Purchasing goods online can be a great convenience, saving time & petrol pollution in the process.

The ability to shop in the comfort of your own home without the pressure of crowds and salepersons can be a welcome change for many.

Short List of The Benefits
1) Convenience - shop when YOU want - open 24 hours 7 days a week!
2) Home delivery - lugging things back from the shop is rarely a joy....
3) Avoid driving - nobody likes parking lots in the heat or the rain expecially when it's crowded! - save petrol and reduce your pollution

You don't always need a credit card....
Many sites offer other options to FAX or PRINT order forms.

Many businesses will be more than happy to take orders over the phone during business hours.

To use a credit card or not?
Many people are still wary of using their credit cards to purchase goods over the internet.

Purchasing online is much the same as using your credit card over the phone.

In fact a "secure" internet transaction with 128bit encryption technology is safer than using the mail, the phone, or even handing your card over a counter.

You are more likely to have your card details stolen in the mail, tapped into on the phone, or even copied from sales receipts - than someone cracking the encryption code....

It basically comes down to the integrity of the online store you trust with your card details, and the technical skill and integrity of the IT company and merchant banks handling the transaction.

As a general rule one should never divulge CC information via an email or online form unless it is securely encrypted.

To tell if a form is secure - look for a little CLOSED LOCK or UN-BROKEN KEY symbol in the status bar of your browser.