Holiday Shopping (part 2 of 2)

NOTE: This article is Part Two in a Two-Part series of articles about holiday shopping. Part One included tips on shopping for that special woman in your life and information about online wish lists.

It's December 14, and there are 11 shopping days left before Christmas. That means you still have some time left before fighting the mobs on Christmas Eve who procrastinated a bit too much. Unfortunately, if you celebrate Hanukkah, this article comes too late to help you this year. December 11th was the last day of Hanukkah, so maybe these shopping tips can help you next year, or during another gift giving time.

Safe Shopping Online

First and foremost, shopping online is not for everyone. If you are reading this article, then you have enough computer knowledge to get online and check out websites. However, that knowledge doesn't necessarily mean that you are completely comfortable with the power of the Internet.

Some people don't feel comfortable filling out personal information online. No matter how much a company guarantees that the information will be safe, some people still are doubtful about that promise. If you have your doubts, don't attempt shopping online unless you are willing to get over those doubts.

Information you should be willing to share when shopping online:

• Name
• Shipping & Billing Address (some companies will not mail to PO Boxes, so they might insist on a street address)
• Phone number (possibly business and home)
• User name & password (some sites have you become a registered user so they can track your purchases and send you discount information)
• Billing Method (IE: credit card information)

Billing method is probably the number one concern of online shoppers. Stores know this and most try to offer a variety of payment options. The most widely accepted form of payment is credit cards. This is a simple way for both the company and the consumer to quickly finish the transaction. As a consumer, you will often have the option of either submitting your credit card information online, calling a phone number and giving the information to a sales consultant over the phone, or printing out an order form and mailing your credit card information to the company. The quickest way is either via the Internet or by phone. If you mail your credit card information and order form, expect the normal postal system delays.

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