1. Use a coupon – Before finalizing any online purchase, always check to see if there’s a coupon available. Those few seconds of searching can save you some serious cash.
2. In-Store Pickup – If an item’s cheaper online with a coupon but the shipping will negate the discount, see if the online merchant offers in-store pickup (such as Office Depot or Circuit City). You get the advantage of any online discounts and the item’s waiting for you at the store.
3. Go With Who You Trust – If you’re still weary of shopping online, stick to the websites of major retail chains such as Gap, JCPenney or Macys. Not only will you feel more secure, but generally you can return items to their brick-and-mortar counterparts.
4. Customer Service – Make sure the site you’re ordering from has some form of customer service, preferably a 1-800 number with decent hours. If you can’t find anything but an e-mail address, be a bit cautious.
5. Shop Securely – Identity theft thrives during holiday times. Make sure the site’s a secure one before typing in your credit card number. You can tell a site’s secure by a small lock or key icon at the bottom of your browser, as well as the url beginning with “https://www...” instead of simply http://www... Check with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) or National Consumers League's National Fraud Information Center (www.fraud.org) for further information.
