I would be much more concerned about using my card in a store than say at DAZ or another reputable company on the net.

Given that unsavory characters can sit in the parking lot of some of the larger store chains, and using a wireless laptop, catch, and collect all your information the instant you swipe your card. Because when they send your card info to VISA for payment or to authorizse/apply the charges to your card, several of the big name major chains don't encrypt the data transmission at all, or they use an encryption thats long been broken.

I Saw a story about it on dateline a while back. :) And well it sure made my poor ass feel all warm and tingly knowing that some criminal could have possibly gotten my card info by just parking outside in front of the store with a laptop.

About these "added protection" things you can purchase, I call those "protection schemes". Because to me, they are scams. Given that most states and Federal law already requires the CC companies to refund your money if your card information is stolen and fraudulent charges are made to your account. Yep. To get your money back in the event of fraudulent charges made to your card, all it requires is that you sign a notarized affadavit with the bank under penalty of perjury that you didn't make or authorize the charges to be made. And Voila! Within a matter of minutes your money should be refunded.

Of course ease and speedy refunds in such a case are also a reason why it's better to use a card from a local bank where you can walk in and get it dealt with on the spot, as opposed to somewhere like CITIBANK etc....where you have to mail/fax this or that and wait.

"The Blood is the life!"