Online shopping can be convenient, but also comes with some risks. That said, there are some tips which can make it good more often than not. You’ll find no better place to start your education than with the tips presented here.

Social Security

When you’re looking to make an online purchase, nobody will ever have a legitimate reason to ask you for a social security number. No site has a reason to need this information to complete a purchase. If you notice that a site is asking for a Social Security number, the site probably isn’t legitimate. Spend a few extra dollars on a site that won’t sell your social to the highest bidder.

Be sure you are online to search for special deals. This is especially true for Wednesdays. Lots of conventional stores offer weekend sales, so online retailers like to get a head start. You’ll often find many great deals going on during the week after a bit of research.

Before making a purchase, go over all the item details and information. Just looking at a picture online can be deceiving sometimes. You don’t have the right perspective on the item’s size, for example. Always read the description to know what you’re getting.

Amazon Prime

If you are a frequent Amazon shopper, consider joining Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime usually costs $79 per year, but you get so much for that money. You will receive free 2-day shopping on in-stock items and you will also get discounted overnight delivery. Plus you can choose a lot from their library of movies and some stream for free too. That only continues to compound your savings!

When you’re shopping online, and you’re looking at unfamiliar merchant names, be hesitant before turning over your personal information. If the site has a Verisign logo, you can probably trust it.

Look over the URL before giving your credit card number. It is only okay to continue if the address starts with “https” since this means it is being encrypted. If the “s” is missing in “https”, this is not a secure site, and you should not enter any of your information.

If you frequent a particular online store, create an account with them. This will keep you from wasting time at checkout and from wasting money. Set your preferences up so that you get emails related to special deals ahead of people who are not registered. Having an account can also help you keep track of your orders and returns much better than not having one.

Many websites have tons of information available about their products to ensure there isn’t buyer’s remorse. With the wealth of choices available today, the experience of other buyers can be extremely helpful to you.

When shopping online, try to hold off making non-urgent purchases until holidays. Certain holidays, such as the Fourth of July and President’s day, bring big time sales in stores; this holds true for the Internet as well. You can find discounts, free shipping and other great deals.

You should understand exactly how disputes are handled when dealing with auctions online. A lot of websites serve as the mediator in disputes. Other times, they simply host the auction and refuse to get involved in any disputes.

Refurbished can also refer to inventory surplus. If you find an item that’s been refurbished, see if that item says if it was fixed or if the item came out of overstock. Overstocks and refurbished merchandise can give you a great deal.

Establish your passwords in a serious manner. Avoid simple words or easily guessed phrases. It is easy for people to get into your shopping account and take your credit card info. Do not make it so easy for scam artists to misuse your information. Use random passwords with letters, numbers and symbols where possible.

If at all possible, Ttry limiting online shopping to only shops in the U.S. Shopping at these retailers allows you to invoke state and federal consumer protection laws if something goes wrong. Such protection will be unavailable if your purchases are made through foreign companies.

Do not use the same password when you are using multiple sites. However, this is not a good idea. Instead, you should create different passwords for each retailer to ensure that your security is maximized. If you think you will be confused, create a secure document and put the passwords there.

If the item you are buying is expensive, it is a good idea to pay a little more for a better shipping service. It is also a good idea to pay for one- or two-day shipping and to buy insurance. If you won’t be home when it’s supposed to arrive, ask your neighbor to get it for you.

Always take a moment to check out the applicable return policies before you commit to making an online purchase. This way, you know what your hassle-free options are in terms of returning anything that does not fit you exactly. When purchasing without returns, you could be stuck with items indefinitely.

Since you know what to do now, you can start saving money when you shop. Simply follow the tips presented here to find the lowest prices. Once you realize the amount you can save, you’ll be happy you read this.