Do pretty much all online stores accept debit cards?
 

As long as the card has a VISA, Mastercard, etc. logo on it?

Yes.

You should avoid it though if you can. Do you have fraud/theft protection on that debit card like a CC? If someone steals your number they can clean out your account. With a CC you can dispute everything and get credit back. Plus there is a limit on CC where as the only limit on your debit is how much money you keep in your account.

Hmm...okay.

Not only that, but paying with debit online and the company screws you somehow...can turn into a real pain in the ass to get things settled...whereas with a regular CC, you can let the CC company take care of it.

I've used my debit card for years purchasing items online and have had 0 problems. Most online sites are as secure as they possibly can be. If you're buying from the bigger e-tailers, like Amazon.com, you should be fine. There are millions of people who use their debit card for something every day and I'm sure they don't have issues either.

Make sure your debit card has fraud/theft protection.

Also consider opening a new account with just enough money. That way you can limit how much you could lose if your card number is stolen or something. It's a little bit more work because you have to transfer money regularly but you can control the limit your debit card has.

I have used my debit card for a long time with only one problem. I got hit in the DVD Pacific fiasco... my debit card was charged about $20. I called my bank, and the money was back in my account the next morning. I think that most Visa-branded debit cards carry the same protections as credit cards now.

Thanks guys. I'd only be using it to buy from places like Deep Discount, EBGames, Amazon. Those well known ones.

I talked to the person about the debit card today and they said you aren't liable for any purchases if the card or number is stolen, and that it's protected.

On the flip side: what if you have a situation like DVDsoon that charges your card and you never get anything out of them? The card isn't stolen, but your money was.