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Ten tips

Be a savvy online shopper

By LAURA T. COFFEY
Published September 25, 2005

The advent of online shopping has made it easy for people to buy and send gifts via the Internet, especially if their friends and loved ones don't live nearby. That said, are you as savvy an online shopper as you could be? To find out, consider these tips.

1. KNOW THE BEST GIFTS TO BUY ONLINE. You can shop for almost anything, but ideal items are lightweight and potentially difficult for stores to stock because of their abundance of titles or styles. Such items include books, music, clothing, videos, DVDs, software, electronics, computers, wireless products and specialty foods from other regions of the country.

2. MAKE SURE THE RETAILER IS FOR REAL. When buying something for someone other than yourself, you might venture onto Web sites you wouldn't normally visit. Check to see that the site includes the store's complete contact information, including a verifiable street address, phone number and e-mail address.

3. SEND ELECTRONIC GIFT CERTIFICATES OR GIFT CARDS. More and more retailers are offering online gift certificates and e-gift cards that get e-mailed directly to the recipient. Some can be used only for Internet purchases, so make sure the person is comfortable shopping online.

4. SEARCH FOR GIFT-QUALITY ITEMS ON EBAY. To make sure you're getting a good deal through online auctions, compare prices on sites such as BizRate.com and Shopping.com, and take a minute to check the seller's reputation. Choose experienced sellers who have satisfaction ratings of at least 98 percent.

5. LOOK FOR GIFT-WRAP AND MESSAGE DEALS. Some online retailers offer to wrap gifts and include a gift message at no extra charge. If you spot such deals, jump on them. Also, be sure to request a gift receipt that doesn't show purchase prices.

6. ORDER WELL AHEAD OF TIME. If you order online at the last minute, you could be charged sky-high prices for shipping. Some online stores let you choose a specific shipping date, so be sure to search for that option.

7. CHECK FOR AN "S.' The address of a secure Web site contains an "s" after the "http." The "s" usually appears only on the page where you enter your credit card information. Internet browsers also display an icon such as a gold padlock or a key to verify the site is secure.

8. PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD. It will give you the most protection if your gift recipient runs into problems with the purchase.

9. KEEP GOOD RECORDS. Print out a copy of your purchase order and confirmation number, or at least save the confirmation e-mail message.

10. OFFER TO RETURN ITEMS. Returning online purchases can be a hassle, so tell your recipient that you'll do the dirty work if needed. Some Web sites have draconian time limits for returns, and most online retailers charge restocking or shipping and handling fees. To reduce potential fees, send all parts, packaging materials and manuals back in the original box.

Sources: Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov) Bankrate.com (www.bankrate.com) Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org) Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) Better Homes and Gardens (www.bhg.com)

[Last modified September 22, 2005, 19:37:02]