Today, the internet has opened up a whole new way of shopping for millions of people and is going from strength to strength. Whether you are looking for a diamond engagement ring, new sofa or the latest DVD, the internet offers convenience, ease of use and a superb source of information to help you make an informed purchase.

That said, making a high value purchase online is not something everyone would be comfortable with. This may be due to them having a bad experience when making an online purchase previously, perhaps wanting the assurance of touching and feeling the item they are purchasing, or simply that they simply don't have confidence in the system - in other words, what happens if I pay the money and the item never arrives?

Therefore, it should always be the aim of major websites to provide their potential customers with as much re-assurance as possible. You do hear horror stories from time to time about buying online, but there are certain guidelines which are outlined below which, if you adhere to, should make your purchase enjoyable and hassle free.

All the information below should be clearly displayed on the pages of the website you are visiting.

RETAIL PREMISES ADDRESS - This needs to be a physical address with street name and postcode. Avoid those sites with just a PO Box number, as you simply don't know where they are located.
> www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk displays this information on our About Us page.

TELEPHONE NUMBER - Make sure you look for a landline or 0845 / 0800 number, and a dedicated helpline. Always ring this number to make sure it is authentic...and that it is manned during the hours that they say it is manned. Avoid those sites which only provide a mobile number as the main point of contact. Have a chat with the customer service representative and ask them about the company.
> www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk displays this information on our About Us page. Our Customer service helpline on 0845 355 1164 is open 8am - 8pm daily. Out of hours, please leave a message and one of our customer service team will return your call ASAP.

EMAIL ADDRESS - Look for a contact email address and send a email outlining your requirements. If this comes back as undeliverable, leave the site. Also, monitor how long it takes the company to get in contact with you following your email. If this is more than 1 working day, don't bother with them as it means that they don't treat their internet customers with priority.
> You can also contact www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk through our email facility at info@thediamondjeweller.co.uk. Your email will be answered the same working day that we receive your enquiry.

COMPANY DETAILS - Any reputable company will have a company registration number and VAT number in the UK. These should be clearly displayed on the website and you can check all this information on the Companies House website. If this information is NOT displayed on the site, or is not provided by the company when requested, ask yourself why not?
> www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk displays this information on our About Us page.

CREDENTIALS - This is one of the most critical things to look for on a site....and to check out - after all, it is easy for a website to say they are a member of an organisation when, in fact, they are not. Any reputable organisation will be a member of their industry trade association. Membership of these organisations is not granted lightly - the company's procedures, ethics, systems and employees are examined before membership is granted. Also, look for consumer protection schemes which the website is a member of. And most importantly, check these out on the websites of the schemes - the website you are considering buying from will be listed on these sites if it is a member!
> www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk is a full member of the British Jewellers' Association (BJA) and has been since 2003, and is a member of the SafeBuy scheme. For more information on all our accreditations, please visit the Our Credentials page.

PAYMENT - Payment should always be via a secure encrypted server, and the payment system should always be run in conjuction with one of the UK major banking establishments. If a site doesn't offer online payments but only wants you to send a cheque or cash, then leave the site!
> www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk offers a fully automated online payment system, with all payments using a secure encrypted server with our partner, Barclays Business Banking. We accept all major credit and debit cards, including VISA, MasterCard, Maestro and American Express, for your convenience. We also accept cheques and bank transfers, which qualify you for a 1.5% discount on the price. Visit our Payment page for more information.

MONEY BACK GUARANTEE - If a company is confident of the quality of its products, it will offer a money back guarantee. EU Distance Selling Regulations state that a minumum of 7 days must apply for all online purchases. However, how much longer than 7 days is offered is down to the individual company.
> At www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk, we are so confident in the quality of our products, we are offer a 30 day money back guarantee. Click here for more information.

By considering and adhering to the above guidelines to ensure you purchase from a legitimate and reputable retailer, your purchase should be enjoyable and hassle free.

Click here for more information on the credentials of www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk.