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METHOD |
DESCRIPTION |
WEB ADDRESSES |
Browsing |
This method is best for those who have some idea what they’re looking for; users can check a store’s holdings based on specific interests |
This report submitted by Rich Parker SLM521 |
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Intrada: Intrada’s online site is perfect for people really interested in motion picture soundtrack CD’s. Intrada’s collection is vast and can be accessed by movie title or composer or film genre |
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Powells.com: Powell’s offers an eclectic collection of used books, some rare and out-of-print |
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Amazon: I love to browse Amazon for books and CD’s and DVD’s Even if I’m not buying, a browse through Amazon will allow a user to access reviews by Amazon customers. This could be an interesting way to assess if you really want that book or CD or DVD. Anyone can submit a review of books, movies or music even if the item wasn’t purchased through Amazon. |
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Entertainment |
Going to movies tomorrow night? Going to see the latest, hottest release? Hate to stand in long lines? Hate to stand in long lines only to find that the show has sold out two patrons before you get to the ticket window? Get your tickets in advance. |
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Fandango: Search your movie by title, genre or release date. Plug in your home town and get tickets for
new releases, movies that have been in the theaters for awhile and even get
advance tickets to movies which have not hit the theaters yet.
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Moviefone: Get tickets to movies in town, see trailers, even
“rant and rave” by commenting on movies you’ve seen.
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Gift Certificates |
Sometimes you just don’t know what to that that friend or special someone. The best thing to do is give a gift certificate. These websites will let you purchase a gift certificate from any one of hundreds of stores |
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GiftCertificates.com: Among the stores this site will hook you up to are
Bath & Body Works, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Bloomingdale’s, Hecht’s, Macy’s,
Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue; a nice selection of up-scale
shopping.
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GiveAnything.com: Wow! an
even wider selection of gift certificates available here including 33 stores
featuring apparel and accessories; 34 stores with baby items; 68 home, garden
and office retailers; 14 pet stores; 29 retailers of toys and games and 31
sport and fitness outlets
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Wish Lists and Gift Registry |
weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s, new babies, even “breakup/divorce”; these websites allow your acquaintances to post their own gift requests. Log on, find what they want, choose from among the things they’ll really appreciate. |
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FindGift.com: This site does offer gift registry services, but goes way beyond that small convenience. I click of the mouse will give the visitor gift ideas for “him,” “her,” “toddler,” “pre-teen,” “client,” “teacher,” or (yes) “pet”. In addition ideas are also arranged by sentiment (“cheer up,” “I’m sorry,” or “Let’s party”. |
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Fortunoff: the source: A bit more specialized, this site is dedicated to bridal registry. It offers the bride plenty of advice on “top flatware,” “top formal china,” “top casual china,” “tabletop guide,” “bedroom & bathroom guide,” “home furnishing guide,” and “jewelry guide” among others. Then gift-givers can log on to see what choices the bride has made. |
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Auction shopping |
This kind of shopping site usually features the unusual! Here shoppers compete with one another for the opportunity to buy. The bids are open, the clock is running, the gavel is poised. Do I here “five hundred dollars”? |
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UBid: The Brand Name Marketplace: Anything and everything under the sun it seems is up for grabs here: computer and office supplies, consumer electronics, music, movies, games, apparel and collectibles. Even travel is here: at the time of log-in the bidding on a three day trip to Cancun was about to close. The last bid? A mere $10.00. Call me crazy; I let it pass! |
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EBay: This has got to be the most well-known site of auction shopping. Thousands of items are up for bid in a tremendous variety of categories. Users can put things up for bid or bid on those others have to offer. At least one of my colleagues is almost eBay addicted. Her advice: just watch the clock run down and slip in a final bid at the buzzer. Sold! |
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Online shopping tips from the Federal Trade
Commission |
1) Be sure to use a secure browser. You’re going to be handing over some important information about yourself and, quite possibly your credit cards. Make sure the shopping site will keep this information private and secure. 2)
Shop only with companies you know. The only way to guarantee the quality of
the merchandise you purchase is to know that merchandise and the retailer
ahead of time. 3)
Keep your passwords private. Common sense! 4)
Pay by credit card.
If anything goes wrong with the transaction, your credit card company
can help minimize your loss in a bad transaction. Depending on your card company, they may cover 100%
reimbursement on a bad transaction. 5)
Whatever you do, keep records of any online
purchases. Online retailers should
provide you at time of purchase with a purchase or order ID number which you
can use to track you order and its shipment to you. |
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/cybrsmrt.htm |
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Report submitted by |
Rich Parker SLM521 |
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