There are several things to look for to determine if an online store is a secure place to shop. Just as you make decisions in the real world regarding who you buy from, you can apply these same criteria to the internet merchant. Here is a checklist of sorts to help you out.

Web Site Address
Does the merchant have their own domain name (www.mailordercigarettes.biz) or are they using free web space such as that provided by Geocities (www.geocities.com) or AngelFire (www.angelfire.com)? If they have their own domain it does lend some credibility to the merchant. You could make the "real world" comparison to a merchant with a large storefront downtown versus a guy with a fold-up cart on the side of the road. If you have a problem with your product, who are you more likely to find again to help get it resolved?

Site Design
How does the merchant's web site look? Does it look professionally designed or amateurish? A professionally designed site will be appealing to the eye and means the merchant spent the money to have it done, thereby making a commitment to selling their product online. Just as you may have second thoughts about buying something from a poorly-lit store with holes in the ceiling and paint peeling from the walls, you should avoid the web site that looks like it was an afterthought or slapped together in a hurry. Also, does the site mention secure shopping? Many sites will dedicate an entire page to shopper security to help you feel at ease.

Contact Information
Is the merchant's physical address and phone number prominently displayed on the web site? E-mail is great, but in the event of a problem sometimes you need to talk to a real person. The merchant should provide a means for you to do so.

Return Policy
The merchant's return policy should be posted somewhere on their web site. Even if their policy is no returns, the shopper should be made aware of that from the beginning.

Secure Ordering
If you plan to shop online using your credit card, a secure ordering system is a must. How do you tell if the ordering system is secure? Well the wonderful folks at Netscape and Microsoft have built indicators into their web browser to show whether a site is using secure encryption techniques.

If you are using the Netscape Navigator/Communicator browser, take a look at the lower left corner of your screen. Depending on which version of the browser you are using you will either see a broken key or an open padlock icon. This indicates a non-secure site.

If you enter a secure area using Netscape, you will see either an unbroken key or a locked padlock icon (older versions of Netscape will also show a blue line at the top of the screen). Depending on your browser configuration, you may also get a notification box indicating you are entering a secure area. If you are using Microsoft's Internet Explorer, you will get a notification that you are entering a secure area.

What does this mean? It simply means that the connection between your web browser and the web site you are viewing is secure, or in other words the information being sent is encrypted.

Note: You generally will not be on the secure portion of a merchant's web site until you begin entering personal details or your credit card information, so don't look for it as soon as you enter their site.