Bernstein made the announcement at today's Etail Details Internet Marketing seminar, presented jointly by the Electronic Retailing Association and FTC staff. No investigations tied solely to the 2000 holiday season appear warranted. In contrast, at this time last year the FTC had already begun investigating more than a dozen online companies. Bernstein said that online sellers toned down shipment claims and strengthened back-office functions such as supplier relations and inventory systems, enabling them to ship on a timely manner during peak demand periods. If you've never heard of the seller, check its location and reputation with the Better Business Bureau or the state attorney general's office in your state.
Credit cards offer the most consumer protections.
Those add to the cost of your order, so choose the delivery option that best meets your needs. Keep printouts of the Web pages detailing your online transactions, including return policies, in case you're not satisfied. The FTC's Office of Consumer and Business Education has two Consumer Alerts regarding holiday shopping. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide.