Sree's Thoughts on Online Holiday Shopping
Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002

More than $8 billion will be spent online this holiday season - a 24 percent increase from last year. Consumers will be taking advantage of the convenience of shopping on the Web, but there's still things to be careful about. Here are some thoughts on the subject.

LOOK FOR FREE/DISCOUNTED SHIPPING: Sites like Amazon.com are offering free shipping over a certain amount (in Amazon's case, over $25). The only catch is that it's usually only the slowest level, so if you are, say, past Dec. 10, it might not get there in time and you will want to upgrade to a higher level.

LOOK FOR FEATURED DEALS: Several sites scour the Web for last-minute or limited-time deals that you can take advantage of. These include FatWallet.com and DealofDay.com

LOOK FOR GIFT CERTIFICATES: If you have a tough time deciding what to get someone, I'd go with an online gift certificate. All the major stores have them and you can event get some that work across stores. Try GiftCertificates.com

READ RETURN POLICIES: Be sure to read the fine print. The best stores allow you to return items with minimm hassle, providing UPS return labels.

KNOW THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU: If you want to check out an online retailer or complain about a problem, keep BBB.org handy. Lots of good tips, too!

Here's another 7online.com tip on online shopping.