Shopping Tips and Guides

The perspectives of using shopping carts have always been geared towards the more commercial based websites. These are websites that have catalogues of products to sell. These are the websites that need an application that will make their sales and marketing lives easier. Sure, there are ways that we can go about it but the significant innovation of the shopping cart is something that we can not partially ignore or totally set aside.

The significance of the online shopping cart lies on how, in recent years, online transactions have developed. The internet has become a hub of business transactions. As more and more people take advantage of the benefits of setting up online businesses, the need for an application that will assist people in sales and marketing becomes apparent. Especially since the internet can be both a playing ground for online businesses and those predominantly offline establishments.

Generating earnings online can be very challenging sine you will most likely be competing with millions or billions of businesses. If you thought you have come up with an innovative business idea chances are you havent. Try searching the web and see if your business idea is indeed unique. The good thing about having some competition is you will be thinking about quality to capture your share of the market. However, with regards to an online business, you will be worrying more than just the quality of your product.

On the internet, generating traffic is as important, or even more important than what you have. When you have good traffic to your websites, you can take full advantage of it and convert that traffic into sales. Yes, traffic does not automatically means you will sell something.

When people go to a website, they will remain potential sales as long as they dont actually purchase anything from your website. Here is where a shopping cart application can make the difference. Its the same as a department store. If you see everything on the shelf stacked neatly with complete prices and tags and all, you can make your choices easily. You get your purchase, go to the cashier to pay your order, have the attendant bagged your purchase, and even assist you to your car where you take home your grocery.

The same level of convenience is what online shoppers will be looking for. Nobody will appreciate a website that has a complicated process when you purchase their products. Simplicity and convenience are key elements in any commercial online website. It is best to remove any stumbling blocks. By knowing this you can hopefully convert more traffic into sales by customizing your shopping cart to allow customers to pay.

Fortunately, there are battalions of companies that offer shopping cart applications and definitely there are several options to choose from. Select the ones that fit your preferences and your needs to maximize your chances of converting some online sales.

But aside from the commercial value of the shopping cart, it is a great tool as well in managing product inventories, tracking transactions, generating sales reports, tax purposes, and the overall maintenance of your online product store.

The significant innovation of online shopping cart cannot be downplayed. It has become more than a trend. It is a marketing tool that helps generate sales and improves product and site management. You can choose not to have it, of course. But why remain to be disadvantaged?

Shopping is an activity that is necessary in our lives. Many people spend a small percentage of their day doing some type of shopping, be it for food or some other essential items. Online shopping is when a consumer purchases products or services through the Internet. Approximately 68% of online Americans say they think internet shopping saves them time.

We’ve all heard how great shopping on the Internet can be, and that you can get things far cheaper, as the shops don’t have to pay expensive overheads. At the same time, most internet users express discomfort over a key step in online shopping sending personal or credit card information over the internet. The good news is that consumers are now taking proactive steps to protect themselves to ensure safe online shopping.

Here are a few informative tips about online shopping that Ive learned through my experiences.

1. Before you give your payment information, check that the Internet connections you will be using are secure and that the website encrypts your card number so it cant be read by others.

2. Always print out your order confirmation and save your receipts into a separate folder marked receipts, even if you lose or misplace your paper receipt you will have a back copy up should you need a refund.

3. Some con artists try to lure consumers to their fraudulent Web sites by using corporate names or Internet addresses that are very similar to those of legitimate, well-known companies.

4. ShopSafe is a consumer guide for online shoppers. All shops listed on ShopSafe have had their security, delivery, range of goods and prices checked. If you ever have any difficulty communicating with a merchant who is listed on ShopSafe, all you have to do is contact them and they will do their best to contact that merchant on your behalf.

5. Remember, before you make a purchase or a payment, read the information on the Web site regarding your right to stop payment or the company’s refund and return policies for damaged goods or faulty service.

6. Check the web site to make sure there is a privacy policy posted, and that you’re comfortable with the way your personal information is treated under that policy. Also, only provide the minimum information needed to complete a transaction, don’t divulge your Social Security number, credit card number, address, phone number or other personal information unless you’re sure the Web site is legitimate and you know why that information is needed.

7. When shopping online through a Web or online auction site, look for a feedback section on the site to review comments on the seller based on previous transactions.

8. Don’t do business with any retailer that does not provide its physical address and a contact telephone number for customers.

9. While youre shopping online and you become dubious about a merchant, if the Web site appears to be suspicious or if the offer seems “far too good to be true,” trust your instincts. As my mother used to say when in doubt, dont.

10. Contact your state’s Attorney General’s office (see “Government Agencies That Can Help”) or the Better Business Bureau and ask about the merchant’s reputation. Using the website address of the company you intend on ordering from, check their record with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB is funded by more than 375,000 business members, and the system has provided 60 million instances of service to consumers and businesses. Web sites that display a BBB On Line trademark, indicates the retailer meets high standards for good online business practices.

11. Search for trustworthy businesses using keywords that are part of the business name or that describe the products or services they offer this will ensure that they are legitimately selling the product or services they are advertising.

12. If you should receive an email claiming problems with your order or account, and asking for your personal financial information, do not ever respond to them, legitimate businesses will never send this type of email to you.

If peoples worries about security of personal information were eased, the pool of online shoppers would be greater. It is so easy to compare prices, there are no queues and plenty of parking spaces online. One important piece of information about shopping online and paying online from homeit can be safe and easy, but before you begin to shop online, you’ve got to do your homework, dont be fooled and entrust your personal and financial information to just any Web site.




Besides instant communication, and more knowledge at our fingertips than we could ever read, the internet offers us an ease of shopping never before available, especially when shopping for hot tubs. Its as if a magic genie has given us all our shopping wishes: optimum choice, access no matter the location, and the best of prices.

Shopping on the internet allows us to select a particular store or even a brand name manufacturer if that is our shopping style. We can search by product or brand name, but either way, we are able to choose the store we feel most comfortable with to make our actual purchase. We can choose our favorite leading department store, favorite discount distributor, or even go right to the manufacturer if they offer online purchasing.

Our choice of who to buy from is only the beginning; our buying experience is further enhanced by the ability to make unlimited price comparisons. Only the internet makes it possible to compare prices of 10 different distributors of a hot tub without ever leaving the comfort of our home. Some sites offer cost comparisons within a single site, allowing a person to designate an item and to then see prices from several discount online merchants.

Because buying on the internet eliminates the need for an actual store location and staffing, prices are often at a considerable discount. Whether you are buying large items for health purposes, such as a hot tub to help your arthritis or fibromyalgia, or buying something small for spiritual purposes, such as a tiny bronze Buddha, or a medium item for purely decorative purposes, such as a brightly colored abstract framed jazz posterall can usually be found at a fraction of the cost you might expect to pay if you purchased them in a specialty store.

Another benefit of doing our shopping online is the ability to find various ratings or evaluations of the products you are thinking about purchasing. Frequently web sites will offer various customer rankings and even customer reviews of the products, as well as web sites that offer more objective evaluations of items. Researching what you are buying can help guide your final choice, and in the end can lead to increased satisfaction with your ultimate decision.

One thing you need to consider when shopping online is the cost of having your purchase delivered. Frequently, you will be offered various speeds of delivery, with the longer you are able to wait to receive an item, the less expensive the delivery charge. Even for instant shipping, such as overnight or two-day delivery, often the discounted price is more than enough to offset the shipping. This is something you will need to think about when you make your cost comparisons. If the item will be taxed, that is, the distributor has a store in your state and is required to charge state sales tax; this should also be factored into the cost of the item.

When buying online, always consider the date that you want to have the product in your hand; ask yourself if there is a particular date that the item must arrive. This date, if it exists, will guide you in your choice of shipping method, and may, in fact, dissuade you from making a purchase that is not available by the time you need it. If your delivery requirements are more open-ended, and you have no specific time that you must receive the purchase by, you will have more flexibility in both shipping methods and who you order from.

Since more and more people have turned to the internet for their shopping needs, companies have developed ways to safeguard your personal information, especially credit card information. Look for assurances that your information is protected. If you are still wary of giving such information online, many internet companies allow you to print out order forms, and mail or fax them with your check or credit card information. While this may take a bit longer, it can be reassuring if you still do not feel comfortable providing such personal information, like your credit card number and expiration date, online.

Internet shopping also makes record keeping a breeze; printing a copy of your online order is often as simple as pushing your print button. The shipper almost always provides an order confirmation or code, which can be quickly jotted down and kept in a safe place near your computer. Many shippers, besides confirming your order by e-mail, will also confirm the date of shipment and inform you of the tracking number for the shipment. Some merchants even have places on their web sites where you can check the progress of your order, where it offers you several responses, such as awaiting shipment, shipped on a specific date, or expected arrival date.

If you are seeking a very specific or unusual gift, online shopping is often a wise choice. Want a specific animal breed cup for a loved one, or a towel featuring a certain college sports team? Instead of becoming frustrated when your local stores do not carry exactly what you want, the internet can locate even the most esoteric characters and team mascots. It is as if you are able to travel the world, shopping for that special gift to delight your loved one, that gift that says how much you truly care. Sometimes, if the item is very specific, you may have to search several sites before locating exactly what you want, but your chances for procuring a specific item are definitely enhanced by shopping online.

On a cold, rainy day, many of us dread taking an unnecessary trip outside the house. On just such days, we can easily do our shopping online, wearing our most comfortable clothes, sipping our favorite hot chocolate and watching the weather from a cozy vantage point in our own home. Imagine doing almost all of your holiday or birthday shopping for the year in a single afternoon? With the internet, this becomes a real possibility, saving you time, stress and money. Makes you glad to be alive in this day and age, doesn’t it?





The dangers of online shopping are well known. Horror stories abound of people who have lost loads of money while shopping online. You may be tempted to shun all online shopping, because you just don’t want to take the risk.

However, as our lives become and more intertwined with activities on the Internet, it will become increasingly hard to avoid all online financial transactions. Instead of avoiding the issue, why not take steps to protect yourself?

I’ll outline steps I take to limit my online risk. Following these steps are no guarantee that I’ll never lose money. But they greatly reduce the chances that I will lose significant amounts of money with my online activities.

To start it’s important to recognize two levels of risk:

1. My Immediate Purchase Risk – the risk that I will lose money with the transaction I am currently making.

2. My After-the-Fact Financial Risk – the risk that my financial information will be stolen and used subsequent to the transaction I am currently making, possibly repeatedly.

While both kinds of risk are important, the second can lead to far greater losses of money than the first. We’ll cover steps to avoid both kinds of losses, but you’ll want to be especially diligent about lowering your After-the-Fact financial risk.

Reducing My Immediate Purchase Risk

In making a purchase, the merchant’s reputation is everything. When I consider purchasing from an unfamiliar online merchant, I do my my best to establish that the merchant has a good reputation. Most legitimate retailers work hard to avoid cheating their customers, and their reputation will reflect that effort.

Reputation on Online Auctions

With online auctions, establishing a merchant’s reputation is usually pretty easy. Generally each seller will have a score indicating how well they’ve done in satisfying their customers. Don’t under estimate the value of this information. It’s very revealing. I usually make sure that the seller has been involved in a large number of transactions — no less than 30 — but a much higher number if I want to be really safe.

Further I read the feedback that the seller has received from their buyers. It’s important to take particular note of any neutral or negative comments. If the percentage of negative comments is greater than a couple percent, I will probably avoid this seller. Additionally, if the negative comment percentage is low, but there is a consistent theme of poor shipping performance or of buyers not receiving what they expected, I also will likely move on.

Reputation Through the Better Business Bureau

If the merchant is not selling through an auction, establishing it’s reputation takes more work. I’ll usually take a quick look at the Better Business Bureau web site for online businesses (http://www.bbbonline.org). It’s pretty rare to find an online merchant listed there, but if it is listed and it has poor performance, I immediately know to avoid it.

Further, if I can find the physical address of the business, I can use the main Better Business Bureau web site (http://welcome.bbb.org/) to find the local Better Business Bureau responsible for the merchant’s geographic area. Many times the local Better Business Bureau will have a listing for the online merchant.

Whether you’re shopping for a casual get together or stocking your home bar, your goal on the liquor aisle is usually the same: Find quality alcohol at a price that won’t break the bank.

To cut down your stress, look to the label for peace of mind when considering the quality level of spirits that fit your budget. Fancy packaging aside, the content provided on the label can be your best indication of the quality you can expect in the bottle.

Here are some tips to keep handy when navigating the booze aisle:

Tequila: The most important quality cue to look for when purchasing tequila is “100 percent agave tequila” on the label.

That’s your guarantee the tequila you are drinking is made from 100 percent pure agave with no additives, added flavor or color. Tequila labeled “Oro,” “Joven” or “Gold,” by comparison, indicates designation as a mixto; a lesser-quality tequila made with equal parts agave and cane sugar distillates that can often lead to hangovers.

There are a handful of quality, affordable 100 percent agave tequilas on the market today that sell for $20 or less. Look for Familia Camarena Tequila (www.tequilacamarena.com), a widely available, popular-priced tequila produced by the respected Camarena family of Mexico. With tequila industry experience spanning six generations, Familia Camarena makes both 100 percent agave silver tequila (unaged) and reposado tequila (slightly aged) delicious for sipping or mixing.

Vodka: Stay away from vodka made from corn and other cheap sources of starch, which often can taste harsh. Stick with vodkas made from pure, high-quality ingredients like potato, rye or wheat.
A great way to find affordable, high-quality vodka is to look for American-made vodka, which is often less expensive than higher-priced imports. Watch out for Blue Ice Vodka, a reliable and budget-friendly American potato vodka.
Whiskey: Remember that scotch, Irish whiskey and bourbon are all classified within the whiskey family, and all have great opportunities for budget-friendly bottlings.

Buy bottles at the lowest proof, or 80-proof (40 percent alcohol by volume). Distilleries often charge more for a higher proof, which can go as high as 160. Lower-proof bottles tend to be lighter and smoother in taste.
Instead of expensive single malts, pay attention to more economical blended whiskies, which blend malt whiskey with less-expensive neutral grain spirits. For superior-quality blended whiskies, look for those with a malt percentage that exceeds the grain percentage.

Everyone’s aware of the phenomenon known as the Internet. Since it was first introduced to the public, cyberspace has been changing lives and transforming industries, making communication, learning and even shopping faster, easier and more efficient. Now, with the emergence and wild popularity of social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, companies have a host of new media with which to attract and engage customers like never before.

Whereas pioneering AM and FM disc jockeys once helped listeners discover new bands and obscure songs, today people are turning instead to their Facebook friends and Twitter followers for recommendations on everything from music to health and beauty products to fashion. Trusting this like-minded and hand-picked group to be free of ulterior motives and therefore trustworthy has made these social media communities hugely influential.

The same can be said for trusted brands. Companies like women’s fashion powerhouse Nygard are using social media vehicles like Facebook, Twitter and their blog Fashioning Your Story  not to only engage and educate their existing customers, but also to win over new ones.

Through social media, companies can offer customers a place to interact with trusted brands, as well as each other. Customers now have a place to voice concerns and provide creative input, helping companies gather valuable information to improve products and services. This open dialogue that social media establishes among the customers and the company helps provide the customer with a sense of investment within the company, while also helping companies better understand their customers.

Yet, companies aren’t stopping there. Companies, like Nygard, are taking the opportunity to thank loyal customers – while wooing new customers – with instant discounts and special offers via social media. With social media, companies have the opportunity to ensure the customer has a great interactive experience with online contests, special discounts and other events, while also driving business to their e-commerce site.

This rapidly evolving social media marketing and customer service model is proving to be the way of the future for most companies, and anyone not harnessing it is losing ground quickly. Get a glimpse of this social media world by becoming a fan of Nygard on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nygard) to see how they are forming a better experience for their customers through social media. Visit www.nygard.com for more information.

When the economy nosedived, and companies had reason to be scared, a few businesses got resourceful.

Low incomes and record job losses pushed consumers toward trends like buying in bulk and using group discount websites. And where there was demand, supply soon followed.

In came the success of wholesalers like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s. But warehouse clubs weren’t the only stores seeing growth in bulk sales. Farmers markets, co-ops and natural food stores observed more supersized shopping. Whole Foods said bulk food purchases were growing by approximately 25 percent every year.

That wasn’t the only buying trend to emerge, however.

“The Groupon following led to an explosion of similar sites, like LivingSocial and Dealfind, not to mention all of the city-specific ones,” says Joe Kalfa, the leader of a new movement of group buying called All Our Power.

“You can buy virtually any commodity in bulk and get all kinds of group discounts on spas, restaurants and vacations galore, but what about monthly expenses like car insurance, gas and health care? It seems to me like there’s room for some improvement,” adds Kalfa.

Well, maybe there is.

According to Time magazine’s Moneyland, warehouse club members can save 25 to 35 percent on their food budget. Shoppers who forego packaging altogether and buy food from bins or dispensers save anywhere from 30 to 90 percent over prepackaged products.

Imagine those types of savings applied to insurance policies, gas prices, medical bills, cell phone plans and more.

All Our Power, which seeks to rally 10 million members and secure membership discounts from all kinds of service providers and retailers, could be the next group-buying trend to take flight.

A buzz has already formed around the young movement as consumers worldwide realize the potential benefits of a free membership with access to serious negotiating power.

Are you tired of paying too much for car insurance or gas? You’re not the only one. Sign up and learn more about your buying power at www.allourpower.com. Or, see what others are saying on Twitter @allourpower.

I love to shop, it really doesn’t matter what the item is. I enjoy clothes, shoes, art, most anything you can imagine shopping for. Yet I do have to pay attention to how much I spend because all those small purchases do add up over time. I have found I can buy twice as much stuff that I want if I shop at the various online auction sites. Trust me, you can find some great bargains on both new and used items. The two most popular online auction sites are Yahoo! Auctions and eBay.

There are literally thousands of products to choose from so you will likely find anything you are looking for. I enjoy finding things that the stores no longer carry but that I know are great products. Once you time in a specific item into the search box you will get a listing of all the products available. You can view them by the auctions that are ending first, the lowest price, the highest price, whatever you want.

Before you can place any bids on these online auction sites, you will need to set up an account. This is a simple process that will take you about 15 minutes. You will need to provide your personal information including your name and address. You will also set up a user ID and password for your account.

To get the very best deals from these online auctions, you really want to do your homework before you place a bid on any item. Take a look at the reputation of the seller. You will be able to see the number of items they have sold as well as feedback from the people the sold it to. Take a look at what these people have to say. You want to make sure the seller seems honest with what they are listing and they ship timely.

Make sure you find out about the cost of shipping the item to you before you bid on it as well. Some individuals place the cost very low but then they charge an outrageous fee for shipping. This is because the cost they have to pay the auction site for their listing is based on the price they open the bidding at. If the auction you are looking at doesn’t give the shipping cost I strongly recommend you email the seller and get an answer before you bid on the item.

Most sellers on these online auction sites are pretty straight forward in regards to what they are selling. There are a few who aren’t though so you really need to take the time to read the entire listing from top to bottom before you place a bid. For example, I know a person who thought they were bidding on an iPod on one of these auctions and they were disappointed when they got an off brand. Yet when I took a look at the listing they purchased it from that information was clearly stated in the description, she just didn’t read it all.

Not only can you get great bargains from online auctions, it is fun to look around and see what people have to offer as well. To help ensure you get the items you want for a price that fits your budget decide what your maximum bid will be on a given item. Enter that amount when you place your bid. This way you don’t have to keep going back to see if someone outbid you. Don’t get caught up in a bid war with someone though because you might end up paying more than the item is worth just because you don’t want to get beat! By setting your limit in the beginning you won’t have to worry about it. Should you get outbid on something there is likely many more of it on the various pages of listings on these online auction sites.

You will find auctions that offer a variety of items you may be interested in. There are auctions for home furnishings, vehicles, art, and even animals including livestock. Many people are intimidated by the process that takes place at an auction so they shy away from them.

Yet this is a perfect opportunity for you to get some great items for a very low price. The biggest factor is that there will be plenty of other people there bidding on items too. It isn’t just you and one other person trying to negotiate the price.

The other downside of it is that your goal is to negotiate the price of anything lower so you get a great bargain. Meanwhile the auctioneer is continually raising the prices higher as long as he continues to have interested parties bidding on the item. Of course not everyone at an auction is going to be there to bid on the same items.

If possible, take a look at the items that will be offered at an auction ahead of time. Most of them offer flyers listing the best items they have to generate public interest in the auction. Try to show up at least one hour early so you can take an up close look at the various items that will be for sale. This way you can confidently bid on them when they reach the auction block.

It is important to remember that you are purchasing items at an auction as it is with no expressed or implied warranty. If you find an old desk you love and would like to refinish check it out before the auction starts. You don’t want to win it and find out it is actually made out of particle board instead of real wood.

Don’t let the fact that there are plenty of people around you discourage you from bidding on the items you really want. If you don’t win them try not to stress out about it. There are generally plenty of auctions taking place in any given location so you may find the item somewhere else.

Of the flip side of that coin, don’t feel pressured to keep bidding more for an item than you really want to because someone else is bidding on it and you don’t want to be the loser in front of everyone else in attendance. Too many people worry about this situation at an auction, but it is nothing to take personally or become embarrassed by.

While you are taking a close look at the various items you may want to bid on, come up with a maximum price you are willing to pay and then stick to it. If the opening bid for the item is more than you were willing to pay for it then pass the item over entirely.

Even if you don’t walk away with anything, going to an auction is a very fun even it itself. There are real estate auctions, estate auctions, and those that offer a variety of other items. It is fun to attend and observe how the entire process works. This way you know the proper procedures when you are ready to make a bid. It is also a great place to network and meet lots of very interesting people.