OT: How safe is online ordering?

B

BigPig

New member
I've always been worried about ordering stuff online. Even though the site says its secure, I am still reluctant. I wanted to order some reloading components the other day, and wanted to try doing it online. I chickened out though. :o

After all this babling, I'll ask bluntly, how safe is it? Has anyone ordered online, and had good results? Please calm my fears. Sometimes is just damn convenient to order something(s) right when you want to (in my case, usually late at night, thats when I get the urge to spend).

Thanks for your help.
 
Every expert I've met on Internet Security advised me that they would never order anything online with their credit card. It's one thing to place an order and then call in your credit card # and quite another to put your credit card # online.

Another thing is who you're ordering from and whether they're a legitimate outfit or another fly by night. The larger ones are OK (D and R Sports, Natchez Shooter Supply, etc.) and are here to stay. Smaller ones like Fulton Armory are good too, but you have to know the firm and how long their reputation.
 
At the least make sure you have 128 bit encryption on your browser. I've ordered online numerous times with no problems.
 
Interestingly, the only time I have ever had credit card problems was in the real world. I've ordered books, computer hardware, and software without any problems online.

Just remember that if something seems to good to be true, it probably is.
 
I've ordered quite a few things from many different sized companies online, no problems. I guess you just need to work from the assumption that the vast majority of people out there are good people who will do the right thing (much like gun owners (to keep it somewhat related to the board)). Can something go wrong? Certainly, but something could also go wrong when you're in a resturaunt and give your card to the waitress who then wanders out of your sight for a few minutes to ring up the bill (and has the opportunity to write down all the information on your card). Just use a credit card and if something does go wrong you can always dispute the charges.

BTW. I worked in a bank's customer service center for two years answering the phones. Out of those two years (at 200 or more calls/day) I can only remember getting 6-8 calls (total) where fraud was suspected. Of those most of them were (upon investigation) the family's teenager doing something he shouldn't have been :rolleyes:
 
For those that are afraid to order online, do you give your credit card to the waiter at restaurants? Do you always keep carbons from purchases at retail outlets? Are you sure that after you have bought your gas, the underpaid clerk doesn't copy down and sell the number from your card?

Come on. I have never had a problem with online ordering, and I do it a lot. have any of you actually had a problem from online ordering?

And if you do have a problem, your maximum liability is only $50. Just make sure that you use a real credit card, not a Visa check or debit card. These give you no protection.
 
I think it is usually safe these days ... good advice above - just like in the 'real' world, try to deal with reputable folks.

I use a separate credit card for those transactions where I am not physically present. So, I use it for phone and Internet orders. And, I won't use my credit card if they don't have a 'secure' site (most reputable sites use 'secure' servers, and your browswer will alert you to that fact). I've never had problem, but if I did, I could at least have a chance of isolating the source. Also, the card I use for phone and Internet orders has a fairly low limit.

For those who believe Internet or phone orders are very risky, I would ask this ... how well did you know that waiter today? After all, you gave him your credit card, he left with it, and didn't come back for a few minutes, right? How much safer is that?

Regards from AZ
 
Some good information, thanks guys.

I wanted to order from Brownells and Midway the other day, but like I said, I chickened out.

I order with a CC on the phone all the time, I dont have a problem with that. The waiter analogy is a good one, and I have personally kept that thought in the back of my mind for a while. Anyway, I guess I'll just do it and see how it works. LIfe would be pretty boring if I didnt take some risks. :D Thanks.
 
I'm not too paranoid about ordering online. I have been doing it exclusively for Christmas presents for about 3 three years. Zero problems. For gun related stuff I have ordered from On Target and Champion Shooters, also with zero problems. I prefer to phone Brownell's, Midway, Natchez, Graf, etc. because I usually have some questions or want to be sure the stuff is in stock.
 
I,m glad most of you have had positive experiences with internet commerce because it is the future and we all need to learn what we need to deal with it. Having said that I unfortunatly have had some bad experiences over internet purchases that fortunatly have had good outcomes. Within the last few months I had two unauthorized charges billed to my credit card. Had I not reviewed my bill I received by snail mail I surely would have just paid my balance as I usually do. How did these vendors get my number? Who knows? All the sites I buy from are secure sites. I'll be honest though that I'm not surprised. The ease with which hackers as we have seen recently trash systems it is not surprising my number was hacked. This all has a happy ending though. I contacted my credit card company and they were very professional and courteous helping me deal with the problem. All bogus charges were deleted.

Moral of the story: Review your bill regularly and report bogus charges immediatly. Will I continue to order online? You bet! Onlilne purchases are very convenient and some of the deals I've enjoyed are incredible. Credit card companies have it in their best interest to make the system work and will work with you to clear up anyone trying to commit fraud. Hopefully as the internet matures we will see even more security. Jump in the waters fine but just watch out for the occasional shark.
 
I work for a credit card company, I am cust. serv. rep on the online banking part of the card and I truly believe if it has 128 bit and there is a lock in the bottom right of the screen when you get ready to order, your as safe as you using your card at the store.

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WHEN IT COMES TO FRIENDS THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT
 
I have so far had good buying experiences. I do use a limited, specific card, better than average encryption, and check out the vendor before purchasing.

I may be wrong, but I would think that currently, the most unsecure thing to do would be to send the payment snail mail to the card company on a personal check, DL# (especially, if it is SS#) and the card # on the memo slot. How many eyes see this free and easy info?

Actually, I just love to come home from a crappy day at work and see some cool gun stuff inside the screen door :).
 
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