Online Shopping was Simply Meant for the Holidays
The Holiday season, consisting of Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year's and many other celebrations as well, is a time of year when giving presents is simply the order of the day. As such, online shopping seems almost like it was meant to fill a specific need during the holidays - namely, to reduce the amount of stress often associated with the holidays by making it easier and more efficient to buy gifts for friends and family, and without the need to fight holiday crowds and the parking lot at the local mall. But while holiday shopping online is easy and convenient, there are some things to consider when taking to your computer to complete your purchases. Here are some things to keep in mind when completing your gift buying:
Be Aware of Shipping Costs
Shipping costs vary by retailer, and there are always shipping deals available, especially during the holidays. If you've waited until the very last minute to make your online purchases, chances are slim that you'll receive free to discounting shipping, but if you've thought ahead and started with plenty of time to spare, there is no need to pay high shipping fees. One thing to be aware of are some of the most common issues that online buyers face.
At Amazon.com, for example, there is something referred to as "free super saver shipping" that is available on many products that are sold directly through Amazon. You'll have the option of grouping together purchases to maximize savings on shipping, or having them shipped individually so that you receive them faster. If you've given yourself enough time, you can save money by having things grouped together, meaning that the end cost will be lower.
eBay offers another challenge - sellers on eBay can set their own shipping fees, sometimes well above what it actually costs to ship an item. This is not always the case, but because there is no set shipping fee schedule, you'll have to pay very close attention to the cost when purchasing gifts via eBay.
Be Aware of Shipping Schedule
As noted above, you can receive items faster with some shipping options, but it will often cost more. If time is of the essence, then expect to pay higher rates to have your item(s) ship. Otherwise, start early and you can save on shipping. Either way, make sure that the expected shipping or arrival date of your items meets your specific needs. Nothing is worse than getting someone a great gift but not being able to give it to them at the appropriate time because of a shipping issue.
Comparison Shopping Online is Easy and Effective
Perhaps it should go without saying, but the Internet has made comparison shopping and bargain hunting very easy. Using a service like Shopping.com or some other price comparison engine will give you a quick overview of what a product costs so that you can find out where you can get a certain item for the least money. Keep in mind the aforementioned shipping costs, however, which can vary depending on where you live and how fast you need to receive your purchases.
Be Secure to Avoid Fraud
Security is taken care of for you by most major online retailers, but if you're purchasing from smaller companies, take a look around their website to find out if there is a badge or image that indicates that their site is secure. There are several reputable security certificate companies, most notably Thawte and Verisign. If you see one of those logos, or the logo of a similar company, it can offer peace of mind when entering your credit or debit card information to make a purchase.
