Shopping Online! Tips, tricks, and secrets

Leah KrausFayetteville Free Library

12/7/2010

Save Time, Avoid the Mall!

Online shopping can be quick, easy, cheap, and safe!

Today’s class:› Online shopping safety› Auction sites – eBay› Finding local goods – Craigslist› Sites for unique finds› Bargain & Deal of the day sites› Comparison & Coupon sites

Online Shopping Safety

Make sure the internet connection is secure. Look for:› The picture of the unbroken key or closed lock in

your browser window.› The web address on the page that asks for your

credit card information begins with “https:” instead of “http.”

› The words “Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)” or a pop up box that says you are entering a secure area.

Use a variety of strong passwords. › The best passwords are not your address, birth

date, phone number, or recognizable words.

More Online Shopping Safety

Use a credit card rather than a debit card or check› If you have an unauthorized charge on

your credit card, under federal law your liability is limited to $50.

Legitimate businesses do not ask for SSNs or bank account numbers on the Internet. › Do not respond to such emails and do not

click on any links they contain.

More Online Shopping Safety

Be knowledgeable about web-based auctions. › Familiarize yourself not only with the policies of the

auction site itself and also the policies of the seller's items that you want to bid on.

Find and read the privacy policy. › Find out what information the seller is gathering from

you, how the information will be used, and how you can stop the process.

Review other policies including the return, refund, and shipping and handling policies, expected delivery dates.

Print or save any records related to your online transactions.

Online shopping safety links:

Yahoo! Shopping Tips:› http://docs.yahoo.com/docs/info/consumert

ips.html American Bar Association’s Safe

Shopping:› http://www.safeshopping.org/

Security Garden Online Safety Tips› http://securitygarden.blogspot.com/2010/1

1/online-shopping-safety-tips.html

Online Auctions - eBay

Get Registered

Shop and Bid http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/basics.html

Shop

Seller Info.

Buying on eBay

Research the Seller Read the Fine Print Compare Price – Policies and S&H

cost Bid to Win! Pay securely with PayPal

Buying Local: Craigslist

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/ Use Craigslist to deal locally with

people you can meet in person! When buying from someone for the

first time, please remember to:› Meet in a public place› Be especially careful when buying/selling

high value items › Have a friend accompany you

Buying Unique - ETSY

http://www.etsy.com/ Handmade, personalized gifts Communicate over Etsy with the artist/

crafter to specify exactly what you want

Follow the same precautions as with eBay:› Make sure to read the seller’s policies› Make sure the seller has positive feedback

Buying cheap – Bargain & Deal of the Day sites

Bargain Sites:› Overstock.com› SmartBargains.com

Deal of the Day sites› Woot.com› Tada.com› Groupon: http

://www.groupon.com/syracuse/› Today Show’s Steals and Deals:http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40538512/ns/today-holiday_guide/

Buying cheap– Comparing Prices

Shopzilla› http://www.shopzilla.com

PriceGrabber› http://pricegrabber.com

Buying cheap – Coupon sites

Retail Me Not› http://www.retailmenot.com/

CurrentCodes› http://www.currentcodes.com/

Wow-Coupons › http://www.wowprintablecoupons.com/

Restaurant.com

Questions?