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| Frequently Asked Questions
|
1.When was "The Little Engine That Could" first created?
2.How many search engines are on the "Little Engine" site?
3.If I submit a recommendation, will it really make any difference?
4.Why would I choose to shop at the "Little Engine" Shopping Center
when I can go directly to the online merchant's web site?
5.I'm concerned about using my credit card online. How secure are
these sites that advertise "secure" credit card processing?
6.Are the merchants in the "Little Engine" Shopping Center reliable?
What if I have a problem?
Q: When was "The Little Engine That Could" first created?
A: In March of 1999, the "Little Engine" was created as a free resource for clients of Allied Professional Services, a company that provides various services to small businesses. The first "Little Engine" took the form of a single page of useful links organized into a table for easy access, and was modeled after the "Internet Jumpstation" created by Ed Kubaitis at the University Of Illinois-Urbana/Champaigne.
Q: How many search engines are on the "Little Engine" site?
A: It's hard to know precisely, but at first count there were a little more than 450 individual search forms installed. This count is constantly changing as users recommend and request additional areas of interest.
Q: If I submit a recommendation, will it really make any difference?
A: Absolutely! You ARE the difference. In fact, should you choose not to submit anonymously, you'll probably receive a fast, personal reply. "Probably fast" because all e-mail is answered personally, as quickly as is humanly possible. So far, the "Little Engine" has not had to resort to auto-responders to answer e-mail, and hopefully never will. As long as people can be afforded, personal attention is the method of choice.
Q: Why would I choose to shop at the "Little Engine" Shopping Center when I can go directly to the online merchant's web site?
A: You mean aside from having the ability to find exactly what you want faster, or being able to compare the products and prices of several merchants with just a few mouse clicks. Okay, aside from that, the best reason might well be this; "The Little Engine That Could" is not a subscription service, and so, receives no direct support from the users of the site. It's existence relies entirely on the commissions received from merchant partners and affiliates. Of course, you are never required to make any purchases at all, but if you decide to purchase products online, why not take that opportunity to help provide support for a service you use and enjoy, when it doesn't cost you anything to do so.
Q: I'm concerned about using my credit card online. How secure are these sites that advertise "secure" credit card processing?
A: Contrary to what you may have heard, online credit card purchases are actually more secure than some ways you use your card every day. In many cases, transactions are 128-bit encrypted, and are handled in such a way that even the merchant sees none, or only four digits of your credit card number. Compare this with telephone transactions and the traditional paper-form swipe method where ALL of your information is exposed for ANYONE to see. Online merchants have gone to great lengths to make credit card processing as safe as possible. Billions of dollars change hands every year through online credit card transactions without incident. Of course, just as in all credit card transactions, being a little selective about the people with whom you do business never hurts.
Knowing all this, if you are still uncomfortable with online credit card transactions, there are some other, even more secure ways to complete your transactions electronically. Many online merchants also accept the following methods of payment. Click on the links below to investigate.
PayPal
C2it
Q: Are the merchants in the "Little Engine" Shopping Center reliable? What if I have a problem?
A: We select the companies with whom we affiliate very carefully,
and believe them all to be trustworthy, but if you have trouble with a merchant, please let us know the details of your dispute as soon as you can, and explain how and whether your problem was resolved. Any merchant, no matter how reputable, can have transactions go bad from time to time, but if a pattern of user complaints develops, that merchant will be removed from the "Little Engine" Shopping Center.
If you have other questions, feel free to Contact Us.
"The Little Engine That Could" welcomes you aboard.
Enjoy the ride! |
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