Test your knowledge on Online Shopping

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/q...ingonline1.mspx

I scored 2/4

[-pops-]

I scored the same - perhaps things are different in the USA :)

[artist]

1/4

I think I'd better stick to the high street!! :D

[andsome]

I too got two.

[expertec]

I got two too!

[andsome]

I got two too!

So we both got two too.

[expertec]

Too true. :rolleyes:

[Thos]

Like artist I only got 1/4 that is below the average score of 1.9/4. :(

Thos.

[artist]

Like artist I only got 1/4 that is below the average score of 1.9/4. :(

Thos.

What do we know!!!

I HATE shopping......... :(

[Belatucadrus]

I got three, but I think the choice of answers was poor and not exactly helpful

Q: Why can an online store often price an item far below other outlets?

A: They traffic in stolen goods or make fraudulent offers.

and this is supposed to be a valid answer helping consumers to shop the Internet with confidence ?

[andsome]

Like artist I only got 1/4 that is below the average score of 1.9/4. :(

Thos.

What do we know!!!

I HATE shopping......... :(

I like food shopping

[Thos]

Like artist I only got 1/4 that is below the average score of 1.9/4. :(

Thos.

What do we know!!!

I HATE shopping......... :(

I don't dislike shopping. but how am I expected to know how many dollars Americans spend on Internet shopping?

And Belatucadrus was spot on in his post.

BTW, I had to copy and paste his moniker to get it right!

Thos. :D

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I got three, but I think the choice of answers was poor and not exactly helpful

Q: Why can an online store often price an item far below other outlets?

A: They traffic in stolen goods or make fraudulent offers.

and this is supposed to be a valid answer helping consumers to shop the Internet with confidence ?

That was my answer for that question, but it was wrong...

[Belatucadrus]

That was my answer for that question, but it was wrong...

Actually the correct answer to the last question was all of the above, but that implies that the "stolen goods fraud" answer was as valid as the other two. The first answer was almost as dim.

They make up the difference in extra, hidden costs, such as shipping and handling.

Both answers imply that Internet traders are a bunch of crooks who deal in hot goods and will screw you with hidden charges at every opportunity. Maybe Internet trading in the US is a wild and wacky unregulated region populated by the descendants of Capone, but after a few years Internet shopping in the UK, during which I've spent literally thousands of pounds on items ranging from my car through financial services to the new fridge. Nobody has ever tried to diddle me. ( With the exception of the odd 419 e-mail, but that ain't exactly e-commerce is it ?)

[micken]

I got three, but I think the choice of answers was poor and not exactly helpful

Q: Why can an online store often price an item far below other outlets?

A: They traffic in stolen goods or make fraudulent offers.

and this is supposed to be a valid answer helping consumers to shop the Internet with confidence ?

It's from Microsoft. What do you expect?

[Thos]

That was my answer for that question, but it was wrong...

Actually the correct answer to the last question was all of the above, but that implies that the "stolen goods fraud" answer was as valid as the other two. The first answer was almost as dim.

They make up the difference in extra, hidden costs, such as shipping and handling.

Both answers imply that Internet traders are a bunch of crooks who deal in hot goods and will screw you with hidden charges at every opportunity. Maybe Internet trading in the US is a wild and wacky unregulated region populated by the descendants of Capone, but after a few years Internet shopping in the UK, during which I've spent literally thousands of pounds on items ranging from my car through financial services to the new fridge. Nobody has ever tried to diddle me. ( With the exception of the odd 419 e-mail, but that ain't exactly e-commerce is it ?)

And me!

I thought my car was an especially good deal.

Thos.

[joysness]

I too got 2/4

I don't shop online. :)

[andsome]

I buy ink cartridges, and I also bought my daughters crap top. That's about all so far.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

...

Both answers imply that Internet traders are a bunch of crooks who deal in hot goods and will screw you with hidden charges at every opportunity. Maybe Internet trading in the US is a wild and wacky unregulated region populated by the descendants of Capone, but after a few years Internet shopping in the UK, during which I've spent literally thousands of pounds on items ranging from my car through financial services to the new fridge. Nobody has ever tried to diddle me. ( With the exception of the odd 419 e-mail, but that ain't exactly e-commerce is it ?)

I think the question, as well as the answers, are all badly formulated. There are lots of honest and trustworthy traders on the Internet, but there are also lots of crooks. And since the average Internet user doesn't know where a website is actually located, that may or may not be in the US or UK, but in Russia, China, or just about anywhere.

If an Internet trader offers goods that are far below normal trading prices, then one should suspect that something may be fishy. Either way, anyone should be careful when giving out credit card or other financial information on the Internet. I think that was intended with that badly formulated question.

P.S. I have been shopping on the Internet since 1994, and I have never had any bad experience.

[-pops-]

I buy all my components for computer builds over the net from various suppliers. Having build nearly 100 machines- amount in total to about £100,000, I have never been ripped off, charged excessive anything or otherwise thought the deal I had was unfair.

Some dealers are better than others, of course, and these are the ones I go back to for repeat buying but I have never come across any who have been obviously crooked or working on the wrong side of the law in any way whatsoever. I know these wayward companies exist but, have I just been lucky or is it that Bill Gates in his infinite honesty really does think that Internet trading is run, as has been suggested, by the Mob and descendants of Al Capone?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

The thing is that we (more experienced computer and Internet users) know where to look for, and where to buy things.

But the crooks are out there, and there must be some business for them; otherwise they wouldn't be there.

Do a Google search for "discount software" or "cheap meds" and you will find thousands of websites offering pirated software or fake Viagra pills. Maybe it's not what you or I would look for on the Internet, but the crooks are also looking to expand their businesses.