Saying “No, Thank You” To the Cookies
We like our privacy. And sometimes we’re painfully aware that much of what we do online isn’t private at all. It’s disconcerting to be typing an email and suddenly realize that all of the ads on the side of the screen have changed to coincide with the topic of the email. Or to make a repeat visit to a website and be greeted by your first name. (Some marketers would say this is friendly personalization. I think it’s just creepy.)
Many websites are designed to insert a small file—a “cookie”—onto your computer. These cookies help identify you to the website, and may be required to use the site. Others retain information so you don’t have to re-type it every time to visit the site.
Still others track your searches and the sites you visit. They may even be able to glean your email address.
You can limit or prevent the use of cookies by changing the settings in your Internet Options. Or you can search “disable cookies” for specific instructions for your browser.
Not all cookies are bad. If you use online banking or bill paying services they may help you do business more quickly and safely. Some sites will remind you that you need to have cookies enabled to use the site.
You can visit websites without disclosing your identity.
There is no law preventing businesses from gathering or disclosing information about shoppers. Surveys have consistently shown that privacy is one of the top concerns when shopping online.
I like online shopping. I can shop for anything at 3 A.M. without driving forty miles. But I do think about the things I buy. And when I need bead bags, I buy them for cash at Wal-mart.
Here are 5 steps you can take to help protect your privacy online:
1. What information is the merchant collecting?
2. Is the information necessary to the transaction? For example, why does he need your mother’s maiden name to ship you a mousetrap?
3. How will the merchant use the information?
4. Will the merchant sell or share the information?
5. Does the merchant post a privacy policy?
Being aware of privacy issues can help you to say “no, thank you” to cookie monsters.
Online Shopping Problem: Who You Gonna Call?
Online shopping is quick, convenient, and usually reliable. But what if there’s a problem? For U.S. consumers, there are a number of options.
Begin with the information on the website. Look for a customer service or contact email. Be prepared with all the information on the problem. If you call a telephone number, be sure to get the full name of the person you speak to and keep notes of dates and outcomes. Ask for more than you’d be willing to accept in order to make room to negotiate a compromise. Allow the merchant a reasonable time to respond.
If the business is in your immediate area, many T.V. stations offer help to consumers to resolve problems. Be prepared with detailed notes.
Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau can help to resolve complaints. If there’s no physical address location on the website, try doing a “Whois” search to find the address of the domain’s owner. Then contact the nearest BBB to his location.
You may be able to pursue legal action with or without an attorney in small claims or civil court. Again, this works best if the business is located in or near your region. You may pay more in legal fees than you’d recover in a lawsuit.
Attorney General
You can also contact the Attorney General of the business owner’s state. Links to all Attorneys General are listed at naag.org.
The Federal Trade Commission offers helpful tips to help prevent identity theft. The FTC also maintains an online database for Internet related complaints. You can report spammers and scammers at ftc.gov.
Spam email and phishing emails can be forwarded to spam@uce.gov. Phishing emails can also be reported to reportphishing@antiphishing.org.
And you can report computer criminals to the FBI at www.ic3.gov.
Finally, if you are a U.S. citizen with a shopping complaint for a website outside the U.S. visit: www.econsumer.gov/english.
Aside from these, there are dozens of websites dedicated to helping consumers. Research these sites to register your complaint and find tips to help resolve it.
The best way to prevent problems is to exercise caution when shopping online. Using your common sense when shopping can prevent most problems before they happen.
None of Your Business!
You’re being watched. When you enter a search term, fill out a profile, or order a freebie, someone is watching. And not just online. When you use your customer discount card at the grocery store, a computer is recording what you buy—ostensibly to help the store track inventory, but also to deliver you customized coupons and offers for similar products.
Spam
There are some things that web forms ask for that makes one want to reply “none of your business!” Unfortunately, in too many cases, collecting such information is exactly the business these websites are in.
And then they sell it to other businesses to send you “targeted” offers. Spam.
That’s been happening for years. And if you don’t believe me, just answer a few magazine classified freebie offers and use a different middle initial each time. Then start watching for the different initials in your junk mail! And they do it because it works. Because people respond to “offers” by “buying”.
But online is different. It seems even more intrusive to receive spam email than to receive a mailbox full of catalogs and flyers. We worry about what information is being collected and how it’s being used. Once it’s in someone’s database, it’s subject to all kinds of interpretation.
If I buy tiny plastic bags to hold beads, will that purchase signal “drug dealer” in someone’s database?
I’d like to think that store that wanted to know my birthdate is planning to send me a gift card for my birthday, but the avalanche of life insurance emails in the interim tells me otherwise.
Many Source of Shopping
So what can we do about it? Well, for one thing, we can realize that most products online are available from more than one source. And if a seller asks too many personal questions, we can click the little x up in the corner, take our credit card, and go elsewhere. Despite what the website reads, the fields marked with an asterisk are NOT mandatory. And since there’s seldom an option to click to say “none of your business”, we can say “none of our business” and leave.