Brandy Burns

SLM 521

Elective 1

ONLINE SHOPPING

Shopping online has become a common practice for many consumers. It allows for easy access as well as a saved trip to a store. There are also numerous products available online that are not found in a store. The chart below describes some sites that are good for various methods of online shopping.

Method	Description	Suggested Sites
Auctions	Auction sites allow users to choose desired items and place a bid on them. Just like in a real auction, the highest bidder is required to submit payment in order to receive the item. They're serious! Don't bid if you can't pay!	Police Auctions! e-bay
Surplus & Clearance	Clearance sites are available for users to purchase items on a discount. Often, these items are from past seasons or are left over inventory. The merchandise is brand new, yet a fraction of the price. Some sites will limit the availability of some items because they sell until stock is sold out, so get it fast because your favorite produt could be gone!	Whiskey Militia Outdoor Gear
Browsing	These sites enable users to peruse through products without having any pressure to purchase at that moment. They are great tools to find the comparable items and for a user to find just the right product. On some sites, you can even use your zip code to localize the search for the desired product.	Shopzilla Shop Local
Wish Lists	Users can go to these sites and create an online wish list. This is so their preferred gifts can be viewed by others for a potential purchase of the chosen gifts, with all the details like colors, sizes, and styles already set. Then the person gets exactly what they asked for! Another way to use a wish list is for an individual to keep track of products they want to purchase in the future.	Target Walmart
Gift Certificates	Everyone loves a gift certificate or a gift card! They are gifts that allow the receiver to pick out virtually anything they want. Gift cards and certificates can be ordered online from just about anywhere.	Gift Cards Gift Certificates

Shopping online however, can present security risks.

Follow these tips to be a savvy online shopper!

· Always check for the picture of the unbroken key or closed lock in the browser window, which indicates that the site is secure when you are making a purchase.

· Some sites may ask you to create an account using a password. When doing this, do your best to use punctuation marks and numbers. This makes your password more secure. Also, do not make them similar to passwords you already have made for more sensitive sites, such as your banking site.

· Pay by credit card and print and keep your receipt. This could help settle future disputes regarding your credit card account or the merchant's account.