Online shopping

[Tony]

I've been wondering how you guys (especially those still in high school) go about online purchases. I didn't have my first creditcard until 1st year University, after I've gotten a decent paying co-op job. But now it makes more sense to buy more things online at a younger age (Steam's holiday game sales, Amazon, etc.). So what do you guys do?

- open CC sooner (am no longer familiar with current Canadian rules)
- borrow a card (or ask to complete a purchase) from parents / older siblings
- loading money into a PayPal account and using that as a de facto CC (works for some but not all merchants)
- something else?

Edit: not spending any money online is also a valid response.

[jcollins1991]

Not spending money online (though I've considered using PayPal)... Anything I need can be bought IRL, and I'd rather see stuff before buying it, plus having a physical location to return items to is easier usually...

[Insectoid]

I still don't have a credit card. I don't often make online purchases, unless the alternative is flying to the UK. When I do, I borrow my parents' card(s) and pay them back.

[ProgrammingFun]

I make several online purchases tho they are usually for the whole family...so I just use my dad's credit card...even if its for me...
I have also used PayPal...

BTW, is buying one of those prepaid Visa or MasterCards also an option? (never actually tried that but some of my friends have...)

[Tony]

Thx for the responses so far. I've spend 2/3 of this year in Seattle and been buying _everything_ (including groceries) from Amazon... so my view on online shopping might be somewhat warped.

The prepaid VISA cards seem to be somewhat common in the States, but I don't recall seeing those available in Canada. It'd be interesting to know if those are available here as well (to what extend?) and if anyone actually uses them (and how?).

There are activation fees, monthly fees (typically after 12 months), and it's really hard to get the last few dollars of the remaining amount; unless you know the exact amount and the merchant allows you to split payment methods. Still a viable option though.

[TerranceN]

My mom lets me use her card, and I just pay her back.

Also, speaking of the steam holiday sale, I bought Battlefield bad company 2 for $7! And both deus ex games for $3! Amazing deals. It really makes me wonder why I ever payed $60 for new games.

[DemonWasp]

Typically, I pay my dad back for things purchased on his credit card. This is still the policy for large purchases as for whatever reason I can't raise my limit, despite my stellar credit record.

[Zren]

I got my card specifically to use online. I had a job though when I first got it. Totally missed out on the beta of Mount&Blade thought. :/ Oh well, I got it on steam later. :]

Didn't really have a choice since my parent was slightly technophobish.

[ProgrammingFun]

Tony @ Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:20 pm wrote:

The prepaid VISA cards seem to be somewhat common in the States, but I don't recall seeing those available in Canada. It'd be interesting to know if those are available here as well (to what extend?) and if anyone actually uses them (and how?).

They are sold at grocery stores in Canada as well too...

[DtY]

I use Paypal, which I load from my banking account. Apparently you can't do that if you're under 18, but when I signed up to Paypal, I probably told them I was 18. Before that, I've used a parent's credit card.

[z_cross_fire]

ProgrammingFun @ Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:05 am wrote:

Tony @ Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:20 pm wrote:

The prepaid VISA cards seem to be somewhat common in the States, but I don't recall seeing those available in Canada. It'd be interesting to know if those are available here as well (to what extend?) and if anyone actually uses them (and how?).

They are sold at grocery stores in Canada as well too...

Yup. I have seen them in values of $25, 50, 100, 150, 200 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Zellers.

[Tony]

@ProgrammingFun, @z_cross_fire: thx, I'll check those out. Curious what kind of ToU they have here. Do you guys know of any peers actually using those though?

@DtY: neat. How often do you run into situations where PayPal is not accepted (e.g. Amazon)?

[ProgrammingFun]

Tony @ Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:57 pm wrote:

@ProgrammingFun, @z_cross_fire: thx, I'll check those out. Curious what kind of ToU they have here. Do you guys know of any peers actually using those though?

Yes...I had one friend try to sell me one worth $1.95 the other day because he had used the rest and couldn't find anything worth exactly the remainder

[RandomLetters]

You can buy groceries from Amazon??? lol

AFAIK Banks wont give you a credit card unless you have income. Few highschoolers probably have a reliable and steady source of income, plus, I believe you need to be 18.

I wanted to get a prepaid credit card, but it seemed useless turning cash into a more limited form of cash. I just dont buy stuff online, mostly because shipping fees make it more expensive, and I dont enjoy waiting 6 weeks for something that is less expensive.

[z_cross_fire]

Tony @ Thu Dec 23, 2010 3:57 pm wrote:

@ProgrammingFun, @z_cross_fire: thx, I'll check those out. Curious what kind of ToU they have here. Do you guys know of any peers actually using those though?

I have never heard of anyone I know using it, but I was planning to use one to pay for OUAC. I ended up using a credit card instead, because of the activation fees involved with prepaid Visa.

RandomLetters @ Fri Dec 24, 2010 11:03 pm wrote:

You can buy groceries from Amazon??? lol

Yea, I did not believe it at first -- but then I confirmed it by visiting amazon.com
Although, I had visited it many times before, I had never noticed it too.