Tutorial: Online Shopping in Canada-Preparation

Worried about leaking your personal information online? Fear of your parents' wrath when they see that online purchase on your credit card bill/your doorsteps?

Well, what if I tell you there's a way to keep your mind at ease while you shop online? (shh...)

1. Purchase a Prepaid Credit Card
A prepaid credit card is the solution to making an online payment without the use of an ACTUAL credit card. There's a unique card number on each one and the amount of money it holds is printed on the card.

Where can you get a prepaid credit card from? 
You can get one from Shoppers Drug Mart/ a 7-11 in your area. 
*Remember, think carefully before you buy it. There is a strict no refund policy because the prepaid card would be activated as soon as you pay. *

This is how it looks like: 
You'd have to ask the cashier for the card because they don't display it in stores anymore. And they're completely sealed with a plastic cover too. For security reasons I suppose.
Prepaid Card taken by me

How much are prepaid credit cards? And what types are there?
It depends on the one you're buying. I'd recommend going for VISA/ Mastercard just because they are recognized by most websites :) It gives you a peace of mind.
  • Vanilla Mastercard: $25, $50, $100 and $200 +Small Charge for Card Activation
  • Vanilla VISA: $50, $100, $150 and $250 +Small Charge for Card Activation
  • American Express: (Not sure because I've never used it)
2. Set up a Paypal Account
Now that you've got your prepaid credit card, you've got to sign up for a Personal Account on Paypal. Paypal has a step-by-step guide so I trust that you would be fine :) 

3. Link card to Account
Once you have the account created, go to the Summary Page and press the "+Link a Bank Account or Card" button in the "Banks and Cards" area. Then select the grey box with the words "+Link a Card". Enter your card number and such. 

Paypal would ask you to confirm the card number. And they'd do it by charging you a small amount from that card(which they will refund) and asking you for the 4 digits that is in the Paypal Transaction Name. So here's how to check it from your prepaid card's online bill:
  1. Go to this link: https://www.vanillaprepaid.com/
  2. Enter your card number, card expiration date and CVV(the 3 digits at the back of your card)
  3. See the 4 digits in the transaction name (try to log out and log in again, it usually takes a few minutes for Paypal to do this)
  4. Remember the 4 digits and key it in when you're back at Paypal(you have to click on your "Ready to be Confirmed" card)
4. Create an account for FlexDelivery service (by Canada Post)
  1. Go to Canada Post's Website: https://www.canadapost.ca/web/en/home.page
  2. Go to Managing Mail>FlexDelivery 
  3. Sign up for an account by clicking "Use FlexDelivery" (Yes, you'd need your home address for this part, but CanadaPost already has it anyway so don't worry. And no, they will NOT send you anything in the mail that'll EXPOSE your online shopping---unless you ask them to mail you when your parcel is ready to pick up)
  4. Add the post office address that is closest to you/ the most convenient for you to pick up on your own
  5. *Remember that you'd need a piece of government-issued photo ID that matches the home address you provided when you made that online purchase e.g. Driver's License when you pick up your parcel---so no one else could pick up your parcel unless authorized by you*
  • UPDATE (June 8, 2017): Please be reminded that the company delivering your international parcel is a registered user of Canada Post's service. I was recently told that FlexDelivery only works for parcels within Canada and delays are possible if the package delivery company is not associated with Canada Post... NOOOO!

       NOW...You're good to go! 
Summary:

"5-Steps Guide to Online Shopping"

1. Purchase a prepaid credit card
2. Set up a Paypal Account
3. Link card to the Paypal Account
4. Create an account for FlexDelivery service 
5. Go shop online!

Next Week: How to shop for items in Korea when I'm in Canada? 

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