I have never used the Internet for my holiday shopping because of all

I have never used the Internet for my holiday shopping because of all of the horror stories and problems that I have heard. Should I consider it this year?
- Lisa

This question was answered on November 26, 2001. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

Shopping on the Internet, especially during the holiday season, has not enjoyed the greatest of reputations Stories of late deliveries, not getting through to a live human being for problems or other basic customer service issues have all contributed to this reputation.

Done properly, it can be a very safe time and money saver, but you need to understand the differences between online, catalog and real world shopping.

Tip #1: Shop early

The biggest mistake that most new online shoppers make is waiting too long Not only do you need to be concerned about delivery time, but more importantly availability Things happen on the Internet in very short periods of time because of the sheer number of available customers, so take action early or suffer the "sold out" signs in mid December.

Amazon has the following guidelines for shipping deadlines:

Dec 19: Last day to order items that say "Usually ships in 24 hours" using 2nd Day Air

Dec 20: Last day to order items that "Usually ships in 24 hours" using Next Day Air

Dec 21: Last day to order items that say "Usually ships in 24 hours" using Holiday Saturday Delivery

Dec 23: Last day to order items that say "Usually ships in 24 hours" using Holiday Christmas Delivery

Dec 24: Orders placed today will arrive after Christmas.

Tip #2: Don't assume the online price is lower

Online shopping veterans will tell you that it's not always cheaper online, especially for popular items during the holiday season But shopping online does not necessarily mean you make the purchase online You are more likely to save time than money when using the Internet to shop because of the sheer volume of information that can be gathered in a very short amount of time.

Tip #3: Use comparison services first

You can get the 'going rate' for those must-have popular items very quickly at sites like <a href="http://www.mysimon.com" target="_blank"><font color="#003399">www.mysimon.com</font></a> because they shop thousands of the most popular web sites and bring back the prices all on one screen (Be sure to 'sort by price' so that the lowest price will appear at the top of the list.)

Tip #4: Be safe and secure

Security has long been the biggest concern when shopping online Before entering any credit card information be sure you are on a secured page that starts with https:// instead of the usual http:// A small yellow lock should also appear near the bottom right corner of your browser indicating the secured status of the page Be sure to print any and all receipts and records of your transactions as they will be your only hope in case of trouble.

Tip #5: Look for 'clicks and bricks'

For the ultimate in convenience, look for online companies that also have a 'brick and mortar' presence and more importantly allow you to intertwine the two of them For instance, if you buy it online check to see if you can return it or have it serviced at the local store If you live in a remote rural area, you may want to be able to purchase it in the store and return it online.

Tip #6: Always use a credit card online

Don't accidentally use your debit card online or you may not get the same fraud protection that a credit card provides In addition, the funds will generally be removed from your account the day of the purchase, which gives you little financial recourse with the merchant.

Tip #7: Know your rights before making the purchase

Before making a purchase from any 'e-tailer' be sure to read the return and privacy policies, understand the shipping charges and make absolutely sure that you have a physical address and phone number for the company.

Finally, be very careful at auction sites as they generate the highest number of fraud and misrepresentation complaints You can learn more about online safety at <a href="http://www.ftc.gov" target="_blank"><font color="#003399">www.ftc.gov</font></a>