We are proud members of the Better Business Bureau [BBB], a nonprofit organization that believes as we do, that fair and honest business practices are good for both buyer and seller.

The focus of a BBB's activities is to promote an ethical marketplace by encouraging honest advertising and selling practices, and alternative dispute resolution.

To that end, the BBB:

1. Collects and reports information to help prospective buyers make informed decisions.
   
2. Develops programs to encourage firms to regulate their own advertising and selling practices.
   
3. Serves as a neutral third party to help settle marketplace disputes.

We would encourage you to check with the BBB if you're not familiar with our reputation, or for that matter, if you're not familiar with the reputation of any company you plan to do business with.

Shop safe --- be sure you're dealing with a reputable merchant!

We use Thawte's SSL Web Server Certificate to ensure that your personal information stays that way -- personal!

With Thawte's digital SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) 'handshake', based on the leading security protocol on the Internet, you can rest assured that any information sent to our web server is encrypted or scrambled, making it impossible to intercept or steal.

Anytime you are giving out personal information that you are concerned about ie. your credit card information, you should ensure that this SSL protocol is being used. Check the web address on the page where you are entering your credit card information. If it begins with "https:" instead of "http:" then this protocal is in place.

Other ways to tell whether a web site uses this security software:

• Your browser displays the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen (Netscape Navigator™; - versions 4.0 and higher)
• You see the icon of an unbroken key at the bottom of the screen (earlier versions of Netscape Navigator™)
• You see the icon of a lock on the status bar (Microsoft Internet Explorer®).

Shop safe --- be sure you're on a secure page when giving out information you want to keep private!

In addition to knowing that your information is secure, Thawte's Server Certificate also offers proof of identity. With Thawte's proof of identity, you can be sure that you are not being "spoofed" (i.e. the site is real and not an imposter) since it contains:

1. The owner of the certificate. ie. Mail Order Pet Supplies, Inc the owner of the certificate and web site.
2. The domain for which the certificate was issued. ie. Our Internet address (e.g. www.mopsdirect.us)
3. The physical location of the owner. You know that you are dealing with an actual entity.
4. The validity dates of the certificate. This is extremely important, it shows whether or not the SSL Web Server Certificate is current.