Shopping Tips and Guides

Despite the many advantages of online shopping there are also problems which may occur with this type of shopping. These problems such as ordering the wrong item, receiving the wrong item and the need to return an item can often be significant enough to make a potential online shopper reconsider the decision to purchase an item online. Although these problems are some of the most common which occur in online shopping they do not necessarily happen frequently.

However, when these problems do occur they can cause a great deal of stress and frustration for the online shopper. This article will discuss some of these common problems in an attempt to help the reader make a wise decision about whether or not to purchase an item online.

Ordering the Wrong Item

When shopping in traditional stores it is quite difficult to accidentally purchase the wrong item because the sales process typically involves the consumer physically carrying the item up to the sales counter to make the purchase. However, in online shopping where the consumer never physically handles the item before the purchase is complete and the item delivered it is certainly possible to purchase the wrong item.

This can occur when the shopper uses the website to make the purchase and clicks on the wrong item or when the consumer contacts customer service to make the purchase and provides the wrong product number. Even if the consumer clicks on the correct product and provides an accurate product number he may still make a mistake in the ordering process if there are options such as size or color associated with the item. This problem can be rather troubling because the consumer will be disappointed when the incorrect item is received.

Receiving the Wrong Item

Even when online shoppers do not make mistakes during the ordering process it is still possible for the consumer to receive the wrong item. This often occurs when the orders are filled by hand and a mistake is made in the warehouse. A warehouse maker may ship the wrong item completely or may ship the correct item in the wrong size or color. Again the consumer will likely not know a mistake was made until the order arrives.

The online retailer will likely take responsibility for returning the incorrect item and will ship the correct item as soon as possible. However, this may not completely correct the problem in all cases. For example a consumer who purchased an item for a specific event may not receive the replacement item in time for the event.

The Need to Return an Item

In situations where the online shopper orders the wrong item as well as situations where the online retailer mistakenly ships the wrong item there may be a need to make returns. Although this may not seem to be a huge problem it can be particularly troubling for some consumers. In particular online shoppers who opt to do their shopping online specifically because they work odd hours may have a great deal of difficulty making returns.

This is because the process of shipping the item back to the online retailer will generally involve taking the item to a post office. Depending on the hours in which the consumer works, it may be difficult to get to a post office during regular business hours and may require the shopper to take time off from work to make the return.

Christmas can be a pretty stressful time as we are all rushing around trying to make sure we have everything in hand for when the great occasion arrives. Now though with the aid of the internet the chore of buying all those Christmas gifts for your loved ones can be done with both speed,ease and sometimes at a fraction of the cost.

Before we would simply walk into a store and match a product to whoever we were buying it for. Now with the help of the internet we can within minutes track down the product that we “know” a person will want and in theory our shopping time should be shortened and the end result should be a present that is truly wanted and received with great joy. The other benefit of Christmas gift shopping via the internet is the fact that we can easily and swiftly compare the different prices that the various vendors have on their websites. It is not unheard of to find a price difference of up to fifty percent so do not be rushed into buying the very first product your eyes lay focus on as you could surely be paying a far lower price elsewhere.

The trick with all internet shopping and one that many folk forget is “save that site to your favorites” , This single action alone can save you a fortune. How many times on the past have you found a product or service never to see it again? why? simply because you visited a few different websites and could not remember how you found the item/product in the first place. Christmas gift shopping entails visiting far more sites than usual so simply create a new folder in your “favorites” folder and add the sites as you go.

Another advantage of this is that if you do this well before Christmas you can even line up a variety of different Christmas gifts in order that when you do decide to buy you will not be stuck for choice. You will not believe how easy this can make your online Christmas shopping experience and no longer will you dread the Christmas gift hunting season as it approaches.

In addition to using your “favorites” folder as your secret Christmas shopping weapon the next tip is this. Start your online information gathering as early as you think you can handle. Start in October and build up a list of different gift options, Work on one person at a time and if possible even sound them out regarding what it is that they might wish Santa to bring them for the jolly old Christmas occasion.

Also remember this. At this time of year there are so many stores and businesses fighting for your custom that bargains will be plentiful and the need to buy the very first time you see a target item should be absolutely the last thing on your mind.

remember these key points and you won’t go far wrong.

Start as early as possible.

Use your favorites to store website and product details.

Sound your friends and relatives out to see just what they would wish for at Christmas.

Do not buy from the very first website you visit, Shop around.

With all this information your Christmas chores should be far easier than once they were and the presents you buy will be more gratefully received.

Merry Christmas and a Happy new year….. I think I hear sleigh bells.

We’re not talking anything as gauche as pretending you’ll be out of town so you can buy everyone’s presents at after-Christmas sales. No, we’re talking ways to get more bang out of the bucks you do spend on holiday-related items. With the National Retail Federation reporting that the average shopper will spend nearly $750 on holiday-related items, every little bit of saving can help.

Here are some ideas you may not have thought of:

* Download retailers’ discount apps/newsletters. Many retailers now offer special mobile apps that you can download for exclusive discounts and offers on not only specific items, but even your entire purchase. Others have free email newsletters that send weekly digital coupons you can use. And since they’re on your mobile phone, you don’t need to bring in flyers or coupons!

* Sell or trade in your old electronics and video games. You’re sitting on found money if you have some unloved gadget collecting dust in a drawer. A website like BuyMyTronics.com will pay you via PayPal or check for products as old as a clunky Sidekick, while the retail giant GameStop (www.gamestop.com) gives you cold, hard cash or trade-in credits for video games and systems, as well as iPods, iPads and iPhones you or someone else on your list has been asking for.

* Build Gift Baskets. When even the wealthy “have fewer qualms” about shopping at discount stores, as CNN Money recently noted, maybe it’s time to hit the racks and create a beauty case filled with body butter, oils and a thick loofa. The custom touch will go a long way, as will the extra savings.

* Take advantage of exclusive deals for gamers. Continuing the trade-in theme, GameStop has a special deal going that lets you score any new $59.99 video game — yes, that includes the latest “Call of Duty: Ghosts” — for just $9.99 by swapping two eligible ones you’ve probably already beaten like, well… “Call of Duty: Black Ops II.” Check out www.gamestop.com/trade2 for details.

“We believe in giving gamers the opportunity to expand their entertainment experiences,” says Ashley Sheetz, the company’s chief marketing officer.

The allure of Internet deals and the pure convenience of “click and ship” continue to drive shoppers online this holiday season. An estimated $44 billion will be spent online purchasing holiday gifts in 2008, up more than 12 percent over 2007.

Although more money will be spent online this holiday season, consumers are concerned about security risks when making purchases over the Internet. According to a CA-sponsored survey, 72 percent of consumers in North America think retailers do not spend enough on online security and privacy.

To help ease consumer worry, security experts at CA, Inc. offer the following tips to help consumers protect themselves online this holiday season.

– Secure, then shop. Before connecting to the Internet, be sure to install anti-virus, a firewall and anti-spyware programs.

– Update, Update, Update. The bad guys constantly update their techniques, so consumers need to update their protection. Make sure your firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware and operating software are up-to-date.

– Never shop on an open wireless network. Open networks are easy targets for hackers to break into your computer and capture financial information.

– Know who you’re dealing with. Get the name and physical address of any online-retailer before submitting personal or financial information. When shopping online auctions, check the track record of the seller before bidding.

– Never e-mail your personal or financial information. E-mail is not a secure method of sending information like your credit card, bank account or Social Security number.

– Look for secure payment processing. When a Web site processes your payment information, be sure the URL address changes from HTTP to SHTTP or HTTPS. This indicates that the purchase is encrypted or secured.

– Be alert and be suspicious. Identity thieves count on the holiday rush to catch consumers off guard with bogus e-mails that seem to be coming from a legitimate organization such as the bank, the IRS or UPS. These “phishing” scams can lure shoppers into divulging personal information. Be suspicious of anyone asking for additional personal information or asking you to click on links in an e-mail.

With Black Friday behind us and the December gift-giving season at its height, shopping gets pretty extreme in these parts. Whether you’re fixated on fashion or seek bargains and basics, you’ll find it all in Valley Forge and Montgomery County, Pa.

Attracting 4 million visitors in November and December alone, the King of Prussia Mall boasts more than 400 luxury retailers. Having a tough time deciding? Make an appointment with the mall-wide personal shopper, putting a sharp-eyed style maven at your side.

Bargain hunters are in luck at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets, where discounts are steep. This Neoclassic architecturally themed outdoor village creates an inviting setting for a full day of shopping.

The Plymouth Meeting Mall now features not only all major retail brands but also a 65,000 sq. ft. Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading retailer of natural and organic foods. Need some downtime? Lose yourself in the white noise of the peaceful circular fountain.

Montgomery Mall features four major department stores and 150 specialty shops. For something truly unique, check out the home décor gift ideas the Montgomery Art Expo on the lower level.

Willow Grove Park Mall arose from the site of a well-loved 19th-century amusement park. If your little ones get antsy waiting for Santa pictures, take them for a ride on the carousel, reminiscent of one manufactured by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in the 1800s.

The shops at Suburban Square, Ardmore, combine open-air quaintness with the upscale feel of the Main Line. The attached farmer’s market eases the art of entertaining, with its meats, sweets, cheeses, produce and even a spray of seasonal flowers to complete a festive table.

For gifts of a truly unique nature, the selection at Skippack Village cannot be beat. Miss Riddle’s Candy Shop, for example, offers an impressive array of retro candy, the perfect stocking fillers for fans of vintage goodies.

For even more places to shop ’til you drop in Montgomery County and its environs this holiday season, and great places to stay while doing so, visit www.valleyforge.org.

Gas prices have more than doubled since last year, the housing and financial markets are in turmoil and the cost of food has skyrocketed, leaving many Americans scrambling to buy holiday gifts without breaking the bank.

According to Professor Dan Horne of Providence College, buying gift cards for the people on your list can be a smart way to shop. “Gift cards have been growing in popularity each year,” Horne says. “Because they are so practical, they have become a very acceptable gift among family and friends.”

This is particularly true for branded gift cards, like American Express, Discover, Master Card and Visa, where you can choose the exact amount for a card that can be redeemed almost anywhere and for any type of item.

“Branded gift cards have become increasingly popular because you can choose the exact amount for the gift, making it easier to stick to a budget,” says Horne. “They are also a great way to ensure that the recipient enjoys their gift because they can buy something special or make a purchase they have been putting off.”

But do people really want gift cards? According to a survey of 8,000 adults conducted by the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, the answer is a resounding “Yes.” The survey revealed that more than 75 percent of Americans prefer to select their own gift, while almost 65 percent thought that branded gift cards were better than traditional presents. “People enjoy fantasizing about what to buy and then enjoy the experience of a ‘free’ day of shopping,” added Horne.

Here are some other tips for Americans who need to limit their holiday spending:

– Make a spending plan. Start out knowing how much you can spend on your holiday purchases. Consider presents, food, entertainment and travel, then tally the costs.

– Know your limits. Make a list of recipients and decide how much you want to spend on each person. If you’re unable to spend as much this year, prioritize whom you really want to buy gifts for or reduce the amount per gift.

– Follow the money. After you’ve made a spending plan, track where your dollars go. Obtaining a prepaid spending card with your total holiday-budget money loaded on it is an easy way to ensure you don’t go over budget, and you can easily track your balance over the phone or online.

Do you want a new computer, gadget or electronic “toy” this holiday season? If so, then listen up! Here are tips for shoppers looking to purchase new electronics:

– Know what you want. Does your travelling partner need a smart phone or personal digital assistant (PDA) to access contacts, memos and e-mail from the road?

Perhaps your college-aged daughter wants a laptop that she can use for photos, music and videos. Knowing what an electronic device needs to do will determine the features and memory required.

– Just the facts. Each season, new gadgets and computers flood the market with bells and whistles designed to catch your eye, and your wallet. Shop smart. Before heading to the store, prioritize add-ons separating the features you need from those that “might be nice.”

If your brother “might” need GPS on his new cellphone, skip it. Ignore extras that are tempting but not necessary, no matter what a salesperson says.

– Trust the pros. Read reviews to find out what gadgets live up to their hype. Check out reviews on Consumer Reports’ (www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/index.htm), a non-profit, independent organization that tests products and services.

For technology equipment, visit computer-industry Web sites like CNET (www.cnet.com), PC World (www.pcworld.com) and PC Magazine (www.pcmag.com).

– Keep it all together. Mind the components and manuals that come with new gadgets. If the device needs to be returned to the manufacturer or store within the first 30 to 60 days, it might need to be repackaged exactly the way it came. Knowing where everything is also helps with troubleshooting and resale.

– Give the gift that gives back. For new computers especially, it’s a nice touch to help loved ones protect their digital assets -; music, movies, photographs and documents. Consider software like Acronis True Image Home (www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/), which for $49.99 automatically backs up hard drives.

If there is a virus or other breakdown, backup software allows you to restore digital memories in a matter of minutes. When shopping, look for features that allow easy file transfer to a new device, and that will wipe an old device clean to remove sensitive information before it’s recycled or donated.

Once again, millions of parents and kids are hitting stores for the annual back-to-school shopping season, complete with long lines and even longer receipts. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), the average person spent about $603 on everything from school supplies and apparel to electronics and footwear for back-to-school last year.

The NRF also cites a BIGinsight study that found that 80.4 percent of people with school-aged children say the economy will impact their spending plans this year. For parents, finding ways to cut corners on back-to-school spending can be challenging, but there are simple, easy-to-follow ways to reduce the impact on your wallet.

Make a list of what you actually need

To get started, combine lists your kids’ school has provided, including classroom supplies, gym clothes and extracurricular needs. Then, take inventory of what is still useable from last year, including pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, soccer shin guards and other equipment.

The resources for saving on school supplies are many, and the key is to find ways that work best for you. From shopping online to taking advantage of post-back-to-school clearance or “off-season” sales, knowing what you need and where to look for deals will help you save.

Share the wealth

Now that you have a solid plan, share what you learned with your kids. Learning about money, budgeting and saving is a lifelong journey, so use the back-to-school planning and shopping experience as an opportunity to start your child’s financial development.

While school teachers take on the responsibility to educate children about math, science, language, history, etc., financial literacy is not a mandatory in-school curriculum in all states.

Some companies, like TD Bank, offer free financial literacy classes in schools and online. TD Bank’s WOW!Zone (www.tdbank.com/wowzone) provides online courses, games and parent and teacher curriculum guides to financial literacy lessons for grades K-12.

Using available resources, such as the WOW!Zone, along with discussions about back-to-school budgeting and finances, not only helps your children understand why saving money is important, but also teaches them how to get started on a path to financial success.

Shopping for school uniforms can be as difficult as assembling the pieces of any other back-to-school wardrobe, but at least one retailer has taken the stress out of back-to-school shopping by making uniforms available online. So, you can shop 24/7 and never worry about rounding up the kids for a trip to the mall.

Dillard’s is among the nation’s largest fashion apparel and home furnishings retailers and offers a broad selection of both national and exclusive brands. The retailer has set up a separate Web site – www.dillards.com/school – where you’ll find uniforms in every style and all the accessories to go with them. The uniforms and accessories are also available at Dillard’s 330 stores nationwide.

School uniforms are a growing trend nationwide. Experts say they can become symbols of school pride and remove the messages of social and economic status in schools where some children can afford the trendiest clothes and others cannot. Furthermore, kids who wear conservative clothes to class seem better prepared to take schoolwork seriously.

Kids shopping Dillard’s Web site will find jumpers, skirts, twill pants and cardigan sweaters for girls and twill pants and shorts and button-down shirts for boys. There are also long- and short-sleeved polo shirts for both boys and girls. Sizes for boys sizes range from 2T to 34 Husky. Girls’ sizes range from small to plus sizes.

To celebrate the opening of its school uniforms Web site, Dillard’s will send one lucky family to the Disney Resort closest to their home. The grand prize in the Disney Family Vacation Sweepstakes includes four round-trip economy airline tickets, accommodations for three nights at a Disney Resort Hotel for the winner and three guests, ground transfers to and from the airport and four three-day/two-park tickets for admission to Disney Theme Parks.

To enter the sweepstakes, visit www.dillards.com/school. All entries must be registered online or postmarked no later than October 29. No purchase is necessary to enter the sweepstakes.