Auctions

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WHERE TO SHOP ONLINE

ONLINE SHOPPING TIPS

TAKING A BYTE
Buying a Computer Online

When purchasing a major item like a computer, you want to be careful. Make sure you get all the information beforehand and know exactly what your money's getting you -- every detail right down to the mouse pad! Sites like Zdnet.com and Cnet.com can certainly help with the plenty of reviews they offer. Also watch for any hidden fees (shipping and handling, restocking), keep a confirmation of your order and make sure they don't charge your credit card until your computer's been shipped.

Here's a quick rundown of the different types of sites that sell computers:

Auctions
If you're not a computer expert, avoid buying one from auction sites. Sure you can get some awesome deals on computers and accessories, but you could also end up with some outdated equipment, pay more than an item's worth or get scammed by some individual. So be real careful out there.

The Manufacturer
Yep, you can buy a computer straight from the manufacturer. Companies like Gateway and Dell let you buy straight from their site. You can customize exactly the computer you're looking for, find special deals and offers, and get the latest news on the company's products. If you know exactly what model or manufacturer you're looking for, these are the sites for you.

Surplus
If you don't mind outdated or discontinued models, these sites are perfect for you. You'll usually end up with less powerful machines than you can find elsewhere, but you'll easily save a few hundred bucks. Keep in mind, though, warranties and return policies are usually very limited or non-existent on these purchases.

NAME IT
Online Department Stores

Another safe and easy way to dive into online shopping is by starting with familiar territory. You already know Barnes and Noble, the Gap or even mail-order catalogs like Lands' End. Well, they've all got their own online sites you can order from directly. In fact, most "real world" department stores have Websites. Just type in www.STORENAME.com and you'll probably find your favorite.

But why shop online when you can just hop in the car and pick up your purchase in person? Well, you'll avoid the lines, browse easier, get instant customer service, save yourself some time (and gas!) and even uncover special bargains or discounts! Not to mention the fact that you may not even have a certain department store in your area.

If you thought shopping at the mall was a decision dilemma, wait'll you start surfing the Web! With a virtually unlimited amount of space, it seems just about everyone and their mother's got a shopping Website. And there's not just tons and tons of them, there's also plenty of different types of shopping sites from auctions to negotiating to comparison shopping. Don't worry, though, because WebBuyingGuide's broken it all down for you. Just keep in mind that it may seem pretty overwhelming at first, so start slowly. Begin by using one type of site until you're comfortable with it, and then start exploring other possibilities.

Regular Sites

Some of the biggest and most successful shopping sites online are just straightforward simple ones like Amazon.com. Whether you're looking for books, computers, CDs, furniture, clothes, electronics, whatever, they're all basically the same. A company is selling you something for a flat price. No gimmicks. No negotiating, bidding or guessing. While you won't always find the greatest deals here, you may find these sites the easiest to navigate. If you're looking for a quick and easy purchase or feel like some window-shopping, these sites are perfect for you.

A great feature of some of these sites is that you can "test" the merchandise before you buy it. Whether it's video games, CDs or even books, sites will often let you see samples. With special plug-ins (free downloadable software) you can listen to a good chunk of the songs on an album or play demo versions of the latest video games. Book-selling sites will often display a chapter or two for you to peruse before purchasing. If samples are available, take 'em -- it may help you decide whether or not to buy an item.

Besides samples, many sites offer product reviews from professionals as well as from customers. These reviews can be extremely helpful in deciding whether or not to buy a product. If the store you're shopping at doesn't provide reviews, there are many sites which specialize in reviewing products. We list some of the best ones here. At these sites you can enter a specific model or features you're looking for and the site will give you plenty of informative reviews. But before you even get that far, make sure to take advantage of the numerous Buying Guides online. These are great tools that help you figure out exactly what sort of features are available on any particular item, as well as help you decide which features you need.

Now this may all sound confusing and time consuming. Well, if you're looking to buy the best possible VCR for you, then it's worth taking the extra time to do some research. But if you just want to snag the latest Celine Dion album, then dive in and start spending!

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