How secure are these online shops?

[edyzmedieval]

Mainly Play.co.uk, Amazon.com and especially Game.co.uk.
I want to buy Kingdoms, but it's out of stock in Game, so I've been looking at these alternatives.

Apart from Kingdoms, I want to buy some other games too, and Game seems the better alternative.

How secure are they?

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

As far as I know, they all are reputable retailers which use powerful internet security and encryption to protect their customers. Amazon is particularly popular, although you have to be careful if you are not buying from the company themselves - third-party sellers, although most of them are trustworthy, aren't always guaranteed to deliver the goods in the condition you expect. You should read their reviews prior to ordering if that is the case.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

From my past experience, the shipping with Amazon is extremely slow. You might want to go with another option if time is important to you.

[Gray Beard]

Amazon is a very secure site. If you are worried about a credit card number then I would suggest sending them a check through certified mail.

I have to buy thousands and thousands of dollars of stuff for my job (I am a purchasing director for a private school) and we use Amazon and have never had a problem with them)

[Cheetah]

Secure. I have ordered both MTW2 and Kingdoms from Game.co.uk.

[edyzmedieval]

Any alternatives?

Momentarily, I am in an European country which is listed, but the credit card billing adress is still in Romania, and they don't have the country in their list.

And Amazon.com doesn't ship DVD's out of US. I'll try Amazon.co.uk...

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

From my past experience, the shipping with Amazon is extremely slow. You might want to go with another option if time is important to you.

That's strange Evil_Maniac From Mars, I've never had any problems with delivery speed from Amazon, although I have experienced some slow movement from third-party sellers.

[Daveybaby]

The actual transactions themselves are very secure. You've got more chance of your card being cloned in a restaurant or petrol station than during an internet transaction.

Of course, fairly often we hear about a companies computer being hacked and all of their customer details being stolen. However, once again, this is something that happens to 'bricks and mortar' companies just as much as internet ones - ALL companies are potentially vulnerable to this sort of thing, since theyre all linked to the internet nowadays regardless of whether they actually trade on it.

The biggest risk is at *your computer*, i.e. you might have a trojan or keylogger on it, but if that's the case it's your fault, not the company youre dealing with. Kinda like going down the shops and leaving your front door wide open.

All in all, youre not really at any more risk buying over the internet than buying in the high street, as long as you take basic security precautions.

(1) Deal with reputable traders (all of the companies you mentioned are good).
(2) Use a credit card if possible rather than a debit card (youre usually better protected against fraud with a credit card, and if you do get compromised, theyre not emptying your bank account).
(3) Check your credit card statements every month and immediately notify the issuer if you start seeing purchases you didnt make.
(4) Secure your PC - hardware firewall, antivirus, antispyware.
(5) Never use Internet Explorer. Ever. Use firefox or opera or anything else - just not IE.

[Cheetah]

Any alternatives?

Momentarily, I am in an European country which is listed, but the credit card billing adress is still in Romania, and they don't have the country in their list.

And Amazon.com doesn't ship DVD's out of US. I'll try Amazon.co.uk...

That wont help, Amazon just does not ship shoftware to eastern Europe for god knows why.

On the other hand Game.co.uk does. I live in Hungary.

[Cheetah]

That's strange Evil_Maniac From Mars, I've never had any problems with delivery speed from Amazon, although I have experienced some slow movement from third-party sellers.

I assume that very much can depend on where you live. If you live in UK next door then sure you should have no problems with delivery speed.

TBH I got no problems with their book delivery speed so far.

[Husar]

I've never had a problem with Amazon, when I order in the morning, they usually ship in the afternoon and it arrives the next day or so. Well, that's with amazon.de, would probably be slower elsewhere. Oh and my 17" TFT was an exception, took about a week but then it was a big package and I used standard shipping.

[edyzmedieval]

Just ordered through Amazon.co.uk, they dispatch it. (woohoo!)
Let's hope it will be on time and safe.

[Slug For A Butt]

I have never had a problem with security, and I have bought everything from books to TV's to motorbike exhausts online.
My only reservation with Amazon is the delivery times. But I'm in no rush.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I've never had a problem with Amazon, when I order in the morning, they usually ship in the afternoon and it arrives the next day or so. Well, that's with amazon.de, would probably be slower elsewhere. Oh and my 17" TFT was an exception, took about a week but then it was a big package and I used standard shipping.

The only time I ordered anything with Amazon (Hearts of Iron II, new), it took three and a half weeks to arrive. I never bought anything from there again.

[Husar]

The only time I ordered anything with Amazon (Hearts of Iron II, new), it took three and a half weeks to arrive. I never bought anything from there again.

I'd call that an exception, did it say available for shipping or did they have to order the game first? I usually get preordered games on release day from Amazon. For the rest, like I said above. You might want to give them another chance.

[katar]

i have been extremely happy with my dealing with Amazon.co.uk for many years, never had any problems at all, i consider it as secure as you can get online.

Amazon normally list delivery times with orders and in the uk they provide codes so that you can track the actual order on its delivery route.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I'd call that an exception, did it say available for shipping or did they have to order the game first? I usually get preordered games on release day from Amazon. For the rest, like I said above. You might want to give them another chance.

It was in stock. Nowadays I buy direct from the producer for Paradox games anyways, it's cheaper.

[edyzmedieval]

I've ordered through Amazon.co.uk, Medieval Kingdoms, FIFA 2008 and a book about the Ptolemaic Empire. I'm curious how fast will they arrive.

[Slug For A Butt]

My latest Amazon order was placed on the 8th, it's now the 28th... still waiting.
Good job I'm not in a hurry.