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Question: How do I know if a Web site is providing me with
accurate information?
Answer: Evaluating information on the Web is in many ways
similar to evaluating information in newspaper ads,
telemarketing calls and in retail stores. You want to know
if a Web site is legitimate, will expand your overall
knowledge of the products and services offered and if your
privacy will be protected.
Use the rule of three — always check out at least three
sites when you are looking for product and service
information and prices and compare the information to buying
the product locally.
One of the first sets to evaluate the company is to look at
their reputation. Do you know or can you find out about the
reputation of the online company? Start with Consumer
Reports (www.Consumerreports.org). In order to access the
ratings, you'll have to join Consumer Reports Online for
$3.95 per month. Consumer Reports has an extensive rating
system which evaluates a Web site for such things as
security, privacy, shipping and handling, returns, customer
service, delivery, and ordering and canceling. They also
review sites for ease of use and design.
The Better Business Bureau Online (www.bbbonline.org)
coordinates a voluntary self-regulatory program where
companies can display the BBB OnLine Reliability seal if
they agree to certain requirements including abiding by the
BBB standards of truth in advertising.
You can also find evaluation information at www.gomez.com.
This online evaluator creates scorecards and certifies sites
based on criteria unique to the site's product. You can get
this information by signing up free with Gomez.com.
A good second step is to find out if there is a way to make
personal contact with someone working at the online company.
Do they provide a telephone number so you can get unanswered
questions addressed or correct errors that you might have
made in your order?
Does the online site have a vested interest in selling you
something? There is nothing wrong with buying products
online, but you want to make sure that the information you
get is what you want. Always check multiple sites.
Finally, will the information you provide at a Web site be
kept confidential? Look for the TRUSTe mark at the web site.
TRUSTe (www.truste.org) is a nonprofit organization designed
to help online businesses address customer privacy concerns.
More than 1,600 companies display the TRUSTe mark, have a
prominently displayed privacy button and tell Consumers how
the information about them will or will not be used.
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
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