Another option is to let the merchant have your credit information on file at the merchant's location. As interest in the internet continues to grow, people are shopping online more than ever. This pattern will continue as technology maintains its current rate of growth. The best sign of a secure connection is a lock which appears at the bottom of your browser. This lock signifies encryption on the site.
Encryption essentially means the data is scrambled before it is sent and unscrambled when received.
If there is a lock on the site the site is safe and there are no concerns about the privacy of your information. With encryption, there is no risk to shopping online, including divulging personal information, such as credit card numbers. The location of the lock varies with the type of browser you use, for example, Netscape has it located in the bottom left while Explorer locates it just to the right of center on the bottom of the browser. When selecting a method of payment, choosing the Purchase Order option allows you to delay payment until pick up or delivery of the merchandise. In the special instructions after selecting Purchase Order you can specify to the retailer when you will be in to pick the item up.