How to Have a (Relatively) Pain-Free Shopping Experience

‘Tis the season…for overcrowded malls, long lines, searching for parking in overflowing lots, and maybe even perhaps a little frantic pushing and shoving. Ah—the holiday shopping experience. Welcome one and all to the busiest shopping time of the entire year. Now’s the time when you just might see a sweet little old lady shoved down the stairs for a grasping chance at the last iPod nano 80 gig video whachamacallit. If shopping in holiday crowds is one of the things you dread year in and year out, consider something different this year. Go virtual! That’s right. Complete all your holiday shopping…gasp…online. It’s seems so simple you say? That’s because it is. (Take it from someone that hasn’t bought a gift at an actual three-dimensional store in over three years.) But before you plunge into the World Wide Web, remember these few tips and avoid a total dotcom disaster. --Shop early! I know this will incite groans from most people. I’m too busy to shop, you’ll say. But remember, all you have to do is sit down at your computer and cruise around a few websites for a while. There’s no drive time, no traffic, no long lines and no endless racks of merchandise. You search for what you want, buy it, and you’re done. Just make sure to leave at least two to three weeks for shipping. It will almost never take this long, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. --Payment: Most websites will accept debit or credit cards for online payments. But always make sure you’re buying from a reputable site. If it’s not secure, your credit card number could quickly become public record. And don’t forget you will have to cover shipping and handling. If something seems like a great deal, make sure it’s still a great deal after shipping. --Returns: If at all possible, shop on sites that allow returns. This is especially true for items like clothes or shoes, where you just never know if they’re going to fit. But regardless of whether you’re buying clothes, electronics, or DVDs, make sure the person can return it for cash or store credit. Maybe you don’t want to completely eliminate the live shopping experience. So just try out a few gifts this year. See if it fits your style, and you might just find you’ll never go back… by Liz Herrin