Buying equipment online

[skjl47]

Hello: A short while ago I found some online sites that sell aquarium supplies. I needed an impeller and did find it on two sites. I planed to order some other stuff as well. When I called the merchants to get ordering information, I was told that they will not allow me to send in a written order with a personal check (or money order). They want a credit card number. I do have credit cards, but I will not send a CC # over the internet. I still do not understand this business model. A check can be held untill it clears and a post office money order is as good as cash. One of the sites is listed on your forum page and recently announced a management change.
I know that I can phone and give a CC# over the phone, but I am being a bit stubborn. I hope to find a merchant that will do business with me in a way that I am comfortable with. If any one knows of such a merchant, please reply to this post. Perhaps the merchants who frequent this site will reconsider their practice. I may be the only person with this point of view, but I doubt it. I plan to set up several tanks and will spend money somewhere.
This past summer my laptop was corrupted by a virus (trojan?) that steals personal information and eventually shuts it down. I had to have it reformated. I do not keep any vital numbers anywhere on a computer, so there was nothing to get. I assume that by simply typing a cc# it will be somewhere in the memory (keystroke memory perhaps). Several people that I know have been doing bills and shopping online without a problem. Perhaps I seem too cautious, but it paid off this past summer. Comments are welcome.
I am also going to attempt to attach a photo of a tank just to see if I understand the process.

 

[Lotus]

Drs. Foster and Smith has a catalog you can order from and pay by check. Here's a link to the FAQ: Customer Service: Ordering Help

You can request a catalog from the site. They do have a lot of parts, but many are only listed online. However, if you have the item number from the site, you can then use the form to order and pay by check. They're an extremely reputable site.

The other option you have, if you don't want the security risk, is to buy prepaid debit cards to use for online transactions. That way, you limit your potential loss from fraud and the debit card isn't linked to your bank account.

 

[skjl47]

The pre paid debit card is a, new to me, idea. My bank offered me a debit card, but it was linked to my accounts. I will check into that and will check out the Drs. foster & Smith catalogue. Thanks

 

[Alex2290]

go to a convenience store or walmart and they sell prepaid cards.

 

[skjl47]

Thanks alex2290. I was not aware of that.

 

[symon_say]

There are a few pages that you can trust... Have been buying online for more than 7 years without any problem, you just have to know were you buy.

 

[Alex2290]

Just don't shop at sites that you've never heard of or haven't seen info about somewhere. Make sure that if your card info is stolen, your bank will reimburse you for the fraudulent charges. Try to find sites where you go through paypal to pay. There's really nothing to fear when buying on the internet unless you are gullible or shop at non-reputable places.

 

[nanu156]

Using your CC online is nearly risk free now.

If you order something and it doesn't come, the cc company will refund you (heck even my bank card will refund me!)

If you get suspicious charges on your account call and they will remove them.

It's actually safer then a check. Think about it like this, when you write someone a check you give them the following info;

-your name
-your drivers license number
-your bank account number
-your routing number

BTW anyone who has ever had to have their bank account number changed will attest to the fact that it isn't easy and can be costly, also if an EFT (thats the type of debit that an electronically processed check is) goes through your account the dispute process it far more detailed because they had far more info then 1 string of numbers.

I buy online all the time (everything!!!), 3 or 4 times my card has been fradulently charged, once i paid for something i never got. In all instances I got my money back the same day i called the bank. My check book was stolen in 1999 and they wiped me out, it took 4 months to get my money + overdraft + NSF fees returned... It was awful.

Just a tip you are always much safer using a cc then a check. Money orders also offer very little protection as they are basically cash, if you send it and get no goods there is almost no way to recover your funds, with a cc visa (or whoever) just takes the money back for you.

 

[blue_ram]

Hello: A short while ago I found some online sites that sell aquarium supplies. I needed an impeller and did find it on two sites. I planed to order some other stuff as well. When I called the merchants to get ordering information, I was told that they will not allow me to send in a written order with a personal check (or money order). They want a credit card number. I do have credit cards, but I will not send a CC # over the internet. I still do not understand this business model. A check can be held untill it clears and a post office money order is as good as cash. One of the sites is listed on your forum page and recently announced a management change.
I know that I can phone and give a CC# over the phone, but I am being a bit stubborn. I hope to find a merchant that will do business with me in a way that I am comfortable with. If any one knows of such a merchant, please reply to this post. Perhaps the merchants who frequent this site will reconsider their practice. I may be the only person with this point of view, but I doubt it. I plan to set up several tanks and will spend money somewhere.
This past summer my laptop was corrupted by a virus (trojan?) that steals personal information and eventually shuts it down. I had to have it reformated. I do not keep any vital numbers anywhere on a computer, so there was nothing to get. I assume that by simply typing a cc# it will be somewhere in the memory (keystroke memory perhaps). Several people that I know have been doing bills and shopping online without a problem. Perhaps I seem too cautious, but it paid off this past summer. Comments are welcome.
I am also going to attempt to attach a photo of a tank just to see if I understand the process.

There are a few things you can do to secure your computer and be able to shop online.

1. Install Avast antivirus. avast! - Download Free Antivirus Software or Internet Security it is free and does not take over your computer like other anti-virus vendorts do.

2. Install K9, anyone with children should also do this even if not shopping. K9 Web Protection - Free Internet Filter and Parental Control Software | Free Internet Filtering and Parental Controls Software it is free and does content filtering.

3. Use firefox. Mozilla | Firefox web browser & Thunderbird email client it is not vulnerable to most of the IE specific interet vectors.

4. Do not go to porn, warez, free software, gamerz and or site that ends with a z, has excessive ads, or looks shady.

5. Do not accept emails from anyone you do not know or from any site you have not requested.

Do not use debit cards, you are usually on the hook for the first $25 or so. If possible, get an AMEX, no other CC company protects you as good as AMEX.

 

[skjl47]

Thanks; Good to know about the debit cards. I was not aware about many of the other things. Have not done anything yet. What about using a one time only substitute card # that my CC offers?

 

[blue_ram]

Single use card numbers would be perfect, but you should still make sure your computer is secure.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Since the corruption of my computer I have installed a new copy of McAfee antivirus. The tech that reconfiggured my laptop told me that it can be corrupted even with such a program in place. He recommended some techniques such as not going to porn sites and such. Apparently mine was corrupted when a pop up appeared and I clicked on the x to close it. It seems that any response will set the virus (trojan ,worm) into action. He said to not intreact with a suspicious pop up and immediately shut down the computer. Pop ups happen very often. I seem to have guessed correctly of late when closing pop ups, but they fooled me before. I do not see any way to protect a computer from this stuff. I will likely continue to avoid entering critical personal or financial data into a computer connected to the internet.
An friend who is computer savy told me of a security program when this happened, but weeks later was venting in frustration when he discovered that program to have serious flaws. Thanks for a response. I still do not understand why I cannot send a personal check (or money order) and the vendor waits until it clears to ship the product.