As more and more people opt for, and discover the benefits of, shopping online, there is an ever increasing and desperate need for guidance through the vast 'jungle' of web sites to avoid the pitfalls and scams that have inevitably moved from the 'real world' to the virtual world of the internet. Avoiding these problems online, requires the same diligence as you use in the High Street, and, just as experience has taught you self preservation at the sales, you'll need those same skills of common sense you use every day to shop online.

Don't think, because online shopping is becoming more and more reliable, safe, time efficient and cheaper, you can let your guard down, no siree!   The WebShowcase Online Guide is here to help you make the right choices online, to ask the most relevant questions and get answers that count.

Because here at the WebShowcase we take your safety online very seriously, I have prepared this guide especially for our visitors, and where appropriate, have included what the WebShowcase has done to ensure your time online is fun, profitable and safe. If you need extra help please send your questions to me (phil) at:      and I will do my best to answer your queries. The most useful of which will find their way to this page for everyone's benefit.

Please remember, the world is full of criminals. The internet is no different. There are web scammers and net fraudsters who want to syphon your purse, wallet or bank account. This is not the fault of the internet or the technology that powers it, it is a human problem. Any and every new media has become a target, and will continue to be so. To yield the benefits of the internet we just need to look at online security as another problem we're going to have to deal with. Hopefully, the following will help you make the right choices.

Online numbers are skyrocketing beyond all comprehension. Staggeringly, from almost nobody in '95, to about 1 million in '97, to over 20 million households now in the UK are online. That's 35% of the UK population. World Wide? Over 420 million people are online and yet the internet is still regarded as in its infancy. As impressive as these market share figures are, the internet is just a baby. In a year or two, the world will see its billionth citizen go online. Nowhere in the history of mankind has a new medium grown this quickly.

  In view of this, if a site doesn't have a secure server, don't risk using it. Never send credit card or bank details by e-mail or online forms that don't meet the above criteria, EVER!

2. Does the online shop have a proper domain name (www.businessisbooming.uk.com) or are they using free web space, such as that offered by their dial up ISP?
A proper domain name does add some credibility to the merchant, but it is by no means proof of a bona fide business. On the other hand, web addresses like; http://website.freeISP.com/~username/~frame/~gowrong.html seem amateurish at best and would frighten most people off, but it's surprising how much money some independent specialists spend on their free sites. Shopping carts can be quite expensive to set up and seem wasted on something that doesn't 'flow'.

  Do check out any site thoroughly that doesn't have a proper domain name. If one should find it's way onto the WebShowcase, you can rest assured all of our strict criteria have been fulfilled beforehand. It's just that the site offers something quite incredible and we would all be the losers not to have it there.

3. Is the site owners trading address and phone number prominently displayed on their website?
With the best will in the world, sometimes things go wrong or you have a question that needs answering, about a product or service. Get land details, the address of where the company is physically located, and names of who to talk to if the order goes wrong. As a general rule, this is information you need BEFORE you do the deal. Be very wary of dealing with any company which only gives you a post office box number.

  Don't do business just on the strength of e-mail. These are so easily ignored if things go wrong. Where do you go from there if you can't reach real people?
  Do check that each site you're even thinking of exchanging personal information with has land details that you can check out first if you need to. Ring the phone number given. Who answers? Take extra care to make sure the site is genuine.

5. When can I expect delivery of my goods and what if I should need to return anything?
Another major customer worry, sometimes founded, sometimes not. The internet can never be like the High Street. Let's not get into this too much, but online shopping isn't tangible until the van arrives and drops off what you ordered, you don't carry home what you buy, do you? Sometimes having something you purchased in your hand can be comforting too; but only sometimes. On the other hand, your online purchase meant you didn't have to drive miles across town, fight the traffic and find somewhere to park, deal with crowds of other shoppers and stand in endless queues.
Many online products can be delivered to your home or office within 24 hours of your order.

  Do find out who the courier is and the expected delivery date and/or time. You can do this by e-mail or the confirmation of order page may have the details.

  Don't just take it on trust that everything will be alright, even though most of the time it is. You are allowed to ask any question you see fit about a product before placing your order, after all, you wouldn't be afraid to ask a shop assistant would you?

6. What about hidden costs like delivery charges and insurance?
Generally, delivery charges, where applicable, are indicated on the order confirmation page and increasingly now, on the same page as the product. There should be nothing hidden on a website! If you're not sure or can't find the information, e-mail the company and ask them to put it right. Most online shops work hard to try to get your purchases to you within their prescribed delivery period. Do check that any parcels are complete and undamaged before accepting delivery.

  Do check as more and more web sites now offer free delivery, or free delivery on orders over a specified value. Very useful.

At the WebShowcase, we do feel that delivery costs and delivery/postal insurance costs should be prominently displayed on a site as an early part of the order process, not tagged on at the end after you've put all your details in and are ready to press the 'accept' button. Technically it's not wrong, but from the point of view of a customer, it feels wrong, and if it feels wrong, customers will hit the 'clear' button. Sale lost! We encourage our partners to keep this information 'up front', so there are no unsavoury surprises at the checkout.

NOTE! Items sent through the ordinary postal service are NOT insured, unless you specifically ask or have this included in the shipping costs. Credit card purchases should be covered against loss or damage, but check with your credit card company or read the small print, before putting this to the test.

7. What else should I look out for?
a. Electrical items should be of the correct voltage or have an adapter supplied.
b. Some web shops also have a gift wrapping service, one which can forward to an address other than the ordering one. A very useful service if you are buying for a special occasion.
c. Order your gifts well in advance of the date actually required, such as, birthdays or Christmas.

8. One final thought or two.
  Received an offer you can't refuse? Refuse it anyway!! If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. This holds true on or off-line!!

  Don't leave your e-mail address lying around all over the internet. By that I mean in chat rooms, web sites, newsgroups, message boards or the like. 'Harvester' software may eventually find it and your e-mail address could be sold to anyone with a couple of pounds to buy lists of names. From that moment on your inbox may become swamped with commercial messages (or much worse!).

  Closely allied with the previous thought and so as not to deny yourself the fun of taking part in discussion groups and making new friends in chat rooms etc, get one or two disposable e-mail addresses. This is very easy to do and if the address does eventually become the target of 'spammers', not a foregone conclusion but a possibility, just delete it and get another one.
If you're not sure how to do this, please e-mail me; and I'll happily send you details of how to set up new e-mail addresses.

The best way to deal with SPAM is to ignore it, or, more importantly, delete it (you can do this automatically in your e-mail program if you know how). They'll usually have subjects like; Earn $1000 in 20 minutes, Serious Money Machine, New Fat Burn Formula, How to Make £££Millions, Half Your Weight in a Week, Get Out of Debt Fast, Guaranteed Casino Wins, and, Make Your Fortune Today. This gives you an idea but you'll soon learn to spot them. If you ANSWER spam e-mail, even if only to complain, you will just prove that you exist, so don't do it, and NEVER open an attachment without first scanning it with anti-virus software, and only rely on it then if you've got the latest updates. This is how virus' can be spread.

  Do take your time to decide and don't be pressurised into buying before you're ready. Understand exactly what's on offer and check any small print. If it's a bargain today, it'll be a bargain tomorrow.

Remember to shop around on the internet, just as you do in the High Street, for the best prices and service. Actually, that's the fun part. When you buy goods or services online from a UK-based company, you have the same rights in law as when you buy from a shop, street market, mail order catalogue or even during the sales.

The law says that goods must be: exactly as described on the website, of satisfactory quality and meet standards that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, and fit for the purpose for which they were purchased and claimed to perform. These are your statutory rights in the UK; defined by law and include purchases made on the internet.