I need to buy a queen-size captain?s bed over the Internet. (I don?t
fancy calling all the furniture stores in town, asking if they carry
captain?s beds.)

It?s a scary proposition to buy something without being able to see it first.

I need some advice (do?s and don?ts).

I like to check out a company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
before I buy from them. Go here:
http://bbblookup.e-asp.net/default.asp#zip and put in your zip code.
It will take you to the local BBB chapter and you can search for the
company from there. You could also just doa google search on the
company name along with keywords like complaint, rip off, scam etc.