E-commerce and Shopping Online

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By 2002, e-commerce (electronic commerce or shopping online) has become widely accepted by Internet users. Today, you can purchase everything from airline tickets to software to designer clothing on the Internet. Businesses which sell items on the Internet are called e-tailers. Shopping online is not only convenient for many people, but often times Web sites offer special discounts which are only available off the Internet.

E-commerce can be grouped into three types

1. Online storefronts: Through online storefronts, you can purchase just about any item that you can buy in a "bricks and mortar" store. You browse an online catalog, find the item you want, place your order, enter a credit card for payment, and your purchases are shipped directly to your home or office. Amazon.com is probably the best known online storefront.
2. Auctions: Online auctions allow you to bid on items offered for sale. Instead of purchasing an item for a set price, you compete with other people who are interested in the same item. Whoever bids the highest, wins the auction. By far the most popular and successful online auction site is Ebay. Ebay does not actually sell items. Instead, it facilitates the interaction of potential buyers and sellers through the auction site.
3. Electronic payment services: With the growing popularity of auction sites came the need for people to be able to pay for items securely using a credit card without going through a storefront. Electronic payment service companies like Paypal and Billpoint allow you to send money to sellers via a credit card or checking account electronically. Today, these companies are expanding their services to offer a secure payment process for all types of online purchasing.

	When you place a bid at an online auction site, it is legally binding. If you win the auction, then fail to complete the purchase, you are breaking a contract. Don't bid on an item unless you intend to complete the purchase should your bid win.
	Is it secure? Although not every Web site is considered safe, new e-commerce software along with more secure servers allow e-tailers to accept credit card numbers and personal information across a secure connection using encryption to protect your credit card numbers. Look for the lock symbol at the bottom of your Web browser window to let you know that the site is secure. However, you should only give your personal information to companies you know and trust. And never send your credit card numbers through e-mail where unauthorized (and unscrupulous) people might gain access to them.
	E-commerce sites can store your personal information, so when you return to the site, you do not need to re-enter your information. If you choose this option, you will need to create a user name and password. Be sure to choose a user name (some sites use your e-mail address for your user name) and password which you will be able to remember.

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Steps to completing an online purchase:

1. Add items to your shopping cart: Search, or browse, a site until you find the item you want, then click the Add to cart button to add it to your electronic shopping cart.
2. Review your order: When you are finished shopping, click the Shopping Cart button to review your order and make any changes-deleting items or changing the quantity ordered.
3. Checkout: When you are ready, click the Checkout button to enter shipping and billing information.
4. Confirmation: Finally, a confirmation message will appear informing you that the transaction has been complete.