WebAssured is proud to present a new weekly column from best-selling author and consumer advocate, Kate Welsh. Look for a new article from Kate very Monday morning on the WebAssured site. Kate is the author of Bargain Shopping Online and has a web site at www.bargainshoppingonline. Kate will tell you all about issues that matter to you, the online consumer, and give you a fresh perspective on all things WebAssured…

Don't lose your knickers! Download ShopAssured by WebAssured instead.

By Kate Welsh

Picture this: You've found a great site that offers incredible prices on those reversible plaid knickers you've had your eye on. O joy! Your trigger finger itches to click that Buy Now button, but before you do, doubt strikes: What if you do receive the knickers, but they're three times your size? Or what if you decide that plaid makes your derriere look a little on the giant side? Will you be able to return the knickers without being hassled? Even worse, what if the merchant absconds with your credit-card info without sending you the knickers at all?

It's enough to make you want to take a shower and hit the mall.

Well, before you take such drastic measures, try downloading WebAssured's ShopAssured, a plug-in that seamlessly integrates with Internet Explorer 5.+ (a Netscape version is under development) to take the guesswork out of shopping online. The plug-in is free, and available on WebAssured's Web site (www.webassured.com). Simply click the link, provide your name and email address, and wait about 30 seconds.

With ShopAssured up and running (it consumes no more space on your screen than a toolbar), you can instantly view information about merchants as you shop online-the company name, street address, phone number, contact information, complaint history (provided WebAssured has it on file), and overall consumer rating. You can ascertain whether the merchant is a WebAssured member-if it is, you can rest assured that you'll be treated fairly and ethically, that your privacy will be maintained (no one else will ever know you bought reversible plaid knickers), and that your credit-card information will be secure. In addition, if the merchant is a WebAssured member, you can determine the extent of its On-Line Purchase Protection-if the price of your knickers falls within the range, you'll be completely covered if something goes wrong.

In addition to providing information about the sites you visit, ShopAssured also enables you to register complaints about rogue sites in case a negative e-shopping experience gets your knickers in a bunch. To file a complaint, you simply click the Complaint button and fill out the online complaint form on the ShopAssured toolbar. WebAssured forwards your complaint to the merchant, beginning an automated dispute-resolution process. If the duly-castigated merchant is a WebAssured member, your complaint will likely be resolved immediately, as member firms have agreed to abide by the terms of the complaint process. (Note that if your complaint is about a merchant that is not a WebAssured member, WebAssured still makes ever effort to contact the company on your behalf; alas, they cannot guarantee the results. Even so, it never hurts to be heard-and if a merchant winds up with numerous unresolved complaints, its site ends up on the Watchlist, warning other shoppers away.)

Suppose it turns out you've worried in vain, and received your knickers without a glitch. In that case, consider using ShopAssured to heap your praise upon the merchant. Simply click the Praise button, and tell your story. Merchants appreciate the feedback-even ones that sell reversible, plaid knickers.

Kate Shoup Welsh