With the economy down, online bargain hunting is fast becoming a national sport. Internet retailers are expecting to win big as traditional stores struggle to match the Internet’s convenience and prices…. and the holiday sales wars are just heating up.

Getting a great deal online involves more than just getting the lowest price. You want to be sure that products arrive on time, that quality is what you expected, that items include a proper warranty, and that there is a way for you to return products or get support with any questions or issues you have.

Here are the 8 steps to safer shopping:

1. Trust is Key. Know the Merchant – or Their Reputation

   1. If you already know the retail chain, shopping their online store is very safe. If there’s a problem you can always walk into the local store for help.

   2. If you know others who have had consistently positive experiences with the online store, you can be reassured of the site’s quality.

   3. If you don’t know the store, it may still be the best bet, you just need to take a few more precautions. Conduct your own background check by looking at sites dedicated to reviewing e-stores (for example, Epinions, BizRate, Better Business Bureau). Another Web site to consider is The National Fraud Information Center which watches out for shady Internet dealings and offers consumer tips on its Web site. If the store isn’t listed as a legitimate site by one of these sources, move on.

2. Is the Offer ‘Too-Good-to-be-True? Avoid buying from any e-store that promises too much at too low a price. If the price is low, you have to consider whether the merchant came by the items legally, whether you will ever receive the items, whether the items will work, if you will be able to return damaged goods, or if the merchant is also generating revenue by selling your financial information. Disreputable stores frequently run an absurdly low price offer and then, claiming the item is out of stock, try to sell you something else; this is a classic "bait and switch" technique.

3. Giving a Gift Card? Be wary of Bankruptcies – this warning is particularly important this year as many stores are struggling or already know they’ll be shutting their doors. Make sure gift cards will be redeemable if the store is facing bankruptcy.

4. Does the Merchant Collect More Information than is Necessary to Complete the Sale? You will need to provide some method of payment, address, and telephone number. If a merchant requests your bank account information, social security information, or driver’s license number, NEVER provide it. Some reputable companies ask additional questions about your interests. This should always be optional. Remember, your information is a commodity and you should feel you are getting appropriate value – and control – before providing your information.

5. Need a Password? – Make it Unique. Passwords don’t have to be hard to remember, just hard to guess. Click here to learn how

6. Make Sure the Site is Secure - Before entering Any Personal or Credit Card Info

   1. Look to see if the web address on the page begins with "https:", not of "http." You should also see a small padlock symbol at the bottom of your screen.

   2. Never pay through email. Security protections do not work in e-mail applications so only make payment online though a secure site.

7. Use Your Credit Card – not a Debit Card, Check, Cashiers Check, Wire Transfer, Money order or well-respected payment service like PayPal.

1. Credit card purchases limit your liability to no more than $50 of unauthorized charges if your financial information is stolen.

2. Consider creating a dedicated e-mail account for online shopping and transactions, and to use one credit card exclusively for online purchasing and transactions. If that card gets compromised, you can quickly shut it down.

8. Review the company’s shipping methods. Understand what carriers they use, their shipping rates, and if they provide tracking and insurance.

If you adhere to these recommendations, you should feel pretty confident. Let the online shopping begin…

Linda