RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored Online Shopping Results:
Online Shopping
By:
Published: October 10, 2006
Online shopping refers to the process where a consumer purchases products from Internet sellers. Nearly everything can be purchased online, from clothing to electronics and everything in-between.
Online shopping is a godsend for lazy shoppers and window shoppers alike; there are no exhausting walks from store to store looking for the perfect black, leather hobo and no pesky salespeople to worry about either.
Benefits of Online Shopping
Price Comparisons
Remember 10 or 15 years ago, when the frustration of trying to find the perfect television at an affordable price with the right amount of buttons and gadgets was an incredibly frustrating endeavor? Back then, consumers had to make a mental list of every store carrying their favorite brand and type of television within a given price range. Consumers then had to drive to each of these shops to look at the in-store selection.
Thanks to online retailers like Bizrate.com and Amazon.com, all you need is a computer and a basic idea of what you are looking for. Simply type “television” into the search engine and tons of affordable television sets are at your fingertips. Not only are you able to compare different items by price, but you also can compare them by color, size, material and quality (new, used and refurbished). The options are seemingly limitless.
Coupons & Rebates & Discounts, Oh my!
Some brick-and-mortar retailers that also have online shops will give discounts for shopping at one or the other. Some Web sites allow you to print out coupons and rebate forms for in-store use. If you are a frequent shopper, for example, you might to try signing up to receive online newsletters from you favorite retailer. This is a great way to find out about your shop’s latest products and get coupons you can use online or in the store. You should, however, be wary about coupons and rebates not offered directly by the store. These may be fraudulent advertisements.
Window Shopping
Whether it is too hot or too cold, there is no such thing as inclement weather to keep you from online shopping. Although it can be fun to walk around and try things on, it also can be exhausting. Moreover, there always are going to be those little annoyances taking away from the shopping experience – long lines, pushy salespeople or unavailable sizes. None of this matters in online shopping. You are free to browse for as long as you like.
Precautionary Measures
Sure online shopping is convenient, but it is not always safe. There are plenty of things you need to be aware of when shopping online.
1. Know whom you are dealing with. This is especially important when using online auction sites like Ebay. In reality, people can and will sell whatever they want, regardless of whether their items are in stock, in good condition or even in existence. Always check feedback for sellers on Ebay (or any other auction site). If it is not an online auction site, stick to sites also operating in buildings. This way if anything goes wrong, you can go to the store and fix it.
2. When making your purchase via credit or debit card, always use a secure server. Some sites provide their own secure page, but it would be in your best interest to purchase your own firewall protection (as well as anti-virus) software. A firewall can prevent outsiders from accessing your account, while anti-virus software protects your computer from the various bugs floating around in the World Wide Web.
3. Guard your financial information. Never send anything regarding your credit card or bank account information to anyone via email or an unsecured Web page. This makes it easy for hackers to get a hold of your information and use it for fraudulent purposes. If your online shop provides invoices, keep track of them and use them to check against your bank account information.
Sources:
“How To Be On Guard When Shopping Online.” November 2005. Federal Trade Commission. 9 October 2006. http://ftc.gov/
“Online shopping.” 8 October 2006. Wikipedia. 9 October 2006.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_shopping >
Online shopping is a godsend for lazy shoppers and window shoppers alike; there are no exhausting walks from store to store looking for the perfect black, leather hobo and no pesky salespeople to worry about either.
Benefits of Online Shopping
Price Comparisons
Remember 10 or 15 years ago, when the frustration of trying to find the perfect television at an affordable price with the right amount of buttons and gadgets was an incredibly frustrating endeavor? Back then, consumers had to make a mental list of every store carrying their favorite brand and type of television within a given price range. Consumers then had to drive to each of these shops to look at the in-store selection.
Thanks to online retailers like Bizrate.com and Amazon.com, all you need is a computer and a basic idea of what you are looking for. Simply type “television” into the search engine and tons of affordable television sets are at your fingertips. Not only are you able to compare different items by price, but you also can compare them by color, size, material and quality (new, used and refurbished). The options are seemingly limitless.
Coupons & Rebates & Discounts, Oh my!
Some brick-and-mortar retailers that also have online shops will give discounts for shopping at one or the other. Some Web sites allow you to print out coupons and rebate forms for in-store use. If you are a frequent shopper, for example, you might to try signing up to receive online newsletters from you favorite retailer. This is a great way to find out about your shop’s latest products and get coupons you can use online or in the store. You should, however, be wary about coupons and rebates not offered directly by the store. These may be fraudulent advertisements.
Window Shopping
Whether it is too hot or too cold, there is no such thing as inclement weather to keep you from online shopping. Although it can be fun to walk around and try things on, it also can be exhausting. Moreover, there always are going to be those little annoyances taking away from the shopping experience – long lines, pushy salespeople or unavailable sizes. None of this matters in online shopping. You are free to browse for as long as you like.
Precautionary Measures
Sure online shopping is convenient, but it is not always safe. There are plenty of things you need to be aware of when shopping online.
1. Know whom you are dealing with. This is especially important when using online auction sites like Ebay. In reality, people can and will sell whatever they want, regardless of whether their items are in stock, in good condition or even in existence. Always check feedback for sellers on Ebay (or any other auction site). If it is not an online auction site, stick to sites also operating in buildings. This way if anything goes wrong, you can go to the store and fix it.
2. When making your purchase via credit or debit card, always use a secure server. Some sites provide their own secure page, but it would be in your best interest to purchase your own firewall protection (as well as anti-virus) software. A firewall can prevent outsiders from accessing your account, while anti-virus software protects your computer from the various bugs floating around in the World Wide Web.
3. Guard your financial information. Never send anything regarding your credit card or bank account information to anyone via email or an unsecured Web page. This makes it easy for hackers to get a hold of your information and use it for fraudulent purposes. If your online shop provides invoices, keep track of them and use them to check against your bank account information.
Sources:
“How To Be On Guard When Shopping Online.” November 2005. Federal Trade Commission. 9 October 2006. http://ftc.gov/
“Online shopping.” 8 October 2006. Wikipedia. 9 October 2006.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_shopping >
