Hi Roger,

The only place that I, as a buyer, would be concerned about an ecommerce site being secure is at check out.

Since checking out on Bonz goes through PayPal, Google Checkout or whatever 3rd party server (which most everyone already knows is secure), I see no use in a security logo.

A buyer can tell that a site or a portion of a site is secure by looking at the URL address of the site as it is written in their browser. If it shows https – it is secure. Most people who use the net fairly frequently already know this.

I think a security logo will do nothing more than clutter the site. After all, the logo does not make the site anymore secure than if the logo is not displayed.

To each his own. :)

It would need to be displayed in such a way as not to mislead buyers into thinking that the site will refund their money due to a problem with purchase. The guarantee only promises to protect data in transit.

not a far fetched idea Roger..I like knowing I’m secure and seeing indications that I am may be reassuring…

The first thing I would ask (myself} is online shopping secure?

My biggest concern as a shopper shopping online is whether the transactions are secure or not. Unfortunately, the answer to such is a bit convoluted, as there are so many different levels of online shopping platforms and situations. To combat this, or to gain a perspective of the online site’s security is to answer a list of specific questions.

• what is the reputation of the site’s online transactions
• what is the security of their servers

Determining the reputation of the online site will be my first clue as to whether a shopper wants to do business with them or not. As can be expected, shoppers will be more apt to visit and shop at online that have a better reputation for security, customer service, etc.

A site who have been online for a few years and carry good replies and standings will probably have a better reputation and Internet presence. There are a few methods to check the [URL removed]

• Start by consulting the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
  [This will allow you to read any complaints by other shoppers about the site’s transaction process and so on]

• How secure is the site’s shopping servers?
  [Outside of legitimate security break-down complaints, this will be the single best method of immediately identifying whether the site has taken appropriate precautions and installed needed security measures. This is a concern due to the rise in identity theft, which is growing at an alarming rate]

• A secure website?
  [A secure website address will start with ‘https’, and not the traditional website address starting only with ‘http’.]
  [The ‘s’ in the URL designates the website address as communicating with a secure server, which is what I look for.]

That’s just “my take” on it but each is own with a judgement-call to follow……..GREAT topic> you go ROGer!

I hear what your saying Dakota, however I was thinking more on the lines of a first time net purchaser. There still is alot of people whom have never purchased on the net before. I think it would make people feel more secure to press the “Buy Now” button.

Right on Permacrisis

A friend of mine came to this site after I mentioned it
to her by an email.
She saw the warning and refused to enter.

So I guess it really can matter to some.
JMHO

I never thought of security on the site. I just buy. I think that if someone recommends the place to me I just assume it’s secure.

I like the idea Roger. We always want our customers to feel secure.

If buyers pay with Pay Pal – they are covered by Pay Pal security.

As long as I see Pay Pal I feel that the transaction is safe.

After so many bad years of trading on the auction site I am always more concerned with the security of dealing with a given seller. I always look at feedback, makes it hard for ppl like me who are new here or quit selling on the bay more than a year ago, no feedback to use for evaluation.

For me, if I enter a suspicious site Norton warns me and I don’t enter. Got no such warning here so here I am!

Aside from all that, I agree that if you can use paypal as your checkout that is where the security come into play. The only way a rotten seller can rip you off there is if they sell an item and close their bank account! It did happen to me once by the way so even paypal isn’t guaranteed.

Roger has a good idea IMO, security in data transmitting.

I agree with the rest…since Bonanzle does not handle money – then there is no reason for a security badge or little pad lock in the lower right hand of the task bar.

Bonanzle does protect the buyer and member by issuing warnings if a person clicks on a link in a item description…

[URL removed] [URL removed]

AND Bonanzle has been good at placing Seller’s Feedback in places that the buyer can easily find.

and…that’s Good Enough for me!

Kim ![URL removed]

I’ve actually got a “trust and reliability” sign on my store page from I think EPIS.

Don’t know if that means anything, but I do have a badge that displays at times through certain search engines

Wow, thats a great Idea Roger. I have to agree, I have purchased from a site once and turned out to be fraudlent. I got my money back but very inconvient. Great thought!

Very good question Roger! Great answer Montrose and all other responses. We will see what the Boyz have to say about this!!!

Good points. Personally I do not think we need security logo or badge. The site itself does not do the actual money transaction so they don’t need one.

Bonanzle’s URL says http not https. So are we secure or not?

There are so many places online that offer a “shield” to anyone that can pay $10, so I have little faith in most of them.

What is the difference of security if the site has https?

The only place you need trust signs are in your payment modules and they at the present time are PP & GC, Nothing else needs to be secure, If you use these methods of payment you are protected