much more convenient than it is to go to a local store. There is some important information that you need to know before you start shopping online. This article is going to tell you what that information is:

1. Research all potential merchants ‘websites thoroughly. As with mall shopping, it is easy to get drawn into a merchant’s website by flashy ads, beautiful pictures of their clothing, sporting equipment or whatever is you are shopping around for, and proclamations of the lowest prices in town. This is not to suggest that you should not visit these sites-in fact, you might find some hidden gems underneath the flashiness, but proceed with caution.

When looking through a merchant’s website, considering the following: Is the site secure? You can find this out by looking at the merchant’s web address. If there is an “s” after the http, on the payment page, then you can feel confident that the website is secure. Is there a small padlock featured in the bottom left hand corner of your screen? If the padlock is open, the site is un-secure and proceed with high caution.

Do the merchants feature their physical address and a contact phone number? This is an indicator of a company that can be trusted. You can also look up companies through the Better Business Bureau. These things can tell you a lot about the merchant and if they are someone you should be working with.

2. Question the offers. You may be in awe of what some merchants seem to be offering you (75% off, free shipping, even free laptops) but make sure you investigate everything. If you’re not comfortable figuring out what is really being offered by browsing online, do things the old fashioned way and get some customer support on the phone. Often times, if it looks too good to be true, it is. Getting the full detailed disclosure can prevent you from making a purchase you’ll regret later.

3. Use a credit card. Normally, using credit cards is not always the best way to use your purchasing power. However, in the case of online shopping, using a credit card is the best way to protect yourself. If you buy something online using a credit card and something goes awry, you are protected by the federal Fair Credit Billing Act. You can dispute any charges made on your credit card, and you are able to withhold any payments during a creditor investigation.

Having one credit card used for online purchases will help in making all of this even more manageable. Make sure your credit card is a genuine credit card, not just a bank or ATM card with credit card-esque powers.

4. Do not give out your Social Security number. You should never be required to give out your Social Security number when purchasing anything online. It is just not information that an online retailer needs, so run fro the hills if you come across a merchant’s site that asks for that information.

5. Be specific with your search engine. If you just type in “blue jeans” you are going to get a really wide range of sites and literally thousands of results. If you narrow down your search terms, like using “blue jeans size 26 boot cut” and perhaps even adding something like “Guess” or “Lucky Brand,” you will return results that are more fitted to what you are looking for. The less you have to sift through, the easier it is.

6. Know what you are looking for. If all you have in mind is that you want to look at blenders, you may be in for a serious wake up call. Sit down and make a list of things you would like to find in your dream kitchen appliance: the price you are willing to spend, features you want, color, glass vs. plastic pitcher…the possibilities of combinations are many, so save yourself some headache and think about these things before seeking out anything you may be looking to buy.

7. Ctrl+Alt+P. One way to help keep meticulous track of your online purchases is to print out every single confirmation page that an online merchant gives you at the end of a transaction. This way you have indisputable proof that you made the purchase, along with your order number, should any problems ever arise.