Online Shopping Guide

The long lines, stores packed with grumpy people and winter weather nipping at your nose. Sometimes holiday store shopping isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But, never fear, ZoomTown is here, and you can do all of your shopping without ever changing out of your pajamas.

Amazon is a great place to go for just about everyone on your list. Whether it’s the hottest CD, an obscure DVD or a coffee table book, this site has everything you might need.

It’s just about the best place you can go for great prices on DVDs, books and CDs. But that’s just the beginning. This one-stop-shop has it all. Plus, based on searches and purchases you make on Amazon, the site gives recommendations for other items you might enjoy.

If you don’t want to pay top dollar, you can often get a used version of whatever it is that you’re after for a fraction of the cost. Make sure to check out the seller and the comments on the product before buying. The majority of sellers will be honest if there’s a bend in a cover, markings on any pages, an open package, etc. More often than not, these flaws are very minor, and you can get a great bargain, so don’t be afraid to buy something that’s not brand-spanking new.

By this time, pretty much everyone has heard of eBay, but a lot of people are intimidated by the site. There’s no need to be afraid. It’s a great site (and, rather addictive) and a great place to find all the things you’ve been searching for at a great price.

Step 1
The first thing you need to do is sign in or register. Make sure and register for PayPal, because it’s the easiest, most secure way to pay for all your items. Also, there are a lot of sellers who won’t sell unless the buyer is paying through PayPal.

Step 2
Next, you can start searching for your item. Start specific, then move towards a more general description until you find what you’re looking for. That way, you can avoid sifting through pages and pages of things you don’t want. Also, when entering numerals, try typing in “9” instead of “nine” to improve your search.

Helpful tips
When selecting an item, you need to do a couple things. First, check out the seller and the seller’s feedback. A general rule of thumb is only to buy from sellers who have made previous transactions and who have a satisfaction rate of at least 90%. Second, if you’re after a new item, make sure that “New” or “Never used” is part of the item description. If it’s not there, it’s not new. If you have any confusion, most sellers allow for you to ask questions about the item.

If you don’t want a new item – say, you’re okay with buying a gently used designer purse – that’s totally fine. Check out the images, and remember, you can ask questions. However, there are a few items that you don’t want to buy used. For example, shoes.

If you’ve got a little time, click the option to “Watch this item.” That way, the site will keep an eye on whatever it is that you’re after, so you don’t have to dig through a list every time you want to make a bid. Plus, you’ll get a better deal if you wait until the last minute to bid.

And here’s one more helpful tip. If you can, do your searching and bidding during the week. Since there are more people online and bidding on the weekends, you’ll get a lower price if you find items for sale in the middle of the week.

Good luck and happy bidding!