Title: Buyer Beware
Course: 21 Things for Students > Section: Buyer Beware

Buyer Beware

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Doing Business on the Internet

Welcome agent. Today we are going to learn how to buy equipment. Buying and selling on the Internet have changed the way we live. No longer are we required to go to the store to find our favorite products – we can now perform a web search to locate, compare, and buy goods and services. This has changed things not only for the consumer, but also for the business owner.

You are going to investigate e-Commerce from a consumer standpoint, and see how to shop online, avoid Internet fraud, and locate reseller ratings.

What is e-commerce ?

E-commerce refers to conducting business via the Internet, includes online banking, trading stocks, and purchasing goods and services. E-commerce has become a fact of modern life, with millions of people now shopping regularly from the convenience of their computers . Many retailers have websites where you can purchase products online, including flowers, pet food, and tonight's dinner.

Source: http://www.learnthenet.org/index.php

e-Commerce as a Consumer

Everyone is shopping online. How can you protect yourself as a consumer? Check out this video on "How to shop online " from Learnthenet.org. You willlearn how to buy online, and how to avoid scams.

Key points to remember when shopping online:

- Shop with businesses you know and trust
- Shop from secure sites that contain "https://" in the web address
- Use a credit card from a reputable company; one that provides protection from scams, theft, and illegal use
- Never send your credit card number or social security number by email
- Watch out for "too good to be true" deals
- Look out for excessive shipping or hidden costs
- Print or save a copy of your order for your records

Protect yourself from identify theft, scams and rip-offs by being e-smart! If you are a victim, report your complaint to the Internet Crime Complaint Center or the Federal Trade Commission

Check out the reseller ratings of any potential seller BEFORE you buy to make sure they are reputable, honest and trustworthy!

Consider how you might protect yourself from scams, hoaxes, and cyber-thieves. Visit the Digital Citizenship and Search Strategies "things" to review other resources about protecting yourself on the Internet.

Quest 1 Real Cost

Quest 1 Real Cost

Your SSI Chief is not made of money. Before we issue you a mobile smartphone device, we want you to research what is the "real" cost of a smartphone over a two year contract. You will have to use your investigative skills and your suite knowledge to complete this quest.

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Special Agent Briefing

Your SSI Chief is not made of money. Before we issue you a mobile smartphone device, we want you to research what is the "real" cost of a smartphone over a two year contract. To make it simple we will choose an iPhone 4S for this activity. You are going to download the provided spreadsheet and input the cost of the various items into the spreadsheet to determine the "real" cost of the smartphone. The formulas have been entered for you so all you have to do is enter the cost data.

Steps:

1. Download the spreadsheet that is provided for this activity.

2. Go to www.att.com and hover over the word shop, then wireless, and then click on smartphones.

3. Find the Apple iPhone 4S and click on it. Choose the color and size. You are pretending you are a new customer. It is fine for you to input your zip code if they ask.

4. Choose a plan, data service, and messaging service. These are your monthly charge items.

5. Choose any accessories that you want for your phone.

6. Now take the prices that appear in your shopping cart and put them into the spreadsheet you downloaded.

7. Take a look at what the cost of a two year contract is. Are you surprised?

Great job special agent.  Name and save this spreadsheet. Your SSI chief will come around and look at it, or tell you what to do with it.

Check off this quest

Career Prep Quiz

Why is the application/resume such an important par of landing a job?

- It needs to stand out because it will be mixed in with other applications/resumes
Feedback: Try Again
- It will be the first impression the employer gets of me
Feedback: Great job!
- The application/resume is my only chance of getting an interview
Feedback: Try Again
- All of the above
Feedback: Try Again

Question #2

What should you NOT do when filling out a job application?

- Use black or blue ink
Feedback: Try again
- Proofread and be honest
Feedback: Try Again
- List most recent jobs first
Feedback: Try Again
- Leave blanks
Feedback: Great job!

Question #3

Why might a video resume help you get an interview?

- It is a more creative way to sell myself
Feedback: Try Again
- It will not help me, a paper resume is the way to go
Feedback: Try Again
- I will stand out from the rest of the applicants
Feedback: Try Again
- D. Both A and C
Feedback: Great job!

Question #4

Why is learning about your personality so important when looking at career choices?

- It will help me find a career pathway that I can start to follow
Feedback: Try Again
- It will help me find a career that I enjoy
Feedback: Try Again
- It will help me narrow down my search for a career
Feedback: Try Again
- All of the answers
Feedback: Great job!

Question #5

What is the estimated number of jobs you will have by age 38?

- 10 to 14
Feedback: Great job!
- 16 to 20
Feedback: Try Again
- 6 to 10
Feedback: Try Again
- 2 to 4
Feedback: Try Again

Rate the Companies

Quest 2 Rate the Companies

There are many companies that operate on the internet. Some you may have heard of before, and some you might not have. How do you know which ones you can trust, and which ones you can’t? Once again you are going to need your suite knowledge and investigative skills to complete this quest.

I am ready for Quest 2

Quest 2 Rate the Companies

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Secret Agent Briefing

In your last quest you went to the AT&T website to price out a phone. Most of you have heard of AT&T before. There are many companies that operate on the internet. Some you may have heard of before, and some you might not have. How do you know which ones you can trust, and which ones you can’t? Your quest is to research these three companies to determine if they can be trusted with your money. Each of these stores represents a purchase you might need to make some day while on a case.

Academic Superstore – discount software for students (or agents)

Ipodjuice.com – replacement batteries for electronics (equipment repair)

TigerDirect – electronics reseller (purchasing new equipment)

Steps:

Part 1 Make a spreadsheet

1. Go to http://www.resellerratings.com/ and look at the ratings of the 3 retailers listed above.

2. Next, create a spreadsheet (excel, google docs., etc).  Label the first six columns as follows:   Retailer name, Retailer Web Address, Retailer Rating, Good Things, Bad Things, and My Rating (see example below).

Part 2  Check out the sites & record your findings

1. Transcribe data from Reseller Ratings to the first three columns.

2. Read some ratings for each of your companies and summarize the good things you read about them, and then some bad things about the company people have posted.

3.  In the last column, rank the companies 1 for the best, 2 for the middle and 3 for the least good based on your reading the summaries that others have posted online.

**Make sure that when you are reading a negative review it makes sense and the company in question is most likely at fault. Some issues people complain about have nothing to do with the company. (strange but true)

Completing this Quest

When you are done with your document, share or save in your secret file space and share with your instructor.

 Check this Quest off on your Tracking Document

Congratulations on completing this Mission

Question #1

What type of program should you use when comparing cell phone plans prices?

- Desktop Publisher
Feedback: Try Again
- Spreadsheet
Feedback: Great job!
- Word processing
Feedback: Try Again
- Presentation
Feedback: Try Again

Question #2

Which tip about buying online is not true?

- Shop with businesses you know and trust
Feedback: Try Again
- If you see a great deal, don't wait!!
Feedback: Great job!
- Never send your credit card number or social security number by email
Feedback: Try Again
- Print and save a copy of your order for your records
Feedback: Try Again

Question #3

What does the S mean in HTTPS://?

- Special
Feedback: Try Again
- Superfluous
Feedback: Try Again
- Secure
Feedback: Great job
- Smelly
Feedback: Try Again

Question #4

What website do you go to check out an online retailer?

- google.com
Feedback: Try Again
- amazon.com
Feedback: Try Again
- ebay.com
Feedback: Try Again
- sellaratings.com
Feedback: Great job!

Question #5

What are some advantages of buying online?

- May not have to pay tax
Feedback: Try Again
- Can shop at home
Feedback: Try Again
- Can check prices quickly
Feedback: Try Again
- All answers are correct
Feedback: Great job!

Buyer Beware

Congratulations you have completed the Buyer Beware Mission.

To receive your Badge or certificate for completion from your SSI Chief :

1.  Take the Buyer Beware quiz .  Do your best!

2.  Please take this short survey to share your ideas on how to improve these activities and this 21things4students resource.