If you have a personal computer and an Internet connection, you can buy almost anything from anywhere in the world. Popular items include CD's, books, clothes, wine, food, flowers and computer software.

Some retailers use your computer screen as their only shop window and may sell direct from a warehouse, while many established retailers also offer on-line buying facilities to complement their normal store trade.

When you buy over the internet it is obviously harder to judge the quality of a company or to seek redress if things go wrong. To protect yourself when buying over the internet, look out for sites that have your interests in mind and include the following details in their marketing:

It's easy to find on-line shops using Internet search engines. You can limit your search to a country, a particular product, even a brand name

I have found something I want to buy what next?

Use a search engine to find other shops and compare prices and conditions. Also make comparisons with your local retail stores, but remember to take into account any extra costs (delivery, insurance, customs duty, sales tax, foreign exchange rates) you may incur with Internet purchases.

Find out more about the retailer you wish to deal with by asking people who shop over the Internet and visit newsgroups to ask other Internet users about the product which you wish to purchase. Also check sites which record adverse reports about businesses - eg, the National Fraud Information Center (US) at www.fraud.org

How do I pay for my goods?

Many Internet businesses allow you to use your credit card on-line to pay for products. Most internet shops will also let you fax or post your credit card details to them, or post a cheque or money order. As with any payment method, try to ensure that the business you are dealing with is reputable. The advantage of using credit cards is that some credit card companies reserve the right to reverse transactions if there is a disputed charge.

Only use your credit card for payment on-line if the retailer uses a secure payment system. Otherwise it is advisable to get your card number to the business by telephone or mail.

Major financial institutions are developing the Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) system using encryption technology to ensure that your personal and financial details are protected. SET is a common global standard for securing payment by credit cards over networks such as the internet.

Checklist

DON'T

What can I do if something goes wrong?

Try and negotiate with the retailer by letter or e-mail and remember to keep copies of your order/invoices. Fair Trading laws apply to business transactions conducted in the United States.

There is similar legislation in overseas countries. If the retailer you are dealing with is overseas and you can't resolve your complaint, then you may need to contact the relevant consumer affairs authority in the country where the business is located.

A good starting point is eConsumer.gov. This website has contact information for some overseas consumer agencies, and even an online complaint form that you can fill out.

Source: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs/New Zealand

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