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ONLINE SHOPPING
ONLINE SHOPPING TOPICS
Finding The Right Product & Best Price
Online Shopping Security & Satisfaction
Anything and everything can be found on the Internet. It truly is the world’s information storehouse. But the Internet is also the world’s shopping bazaar. Online shopping provides anyone with Internet access the possibility of finding almost any item or service they could imagine (including many that are not available locally), at the best price, at any time day or night, right from the comfort of your home. You can literally buy anything. The problem is, since the Internet is so massive, diverse and often confusing, how does someone actually find online shopping sites that can meet their shopping needs that are competitive, reliable and safe to use. It can be a daunting task, even for the most adventurous. Here are some thoughts on how to get started on being a successful online shopper.
1. Just like in your home town, there are several types of sellers on the Internet.
a. Most retailing companies selling a product or service that operate regular “bricks
and mortar” stores also sell online. In fact, Wal-
b. Since online shopping has gotten so popular most, if not all, catalog retailers also have an online shopping site.
c. There are many retailers that mainly or only sell online. You have probably heard of Amazon.com, Travelocity.com and several others, but the vast majority are relatively small specialty retailers that have been formed in the last ten years, and go mostly unnoticed unless you find them when searching for a specific item. If something can be sold, there will probably be several, if not hundreds, of online retailers that sell the product. Like smaller businesses everywhere, new retailers are forming every day and many are also going out of business every day.
d. There are small “mom and pop” retailers that do not have their own online shopping site, but use online auction sites like eBay.com to sell their products. On these sites they are not really identified as a specific retailer, but rather by the fact that they are selling a specific product.
e. And finally, there are individuals that are not in the retail business, but have one or more items that they no longer want and are trying to sell. These people make extensive use of auction sites like eBay.com and Ubid.com, but also list items on national classified ad sites like CraigsList.org, as well as on classified ad sites of local and regional online newspapers and other Internet classified sites.
2. How do you find an online retailer that offers the product or service of interest that can also be relied upon?
a. If you already shop at a “bricks and mortar” retailer and like their product
selection and prices, you will most likely feel very comfortable shopping on their
web site. If you are just getting started with online shopping, this is a good place
to start. You may also want to try other well-
b. Recommendations from friends and associates are perhaps the best way of quickly finding a trustworthy online retailer that you are not already familiar with, that offers what you want to buy at a competitive price, and that can be trusted to deliver a quality product. Ask around, people are always willing to share their positive online shopping experiences, and most often their negative experiences.
c. Search the Internet for recommendations on good shopping sites. If there is one thing the Internet has in abundance, it is opinions on almost everything, including what online shopping sites are good and which ones are bad.
d. Simply search for your product of choice with your favorite search engine. If you want an airline ticket simply type in airline tickets. If you want a collar for your dog, type in dog collars, etc. You will find plenty of possibilities. These types of searches will not only reveal many online retailers selling the product, but will also lead you to auction sites like eBay.com that will have the product of choice (either new or used) for sale.
e. Try going directly to eBay.com, Ubid.com and other online auction sites and search for your products of interest. These sites sell everything, including both new and used merchandise, and may very well have what you need. These sites are particularly useful for finding replacement parts for older items, or just for older items that are no longer being made.
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