Here's an article from Money that promises us "5 ways to make the most of the Internet this holiday season." Here are the tips and a brief summary of each of them:
1. Don't trust the security lock icon that appears in a web address that once meant the site was secure. Avivah Litan with Gartner Group said it isn't reliable anymore because cyber thieves are copying and forging these lock icons. To make sure the Web site you're on is legitimate, download a toolbar from www.trustwatch.com, a Web site run by ID verification company GeoTrust. Microsoft also has an add-in filter for its toolbar. The add-in will warn you of suspicious sites and will block you from sharing your personal info with a fraudulent Web site. Go to http://addins.msn.com.
2. To find the true deals with shopping bots, which are online shopping comparison Web sites, you should sort your search results by price instead of relying on the default search option. That's because some shopping bots sort the results by how much the merchants pays for placement, rather than by whether you're getting a bargain. At Shopzilla.com the top five slots go to the stores that bid the most, as long as they meet customer standards.
3. The longer you wait, the more deals may just pass you by because the holiday season started earlier this year, at least online, according to Patti Freeman Evans of Jupiter Research. She says it may be because retailers want to get you shopping before you see your energy bill. So take advantage of their jitters and shop while they're still aggressive and there will be sales just about every weekend. If you're buying electronics, it's especially important to get shopping. If you wait too long, your coveted flat screen TV or MP3 player may be out of stock.
4. Does it always seem like you're the last one to know about online sales? If you don't mind filling out a personal profile, check out the new Web site www.ShopittoMe.com. This is a free service that scans different Web sites and lets you know when clothing goes on sale.
5. The most important part of shopping online is making sure your gift arrives undamaged and on time. For starters, you'll want to look at how retailers rate when it comes to customer satisfaction. Check out the customer reviews at www.pricegrabber.com.
As you might imagine, I do quite a bit of my shopping online. I HATE the crowds at stores this time of year plus shopping online often gets you a great (if not the best) price. When I know exactly what I want or need something I don't have to see/feel first (like clothing, which I insist on trying on -- I dislike sending it back via mail), online is the way to go.
And if you're looking for some great holiday gift suggestions, don't forget my list of money Christmas present suggestions.
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Posted by: Tim | November 30, 2005 at 09:55 PM