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| Credit Answers > Debt-Management-Articles-2008 > Benefits of Shopping Online |
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Malls and department stores may not be bustling with as many customers this holiday season. According to Deloitte's 23rd Annual Holiday Survey, online retailing will continue
to grow this holiday season, with a record 71% of consumers spending at least part of their holiday budgets on the Internet. The survey shows that difficult economic conditions
are a factor in the Internet's continued growth. More than one-third of consumers say they will shop more online in order to save on gas. In addition, because of the economic
environment, more than half will be on the lookout for free shipping offers from online retailers. The tips below discuss in detail some benefits of shopping online.
Enjoy the convenience.
Before the days of online shopping, you may remember battling crowds, standing in long checkout lines, and fighting for parking spaces at a busy mall. These types of hectic
environments may trigger stress and cause consumers to make impulsive or extravagant purchases. Shopping online allows you to browse the Web in the privacy of your own home.
You may be more likely to make rational purchasing decisions and stay within your budget when you do not have to worry about diving on a store shelf for the last toy that is
in demand. As mentioned previously, making purchases online can also help you save money on gasoline. According to a survey from the National Retail Federation, 23% of the
participants claim that they shop more online because of high gas prices.
Take advantage of free shipping.
Shipping fees can be one of the hidden costs of ordering items online. However, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation, 78% of online retailers plan to offer
free shipping with conditions during this holiday season. Many online stores require customers to spend a certain amount of money in order to receive free shipping. This is a
great perk, but be careful of using free shipping as an excuse to buy extra items that you may not need. For example, if you only plan to spend $25, think twice before you
spend $50 just to receive free shipping. Visit www.freeshipping.org for a list of offers from more than 850 stores.
Compare prices.
As more consumers shop online, many price comparison sites gain popularity. You type a keyword or product name in the search field and your results will consist of online stores
that have the item in stock along with the selling price. Comparison shopping sites may save you time and money because you can see which retailer has the best price without
visiting many web sites. When evaluating your results, Forbes recommends researching lesser known companies before purchasing products from their site.
Read reviews.
Many retailers give customers the opportunity to rate products they purchase by writing an online review. In addition, there are several web sites that allow consumers to rate
customer service and product experiences on a wide range of merchandise and stores. Reading online reviews may help you make informed buying decisions because customers tend to
be extremely honest when they are asked for their opinion. If you come across a negative review, realize that this product may not have been the right choice for one particular
person. However, if you see a list of unfavorable comments that describe how the product broke the next day or was too difficult to assemble, you may want to keep this in mind
as you make your purchasing decision.
Find coupon codes.
Coupons codes are the online version of the paper coupon. During the checkout process, many retailers allow you to enter a code, which will help you save on your purchase.
Many sites such as www.couponcabin.com and www.retailmenot.com offer lists of coupon codes. See if you can find a code for a particular merchant before completing your online
purchase.
Online Shopping Safety Tips
Do not access sites through email links. Even the most official-looking e-mail messages can be fraudulent, so access online accounts only by typing the institution's
Web address in a browser.
Vary your passwords. Try using variations on one password-the best passwords use a combination of at least eight letters, numbers, or punctuation symbols.
Research the company. It is easy for almost anyone to create an e-commerce site. Before ordering, the FTC recommends that you have a physical address for the company and a
phone number in case you have a question.
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