Welcome to High Street Offers, the mega store that brings high street offers to the comfort of your own home. Are you one of an increasing number of people today who are considering shopping online, but are worried about the potential risks, and unsure of exactly what is involved? Internet shopping is becoming extremely popular due to its simplicity and convenience in comparison with visiting a high street store, not to mention the many 'internet only' great discounts available that you wouldn’t find inside the store. It is indeed true that the benefits outweigh the potential problems you may come across when shopping online. So to help you shop safely, we have produced this guide highlighting key factors to look out for before purchasing products on the net.

Although most internet sites are secure, safety should be your top priority when shopping online. Firstly, check that the store you are purchasing from is reputable by ensuring the credit card details page has a yellow padlock image (situated in the bottom of your browser window). This is a sign that the site has built in security, and in turn, that your credit card numbers will not get into the wrong hands. Never send your credit card or personal details using email. Although this is simpler and more convenient than filling in online forms, it is particularly unsafe and surprisingly easy to intercept.

Another way of making sure you do not loose money is by ensuring the company you deal with are contactable in as many ways as possible, and that they have an adequate returns policy in case there is a problem with your purchase. You should also ensure they have privacy policy, as without one you cannot be sure what they are doing with your personal details!

Once you have shopped online, the vast majority of online stores will give you a confirmation of purchase when you place your order, e.g. a reference number, which you should print/save for future reference until you are entirely sure you do not want to return the item. You may find with prominent sites that you can trace your order by typing in your reference number. If not, then you may have to call/email the company.

Always check to see if your orders are insured before their journey. If items are sent through the usual service mail, then they are not insured and you will have no claim if anything goes wrong. In the unlikely case that your insured goods arrive damaged, send them straight back and the company will replace them because you have refused to accept the goods. If you fail to notice they are faulty until a later date, you must follow the online shop return policy as they are legally obliged to replace all your faulty goods.

In-case of any of the above mentioned events occurring, it would be a good idea to only order small amounts, say two or three items from a site if you are using it for the first time, until you are confident they provide a reliable service.

There are many directories available to help you find the shops you're looking for, and all the large search engines list endless amounts of stores, so there's no limit to the places you can go to find out about the shops and products you want. A good place to start is High Street Offers, our shopping directory with an extensive range of top UK shops. Its user friendly layout allows you to navigate easily through the lists of stores to find the best deals possible! Either Search alphabetically for the shop/financial service you require, or browse through the various categories with their selection of great online offers and amazing discounts. Happy shopping.....!!