Like others, Ms. Sherman became comfortable with online shopping by visiting the sites of catalog retailers she had known and trusted for years. She said she uses the catalogs as a resource, paging through them before signing on to her computer to order. It saves a telephone call, and retailers sometimes offer discounts and specials online that don't appear in catalogs. Sticking with retailers you know is one way to lower the risk of shopping online. Lands' End, Ikea and L.L. Bean are just a few with online service.
Guidebooks are available.
Other things to look for when shopping online are a telephone number, address and return policy. Each retailer should have them. Be sure you are using a secure server, which encrypts your personal information. Also, Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator display a padlock icon on secure sites, usually in the bottom right corner of the screen. Paying with plastic is a good idea.