Welcome to InfoFAQ. You'll find
professional advice from experts in the field, from business owners of
popular online stores, and from service oriented websites that are making
an impact everyday on the Internet. Our "Frequently Asked Questions"
format is fast reading, and straight to the point.
Some Often Asked Questions
How should I go about shopping for a big purchase in consumer
electronics online?
It is important for you to figure out exactly what
you are looking for. Try doing some research by looking for articles and
consumer reviews on the web. Make a list of the features that you want and
the specifications that are important. Then compare brands and prices.
When you find the brand and model that you prefer, then search for the
best price on that. Try doing some comparison
shopping once you know the
product you are looking for.
What's the difference between a credit card and a debit card?
A
credit card is a card that lets a consumer access funds in a credit line
set aside for that user. When the purchase is made, and settlement occurs,
funds are drawn from the credit line and deposited to the merchant's
account.
On the other hand, a debit card is a payment card whose
funds are withdrawn directly from the cardholder's checking account. With
an on-line debit card, the customer must enter a PIN to authorize payment
at the time of sale (and the funds are settled through a debit network).
In the case of off-line debit cards (generally with Visa or MasterCard
logos) the customer signs a receipt, as would be the case in a credit card
transaction. In this case, the funds are transferred after batch
settlement.
Is it safe to order products online using my credit card or checking
information?
When you make a purchase online, be sure to look for the
little lock icon on the bottom of your web browser to make sure that you
personal information will be protected by secure encryption when it is
sent over the internet. You can also check on this by holding your cursor
over the web page in question, clicking the right button on your mouse,
and selecting "Properties". Then look to see that the web address shown
starts with "https", where the 's' denotes a secure web server.
Are there any disadvantages to ordering my prescriptions
online?
If you're like most people, you go to the same place to get
your prescriptions filled. The local pharmacist has probably gotten to
know you, and is familiar with the full regimen of medications that you
are taking. It is the pharmacist's job to notice any drugs that might
react badly if taken together and protect you from dangerous drug
interactions. While some online pharmacies have questionnaires for you to
fill out that attempt to do the same job as your pharmacist, you just
can't be sure in most cases that they are looking out for you like your
local pharmacist.
How can I check out an online lender?
One thing you can do is to check with your state government to see if the lender is licensed to sell mortgages in your state. Another thing is to search the web for complaints about your lender. To do this just search Google.com with the name of the lender and the word 'complaint' or 'problem'.
Who are the top health insurance companies in the United States?
#1 Unitedhealth Group
#2 Wellpoint Inc. Group
#3 Kaiser Foundation Group
#4 Aetna Group
#5 Humana Group
Answers by Business Owners
Are pearls formed when a grain of sand (or irritant) gets in an oyster?
It is actually a myth that pearls are formed from a grain of sand getting stuck inside an oyster. Oysters filter sand all day long. It is when a parasite enters the oyster and loosens some epithelial cells (the cells that cover the inside of the shell) that those cells continue to multiply to form a natural pearl.
How does ABCmouse.com help children learn to read?
Learning activities help children to learn to recognize the sounds that make up words, the names of the letters of the alphabet, and the correspondence between letter names and most common letter sounds. Once this is learned children practice learning to read simple words (consonant-vowel-consonant, word family words, words that have the same ending letters, such as hot, pot, and not), and high-frequency sight words.
Are there electric vehicle charging stations available for public use?
Yes. Just as traditional cars are taken into gas stations refueling, electric vehicle drivers can take their cars to public electric vehicle charging stations to recharge their car batteries.
Compare popular products and pricing from Amazon store owners. Searches can be restricted by price, type of good, and retailer.
http://www.amazon.com/
Google Shopping
Search engine which shows photographs of popular products. Click through to the list of online stores.
http://www.google.com/shopping
SHOPPING.COM
Compare products, prices and stores.
http://www.shopping.com
Pricewatch.com
Search engine for finding products and comparing deals.
http://www.pricewatch.com/
PriceGrabber
Shopping search offering price comparison, reviews and store ratings.
http://www.shopzilla.com/
Source: Google, Yahoo, Alexa, major online directories and other statistical tracking tools.
In 2011 nearly 12 million adults were victims of Identity fraud!
Inside . . .
Modern Day Bank Robbers - In the old days bank robbers used to come into a bank with a mask and a gun... Nowadays they can just use the Internet. Protect yourself with these helpful online shop safe FAQs.
Consumer Complaints
Top 10 Consumer Fraud Complaints in 2010
Identity Theft - 19% (250,854 filed*)
Third Party and Creditor Debt Collection - 144,159, 11%
Internet Services - 65,565, 5%
Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries - 64,085, 5%
Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales - 60,205, 4%
Imposter Scams - 60,158, 4%
Internet Auctions - 56,107, 4%
Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams - 43,866, 3%
Telephone and Mobile Services - 37,388, 3%
Credit Cards - 33,258, 2%
Source: The Federal Trade Commission
* The complaints were filed online or a toll-free number, shared via a secure database. The FTC collects consumer complaints from more than 125 other organizations and makes them available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad via Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database. Copies of the “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book” can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/sentinel/.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC's online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
Note: Internet-related complaints accounted for over 50% of all fraud complaints.
Consumer Frauds
The Top 10 frauds listed in the FTC report include:
Fraudulent Weight-Loss Products (4.8 million victims)
Foreign Lottery Scams (3.2 million victims)
Unauthorized Billing - Buyers Clubs (3.2 million victims)
Prize Promotions (2.7 million victims)
Work-at-Home Programs (2.4 million victims)
Credit Card Insurance (2.1 million victims)
Unauthorized Billing - Internet Services (1.8 million victims)
The FTC has tips for consumers who want to protect themselves from
fraud:
Protect your personal information. It's a valuable commodity.
Only share your credit card or other personal information when you're
buying from a company you know and trust.
Know who you're dealing
with. Walk away from any company that doesn't clearly state its name,
physical address, and telephone number. A Web site alone or a mail box
drop should raise suspicions.
Don't rely on oral promises. Get all
promises in writing and review them carefully before you make any payments
or sign any contracts. Read and understand the fine print in any written
agreement.
Don't pay "up-front" for a loan or credit. Remember
that legitimate lenders never "guarantee" a loan or a credit card before
you apply, especially if you have bad credit, no credit, or a bankruptcy.
Drum Hardware - Exclusive interview with Gibraltar Hardware the drum set hardware leader.
Challenge Coins - You are advised to keep your unit coin within arm's length at all times. QA with Unit Coins.
Modest Swimwear - This company designs and creates modest swimwear that women love.
Gretsch Drums - Exclusive interview with Gretsch Drums, known for their "beautiful sound like no other."
FAQs with Doctors
Optometry - Exclusive Interview with Dr. Summy To Portland's Neighborhood Optometrist.
Cosmetic Dentistry - Exclusive Interview with Dr. Moller of New Image Cosmetic and Family Dentistry.
FAQs with Merchants
Southern California Wedding -
Prestine country club setting in Southern California with spectacular views. Exclusive interview
with Sherwood Country Club.
Church Banners - Exclusive interview with Amplify Designs, the leading manufacturer of Church banners.
Counterfeit
Handbags - "The World Customs Organization estimates the trade in
fakes at about 7 percent of world trade."
Carpet
Cleaning Tips - "Always ask about referrals and if they have a list of
what they do to prepare your carpets for cleaning, and what type of system
do they use..." QA with Sunset Carpet Cleaning
Shopping for
Purses "Whats happening now at a great speed is manufacturers overseas
will see the latest it bag and then duplicate the bag... Price is
primarily why people would buy a knock-off purse as opposed to the real
thing.." Kitsch Purses Q & A
Workers'
Compensation Info "The huge benefit of the Internet is time and
expense savings. The only other way to get all of this information other
than the Internet is at your local law library." FAQ with
WorkCompCentral
Eating
Disorder Treatment - In this FAQ Monte Nido explains how you can find
the right treatment center online.
Planes
Without Pilots Imagine a 3 1/2 foot remote controlled plane that flies
straight up for miles.
Eating
Disorder Help For those dealing with eating disorders, hope is never
too far behind.
Mass
CD Duplication. All of the sudden record labels began relying heavily
on CD manufacturers for the mass production of their clients' albums.
Corporate
Entertainment Corporate meetings are becoming more common in spas than
conference rooms, with room service cuisine rather than with fast food
from drive-thrus.
ML Properties Michelle Manley Orange County based realtor launches new site for prospective home buyers
Shopping Online
About Our Editors...
The InfoFAQ editorial staff are qualified professionals who are experienced at researching the Internet for relevant information about merchants, their products, their services, and their industries. The staff is trained to be objective, concise, and informative, helping consumers understand the importance of merchant compliance, consumer safety, privacy, security, fraud protection, and truthful information when shopping on the Internet.
Answer by The Pearl Outlet
Answer by Takamine Guitars
Answer by ABC Mouse
Answer by AeroVironment
