Ten Commandments of Online Shopping Consumers Should Know for the Holidays

1. Only shop at secure Web sites. You know a Web page is secure when you see a locked padlock in the lower-left corner of your browser in the shopping cart page, check-out page or any other page where the consumer is being asked to enter payment details.
   
2. Shop with companies you know. If the company is unfamiliar, do your homework before buying their products. Reliable companies will provide their physical business address and at least one phone number -- either customer service or an order line. Don't be afraid to call the phone number to determine if the business is legitimate. To help shoppers evaluate merchants, PriceRunner includes reviews from consumers who have shopped with many of the listed merchants and will also flag those merchants with substandard consumer experiences to provide a clear caution to shoppers.
   
3. Don't disclose personal information -- such as your address, telephone number, Social Security number or email address -- unless you know who is collecting the information, why they are collecting it and how they will use it. If you have children, teach them to check with you before giving out personal or family information online.
   
4. Look for expert and consumer reviews. They will help you find out if you're buying the product that's right for you. A great place to start is a shopping comparison Web site. Many offer helpful information on the product you want to buy as well as the merchant you may want to purchase it from.
   
5. Take advantage of clearance or end-of-season sales. You'll save money and miss the shopping rush of the holiday season. Ask about having your items shipped at a later date, so you can make your purchase when it's on sale and have it shipped in December. Also, watch for free offers such as complimentary shipping or gift-wrapping.
   
6. Make sure you're paying the lowest price by using a shopping comparison Web site. Shopping comparison sites do much of the work for you by finding the lowest prices on thousands of items and offering reviews about the items. Look for a site that provides the comparisons from the widest assortment of retailers, and perhaps both online and offline merchants, to ensure you're getting the best price. Also, look for a site that lists the lowest prices first, not the price from the retailer who pays for the top spot.
   
7. Don't forget about the shipping charges. Ground delivery is the most cost-efficient, but remember that it usually takes several days longer than express delivery.
   
8. Understand the merchant's return policy before you make your purchase. Many merchants will only credit back the purchase price, leaving any shipping and handling or return postage to you. Check if the merchant sets a deadline for returns or charges a fee to accept returned merchandise. Also, prior to making your purchase, know the merchant's policy on items damaged on delivery.
   
9. Print and save a receipt of your order. Save any emails you receive from the merchant that verify the product description and price or contain an order number, customer service number or shipping tracking number.
   
10. Be diligent if you have a problem. If you're not satisfied with a purchase or the purchase process, contact the seller and work to resolve your issue. Most online retailers want you to be happy and will work with you. However, if you can't resolve payment or purchase issues, consider contacting your credit card company to discuss your options.