Over the past decade, consumers have grown to appreciate a new option when buying Christmas gifts: the Internet. Yes, online shopping is here and an increasingly important option for consumers around the world. Without even leaving your home, you can compare products, make purchases, and receive gifts at home or directly to your recipients – completely wrapped up in it! Read on and we’ll take a comprehensive look at the many benefits of online holiday shopping and how you can make this choice work for you.
Shopping comparison – How many times have you been to the store and wondered if the item you were buying was cheaper elsewhere? For inexpensive items, this isn’t a big deal, but if you’re shopping for a TV, computer gear, jewelry, or some other item that costs several hundred dollars, it could be a major problem for you. Fortunately, online sites like Price Grabber, My Simon, BizRate, and NexTag allow you to find just what you want at the lowest possible prices. New technologies that work from your cell phone, such as Frucall, can also help you find the best prices and allow you to place your order immediately. Save money, time and gas by comparing shopping from home – you won’t have to run from store to store looking for the best prices.
Best selection – If something is sold somewhere, it is likely available online. From futons to MP3 players and everything in between, if it’s sold in a store, it’s likely to be sold online as well. Even traditional “brick-and-mortar” retailers like Wal-Mart, Nordstrom, and Home Depot know that in order to reach consumers everywhere, a significant portion of their inventory must be available online. If they don’t provide this service to you, then they fully understand that your competition will and that you will go elsewhere.
Safe shopping – Most identity theft doesn’t happen over the internet, so you don’t need to worry about shopping online. Instead, most identity theft occurs when you pump gas and leave your receipts or when someone slips important information from your mailbox. However, to be more secure, shopping sites protected with the “https:” address designation ensure that your vital information remains encrypted and safe. If you are still unsure whether a site is secure, you should see a padlock symbol. in the lower right corner of your browser screen. Importantly, in most cases you can also authorize the online retailer to discard your financial information once your order has been processed – a great extra security step for you!
Free shipping – Many online retailers will send Christmas gifts and other seasonal gifts for free. Generally, a minimum purchase total is required, usually $ 50 or more, but that amount is not difficult to reach for most purchases. In some cases, a retailer will wrap your gift and attach a card for a small additional fee. What a great way to shop for people short on time!
Favorable return policies – In the early days of online shopping, there were big concerns about return policies. For example, how would you return that expensive digital camera you bought online? Originally, you may have had to pay for return shipping and you may have been charged a restocking fee. Today most online retailers have changed their return policies and will allow you to return items to a local store – buy a coffee maker on the secure JC Penney website and if you don’t like it you can go downtown commercial and return it at the JC Penney Store. Of course, you should examine the retailer’s return policy before shopping online.
Truly, online holiday shopping is an attractive option if struggling through limited shopping spaces in malls, dealing with surly sales help, or navigating huge crowds has no appeal for you. Apparently, many consumers feel the same way, as most online retailers report increases in sales at double-digit rates, while year-over-year fixed-base store sales are growing at a negligible rate of the 2nd. 3 percent. Join the internet shopping revolution and start your holiday shopping online today!