origins
a better way
Although he was an experienced online shopper, buySAFE founder Steven L. Woda got burned after buying a handheld computer from an online merchant. “I never received the product, and the seller basically disappeared,” he recalls. “I lost all my money, and I thought, there has to be a better way!”
inspired by frustration, buySAFE was born
Steve's background in surety bond underwriting naturally suggested that bonding would provide an ideal approach to making buyers feel safer online, and in the process, also provide online merchants with a substantial competitive advantage.
Bonding has been used for centuries to increase confidence in commerce and to guarantee business transactions involving buyers and sellers who do not know each other. Steve's innovation was to provide bonding on the Internet to make online shopping completely safe and secure for buyers and more profitable for online merchants.
Steve wanted to create a positive experience for both buyers and merchants alike. “Our goal at buySAFE is to give people complete peace of mind when they shop online,” says Steve. “For many Internet users, buying online feels riskier than buying something in an offline store. At least at a store where you can see the product, meet the sales person, and know that you can return the product if you decide you want to return it.”
buySAFE today
buySAFE is also committed to helping the best online merchants increase the sales and profitability of their businesses. buySAFE does this by helping merchants optimize the trust of shoppers.
By adding a buySAFE Seal to their Website or marketplace item listings, merchants can clearly signal their commitment to providing their customers with ultimate peace of mind. When shoppers see a buySAFE Seal, they know that the merchant has passed the rigorous buySAFE Inspection Process and that their performance is monitored daily. In addition, their purchases can be covered by a bond guarantee up to $25,000 from buySAFE and its bonding partners — Liberty Mutual, Travelers, and ACE USA.
buySAFE is quickly transforming e-commerce by enabling shoppers to buy online with complete confidence. “Buyers no longer have to worry about who they are buying from, whether the product will arrive broken, or not arrive at all,” says Steve. “With buySAFE, buying online can be just as safe, easy, and fun as buying in your favorite store. And selling online with a competitive advantage can be extremely profitable. It's a win-win situation for everyone.”
