Never give out your Social Security number or any other personal information when ordering. A good rule of thumb is that if a piece of information would not be asked for on phone orders, it is not necessary for online orders. Once your transaction is complete, print out a copy of the order and confirmation number for your records. If all of these precautions still leave you wary of purchasing online, you're not alone. Of the millions of web browsers, only one-third have ever purchased.
Most browsers use the sites as advertisements, or for price comparisons.
If nothing else, the toll-free 800 numbers listed are great ways to find your nearest store location. The enduring tradition of joining the masses for last minute shopping could be dying, however. It seems almost unfathomable, but normal people are choosing to do their shopping in their pajamas, stretched out at their own desks - go figure. It's going to be a web Christmas.