Shopping Online with Credit Cards

Does shopping online with credit cards scare you? Or are you thinking, "since I don't have a credit card it's impossible for me to shop online"? If that is the case please read shopping without credit cards where you see how many ways you can shop online without a single credit card to your name.

Right here we'll go through the more common scenario - shopping online with a credit card.

When you have assured yourself that the online store is safe and has the item(s) you want, and you have clicked on them to add them to your shopping cart, you will find the shopping cart link or icon (usually on one of the top upper corners of each page) - CLICK ON IT.

On the next screen you find yourself looking at the item or items you have chosen with the prices, extension for multiples, and any taxes and shipping charges that are applicable. Look it over. Is it correct? Do you want to continue? If not, click on the link to remove items or cancel everything. (Blessed thought: you can still change your mind!)

If you are a Canadian like myself, you'll notice that the prices and fees are usually in USA dollars. Most shopping sites seem to be based in the USA or they use US dollars as a universal currency. Our Canadian dollar is not quite on par, and it fluctuates, so I often skip off to another tab (that is, I leave this shopping cart window open) and I do a quick check on another tab at XE.com (there are other sites like it) - to see what the equivelant prices or total will be in Canadian dollars. The purchase will go through in American dollars, but I will find the money deducted from my account will be in the Canadian amount, and not always to the penny what I see on the xe.com site. I must allow for that.

I should interject that this currency comparison and conversion works with all other countries and currencies too, but you may run into shops who are afraid to do business outside of their country. Check their Terms of Service page, and other places on their site for clues, or their exact rules.

Do you see now, that this is a good place to pause and give it a second thought? Ask yourself, "Do I really need this, or did I just think it was cute and would be fun to have? Can I afford this?"

I consider this one of the BEST blessings of online shopping. There is no clerk or anyone I know watching me, making me feel like I have to finish buying what I'm looking at. I can change my mind without embarrassment!

For the sake of this guide/tutorial let's say that you and I have just made the decision to go ahead. We're buying, and right now we're shopping online with a credit card.

So we fill out the rest of the form. There's the part about who you are - (and on many sites now, they ask you to register as a shopper first and to login; other sites make that optional), and they want to know where you live, and where you want the purchase shipped. Sometimes they even let you choose the shipping method.

The store will want your email address to send you the receipt and confirmation, plus the tracking information on the shipment. Make sure that is typed correctly. They ask you to key (type) it in again it to help you catch your own typos but you could still make the same mistake twice.

Paying by Credit Card

Here comes the paying by credit card part. We click our choice of credit card. That usually means clicking the radio button (dot) beside the brand of card we have, Visa and Mastercard are the most common. Some sites accept a wider variety of brands.

Next, enter the details like the name on the card, and the full number. Do this very VERY carefully, and double-check again. (Think: "how much would I like it if someone accidentally put in MY number for their purchase?")

What will happen - if you don't have the number correct, and the correct name as shown on the card, - is that the purchase will NOT go through. We can go back and fill these blanks in again - and again, but it may be frustrating.

Just key out the numbers slowly and carefully, and compare them again. You'll be fine!

The most secure sites also ask for the special 3 or 4 digit security number on the back of your card. See that as a good thing. Enter it. If you don't have it, your purchase may not go through. That just mean's this site's shopping cart doesn't accept credit cards without that security code.

When every blank with a red asterick (*) beside it is filled in go over the whole form again and proof-read for any tiny typo or errors.

All correct? Then click the last Submit button, or "Buy Now" or whatever it may be called. It's that big BUTTON at the bottom. But remember to click it firmly just once. If the site seems not to do anything for a few moments that does not mean you should click again. If you do, your card will be charged twice! You do NOT want that!

Think of it this way, the shopping cart or e-commerce system on that store site is racing off to other official database sites to check your credit card and see whether such a card really exists in the name you gave, and that it is not on some fraud list. That takes several minutes sometimes. So be patient. It's the small time-fee you pay for shopping online with a credit card.

(Note: if nothing happens for 15-30 minutes you can conclude that the shopping cart system has frozen or hung up. The purchase most likely did not go through. But to be on the safe side, I would not try again until a few days later, when you have checked with your credit card company, and that purchase does not show up there. If you wish you can phone the store, but in the confusion and excitement you might end up placing a phone order, and discover afterwards some duplication, or that you did not qualify for an online only discount. Personally, I would back off for 3-4 days, then try again).

Back to our correct scenario for paying by credit card:
Suddenly - or finally if you are impatient - a thank you page arrives. See! We did it! We've just made a purchase online with a credit card.

Usually that thank you page has a printable receipt. I recommend you print it out.

If you just want just the key area - then highlight it, and click "File" at the top-left of your browser, then click on print "selected." Then, instead of printing the whole webpage it will only print the section you have highlighted. (You could also click to save the page to file and thus put the receipt on your computer, but I've had some computer crashes and that means such files are lost, so printing it out on paper is my strongest choice and recommendation.

File that receipt and enter the purchase in your bookkeeping records. There. You are done!

It was not that hard was it? The worst - if you made a typing mistake, or forgot to enter something which they marked with an asterick (*), - is that the purchase does NOT go through until all the rules are followed. There is no one with an evil eye on you at the other end. You are dealing with an inanimate shopping cart form and most of the time, if you play by the rules, it will be happy to process your purchase!

This is almost too easy. It will go faster for you as you do it more often.

Shopping for a Credit Card?

Are you looking for a new or better quality credit card? There may be a dozen out there! So, again, I suggest you do some comparison shopping or research first. There are many sites that review credit cards for you. Educate yourself by reading up on them so you can make the best choice. Then be wise and prudent as you go shopping online with a credit card.

You will find:
* Best Canadian Credit Cards
* Balance Transfer Credit Cards
* Cash Back Credit Cards
* Instant Approval Credit Cards
* Low Interest Credit Cards
* Rewards Credit Cards
* Auto/Gas Cards
* Airline Credit Cards
* Business Credit Cards
* Student Credit Cards
* U.S. Dollar Credit Cards

Some cards provide you with excellent credit - or is that, you dare only apply if you have excellent credit? Some have good credit, some fair, and some bad credit. Some even offer you a card if you have no credit history at all - but they will charge you your favourite arm and leg, and maybe your firstborn child too! Personally, I think it is better to do without then.

Generally the big banks or financial institutions issue credit cards;
* American Express
* Bank of Montreal
* Capital One
* CIBC
* MBNA

For Your Credit Card Research

creditcard.com has all sorts of comparison charts for the many types of credit cards, including the ones with low or no fees. This site seems to adapt to where you are located, so that if you are in Canada, it will whisk you immediately to canada.creditcards.com, and if you are in the UK you will find yourself on uk.creditcards.com. The same applies if you are in Australia - you end up at australia.creditcards.com The information provided will be focused on what is appropriate in your country. It may be a bit tricky getting the info for another country where you are not presently located there.

iFreedom card for debt-averse Muslims

Melanie Dixon writes there, that this special Shariah-compliant credit card has been developed by MasterCard for devout Muslims whose Koran forbid the charging or paying of interest. It has been reviewed and approved by Muslim religious scholars. Traditionally banks do not offer interest-free cards because there is no money to make, but this credit card is really a preloading debit card, which can be preloaded with cash for a .95 fee, and then reloaded as needed. This allows Muslims to shop online too, or wherever credit cards are the method of payment. IFreedom sounds like a good name for it!

A Debit Card vs. a Credit Card

In fact, I want to warn you that if you do not control yourself, you may end up charging far more on your credit card than you can reasonably pay off in the next month or two. If you know you are an impulsive shopper, I would recommend that you destroy your credit card and get a debit card instead. Not just a banking card - there is a difference. But a debit card that has a brand name such as Mastercard or Visa, and has the security code in the back.

A banking card merely allows you to deposit or with draw money at your bank's ATM machine. You can't go shopping with it.

The big advantage is that a debit card is like a checkbook. You can only use it when you have money in your bank account. If the money is not already there, the purchase won't go through. (Or it shouldn't - I hope no shopping cart systems are sloppy about that).

Some time we may need to have a talk on self-control and self-discipline, and also budgeting, or living within your means. Math is not a problem once you learn those character-building traits. :)

Now, shall we go on to the page about how to do your shopping online without credit cards?

More & Deeper on Purchasing (Techie Stuff)

Download Your Purchase - here are detailed instructions for downloading your e-book, software , or membership access, and some extra security notes for protecting your purchases.

Online Invoices - Troubleshooting It's good to know what to do about receipts, or online invoices - troubleshooting when things go wrong. Even though we all hope it never happens, it does, and knowing what steps to take can make a world of a difference.

Secure Online Shopping criteria, and good habits to form that will keep you safe as you enter the exciting world of online shopping.

Learn from my eyeglasses shopping saga, so you'll know how to go about it.

A Guide for Buying Your Prescription Eyeglasses Online. It doesn't have to be scary, and you'll have a huge selection and the best prices.

Shopping Online with Credit Cards does not have to be scary; if you are informed and ethical, and conscientious you can safely shop with your credit card online.

Shopping Online with Gift Cards - there are serious pros and cons to weigh before you start shopping online with gift cards.

Shopping Online WITHOUT credit cards - I can assure you from personal experience that there are several ways to shop online without credit cards at all; and I may not even have found all the ways.

Shopping online with PayPal - Reassuring facts about shopping online with PayPal to give you peace of mind.

Hats! - Some chatter about hats, and look - a mini shop right here that you can look over and even buy from....

Home - Online Shopping Guides is especially for the reluctant and those new to shopping online; I want to show you that it is not that hard, and you CAN shop securely online. 'Home' is the default entry point and index for this website.