Q: Though buying online seems the quicker and easier way to shop for the holidays, this may not be true. Do you have any “buyer beware” advice?

– Who are you doing business with? Look for the full street address, (no PO boxes), Phone #
– Should accept all major credit cards
– Is there a customer complaint area? Is there a phone # or only e-mail. Phone number is important to be able to reach a live person.

Q: What kind of information should you have in hand for the people on your gift list before you start clicking away?

– For each product, you need detailed info on size, colors, options
– Warranty, or return policy: should be 100% money back guarantee for 30 days
– Beware restocking fees 10-15%
– Is there enough time for the delivery to recipient or to you?

Q: Okay, you still have to shell out the money, what should we know about that part of it?

– Use Visa or Mastercard which currently insure you for 100% of your purchase if you don’t receive merchandise
– Get a Pay Pal account so you don’t have to use your card
– Get a separate card just for online shopping
– Make sure they offer Secure Electronic Transactions which means there are encryption standards on a secure server. Look for little lock icon
– Explorer and Firefox show a padlock that is open or closed depending if it’s a secure site

Q: Is there anything we should know once we’ve clicked the buy button and ordered?

You might think you are finished here but the work just begins. After you order:
– Download photos off internet to show what you ordered and keep for your records
– Keep good records. Become an accountant to keep track of what ordered, received and sent
– Can you track shipping order, i.e. link to courrier’s web page so you can watch it’s progress?
– Be aware that the gift may not get there on time due to botched orders and late deliveries
– There can be delays at border and customs charges for clearing fees

Q: What if we are really not comfortable with this online method, how can we use the net to our advantage for holiday shopping?

Combine the two:
– You can still do your browsing on the Web and use a 1-800 phone # on the site to ask questions and to do the ordering
– Some brick and mortar retailers let you order online and pick up at store. This saves shopping time but still allows for you to see the items in person. Checking retailers on line first, lets you see if there are better online pricing deals