How to Shopping Online

Step 1: Find Reliable Product Reviews and Information
Do some research before you buy! (Photo by Steve Woods)

* No matter what you want to buy, be it a blender or a computer, it’s always a good idea to research it first. How else will you find out if the latest Banana Jr. computer has been recalled three times, or the BlendAll blender doesn’t actually blend much of anything? The steps below will tell you how to find the best resources on the Web to research what you’re planning to buy.
o If you already know what you want to buy, check Step 2 for advice on how to find the best price and Step 3 to learn which online retailers you can trust.

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Product Buying Guides

* If you’re trying to get more information on a general product category, buying guides can be very helpful.

1. To find buying guides on a wide number of items, go to ShopWiki.
* Choose the category your product falls into. On the category page, select your product and you will be directed to the appropriate buying guide.
2. For technology items, go to CNET Reviews.
* Find the category you’re interested in by scrolling down the page and clicking on it.
* In the column labeled “Buying Advice” (on the left-hand side of the page), click on the buying guide for that category.

CNET Reviews
CNET Reviews
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Product Reviews

* With the Web, you can find reviews on almost any product.

1. Go to ConsumerSearch. This site compiles and cross-references reviews from many sources.
2. In the box in the upper right-hand corner, type in the name of the item you’re researching.
3. Scroll past the four “Ads by Google” at the top of your search results, to the section just below the word “Web”.
4. Read the item headings and click on the appropriate link for what you want to buy.
5. Scan over the information presented to get a quick idea of what the best-reviewed product is.
6. Click on “Full Story” to get a thorough, detailed overview of all products.

ConsumerSearch
ConsumerSearch
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Research a Specific Product

* Now that you know specific makes and models you might like to buy, it’s good to get feedback on what other consumers thought when they purchased the product!

1. Return to to ShopWiki.
2. Type the name of the specific make and model of product you’d like to research into the Search field.
3. Click Search.
4. Click on the specific item you’d like to read up on.
5. Click on the “Product Reviews” tab to read reviews from Amazon.com, Target, Epinions.com, and other resources, all compiled into one page.

* Other great sources for product reviews are:
o Product reviews for all topics: Consumer Reports – please note that Consumer Reports is a subscription service, so full product reviews may not be available.
o Technology reviews: CNET, PC World, PC Magazine

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Step 2: Comparison Shop
Comparison shopping means you won’t waste money. (Photo by Sanja Gjenero)

* In the days before the Internet, if you wanted to compare prices at different shops, you actually had to walk or drive from store to store. The following websites allow you to compare prices across hundreds of Internet sites at the click of a mouse.
o Important tips to keep in mind:
1. Always check the price of shipping! If Shop A has a higher price but offers free shipping, it’s better than Shop B’s low price + high shipping.
2. For big-ticket items, you may feel more comfortable using a trusted retailer. In that case, check these sites to see what the average price sale price is for your item; that way you know what price range to expect from your favorite store.
3. Check the return policy; the peace of mind you get with a clear return policy may be worth a few extra dollars. I very like this Louis Vuitton Store.

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How to Use Shopzilla

1. Go to Shopzilla.
2. In the search window, type in as much information about the product as you can.
* If you are just looking for a blender, type “blender”; if you know you want the Oster Beehive Chrome Blender, type “Oster Beehive Chrome Blender” into the search window.
3. If the results aren’t exactly what you’re looking for, Shopzilla offers the opportunity to limit them to a different category.
* For example, if you type in “grill” and are looking for a grill for your car, you can click on “Automotive Accessories” in the “Search in Other Departments” option at the top of the page.

4. Use the options in the left-hand column to narrow your search results by brand, price range, color.
5. Click on the specific item you are interested in to learn where to find the best price.
6. Look in the “Store Ratings” column to learn what other people think of the store that has the best deal. If it has a red, frowning face in that column, that means it has a very bad rating.
7. If the store has not been rated and you are interested in it, then skip down to Step 3 to learn how to determine if an unknown retailer is trustworthy.

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How to Use Google Product Search

1. Go to Google Product Search.
2. Type information about the product you are searching for in the “Search” box.
* If you are just looking for a blender, type “blender”; if you know you want the Oster Beehive Chrome Blender, type “Oster Beehive Chrome Blender” into the search window.
3. If you want to limit your results, scroll to the bottom of the page, where you can limit the search by price range, brand, stores, or seller rating.
4. Click on the star rating below the name of the seller to read all the reviews of that seller.
* Just because it has a high rating does not mean it is a good store. A store with a 5-star rating but only one review may not be as good as one with a 4-star rating that has 1,000 reviews.
5. Click on “All Items From This Seller” under the name of the seller to view more items from that store.
6. If the store has not been rated and you are interested in it, then skip down to Step 3 to learn how to determine if an unknown retailer is trustworthy.

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Other Comparison Shopping Sites

* Here are some other trusted, well known comparison shopping websites that work like Shopzilla:
o NexTag: Pulls results from a variety of retailers.
o ShopWiki: Does comparison shopping and also writes helpful buying guides.
o mySimon: Great for technology products, includes general products as well.

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Step 3: Determine If An Unknown Retailer Is Trustworthy

* Often when you are searching for your product, especially if it is a specialty product, many unknown retailers will come up in your search results.
o But beware: there are many sketchy and untrustworthy retailers on the web, and if you’re not careful, you may wind up getting a bad product, having a bad experience, or worse, losing your money.
* You may decide that it’s better to stick to a trusted retailer, like Amazon.com or eBay. But sometimes a deal is too good to pass up – here’s how to determine if an unknown retailer is trustworthy and thus shop online more safely:

1. Check to see if it is secure. Does it have emblems that say “Hacker Safe”, “Verisign Secure” or “BBB Reliability Program”? Then it has been approved by a trustworthy organization. Retailers without these emblems often are not trustworthy.
2. Is it well-designed? Even if the retailer does not have a large budget for a fancy design, they will still have a clear and easy to navigate website. Retailers that have messy, ugly, poorly designed, and/or ad-heavy sites are almost certainly not trustworthy.
3. A trustworthy retailer will have a 1-800 or 1-888 number for you to call in order to reach their customer service. If they don’t provide any phone number that is cause for suspicion; if they don’t provide any contact information at all they are certainly not trustworthy.
4. Look for a good “About Us” section that includes information on the company’s policies, features, and even a brief history. If they’re not giving you that information, you probably don’t want to give them your money.
5. What is the site’s return policy? Reputable sellers stand by their products, and offer customers the opportunity to return items that aren’t up to par. If the return policy is restrictive, or non-existent, caveat emptor!

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Step 4: Finding Bargains and Online Coupon Codes

* You found the best prices in Step 2, but don’t forget to check for coupons before you go to make a purchase! Many web sites compile information on sales going on at brick-and-mortar stores, as well as coupon codes that can be used if you order online. The most popular are FatWallet, DealCatcher and CouponCabin.

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How to Use FatWallet

* FatWallet forums contain deals and coupons posted by other users, so be aware that they may expire or be invalid.
o To access results from the forums, you may have to create a user account. Registration is free.

1. Go to FatWallet.
2. Type the name of the product you’re looking for into the search window.
3. Check the “Hot Deals” link in the lefthand column to see current deals.
4. Read the listings to learn more about possible bargains.

FatWallet
FatWallet
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How to Use DealCatcher

1. Go to DealCatcher.
2. To get coupon codes for a specific store, type in the name of the store in the Search window.
3. To get coupon codes and other bargains for specific products, type in the name of the product you’re looking for in the Search window.

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How to Use CouponCabin

1. Go to CouponCabin.
2. To get coupon codes for a specific store, type in the name of the store in the Search window.
3. To get coupon codes and other bargains for specific products, type in the name of the product you’re looking for in the Search window.

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Other Bargain Sites

* Here are some other trusted, well known bargain sites that operate in a similar fashion to comparison shopping sites. Simply type your product name into the search bar, and browse the results.

1. Yahoo! Shopping: A comparison shopping service that highlights products that are on sale, listing what the former price was so you can see how much you’re saving.
2. MSN Shopping: Essentially provides the exact same service as Yahoo! Shopping.

* Other sites offer list deals on different products. Simply visit, and choose the category that interests you to see if there are any current deals you can use.

1. TechDeals.net offers technology bargains.
2. DealNews.com lists deals on a variety of products.

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Step 5: Paying For Items Online

* Now that you’ve found your item and made sure the site is trustworthy, it’s time to pay for your widget. There’s many stories about people having their credit card information stolen online. The following steps should protect you from identity theft.

Check that the site is secure before entering your credit card number. (Photo by Steve Woods)

1. Use the most recent version of your Internet browser. It will usually update automatically, but you can check for updates under the Help menu.
2. Check to see what the web site’s security policies are. They should be easy to find. If they’re not, that’s a red flag about the retailer’s trustworthiness!
3. Look for a little lock symbol at the bottom of your browser when you are submitting your information.
4. The letters “https” should appear at the beginning of the URL if you are on a page where you will submit your personal and credit card information.
5. Make sure to keep the receipt for what you purchased. You should be able to print one out at the end of your transaction.
6. Check your credit card statement for any errors.
7. Don’t ever give out your credit card information by instant messaging service or email.
8. Notify your credit card company immediately if anything fishy happens.

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o To learn about using PayPal to shop online, visit Mahalo’s How to Use PayPal: Basics and Beyond guide.

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Step 6: Returning Items You Bought Online

* Hopefully you love your new item, but if not you should return it. Much like brick and mortar stores, online store return policies can be byzantine. Here’s some things to look out for.

1. Most stores require you to pay the return shipping for any returned item. Some require you to pay up front; others such as Amazon.com provide a return shipping label but will deduct the cost from your refund. The exception to this rule is online shoe store Zappos.com, who have a free return shipping policy.
* You should not have to pay a shipping fee if you received the incorrect item, or if it was damaged.
* If you ordered from the online section of a brick-and-mortar store, like Target or Sears, you may be able to return it in person instead of shipping it back.
2. Some stores will deduct a “restocking fee” from your refund. This is also common in brick-and-mortar stores, especially for electronics. Sears has a restocking fee on many items beyond electronics.
* You should not pay a restocking fee if the item was damaged or defective.
3. Some stores will not allow you to return items if their boxes have been opened.
4. Check the store’s time limit on returns. Many will only allow you to return an item within 14 to 30 days.

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Conclusion
As online shopping continues to grow in popularity, shoppers have to be increasingly aware of the various scams associated with the convenience of online purchases. By following the above tips, you should be well on your way to spotting the deals and recognizing the scams.