How to Shop for Gifts Online

We all know shopping can be stressful especially when you don’t really know what you’re looking for. Crowded shopping centres and frenzied shopping streets can mean that you don’t end up getting what you want, but there is an alternative, which doesn’t involve stress or crowds - online shopping!

Shop Online Safely:

Millions of people buy online every day with no hassle; however it is worth baring a few tips in mind and arming yourself with the knowledge of how to shop online safely before splashing the cash.

Using a secure website will ensure you feel safe when entering personal information or credit card details. Look for a padlock symbol in the bottom right of the browser window, which will tell you that the website is secure. Don’t be fooled by a padlock appearing on the webpage, this is a common way for conmen to fool shoppers - make sure the symbol is in the browser itself.

Making sure you buy your gifts, whether it’s for Christmas, a birthday, an anniversary or simply an Easter gift you should always deal with reputable sellers. To spot reputable sellers you should look for a physical address and telephone number, in the case of needing to contact them regarding your order. Always check seller’s privacy policy and returns policy so you know where you stand if say you receive a faulty good or it doesn’t fit.

By downloading the latest version of your browser you can take advantage of advances in encryption capabilities, which will protect your personal information as it’s transmitted over the internet.

If you have a credit card you should us this instead of a debit card to make online purchases. Debit cards don’t have the same protection as credit cards when it comes to limiting your liability for fraudulent use.

Why shop online?

Online shopping statistics from February 2009 have shown a significant increase of 13% in online shopping. This demonstrates the ability for internet shopping to sustain momentum despite the downward trend in high street figures.

The increase in online shopping has been directly related to the current recession, people are cutting back on their spending and are choosing the online offers and ease of delivery instead of the shops.

Statistics have shown that there has been an increase in sales online a few days before Valentine’s Day on 14th February, which shows that people are getting those romantic gifts from the internet instead of physically going shopping down the busy high streets.

It is predicted that online sales will surge leading up to Christmas, with a forecast of retail sales reaching £13.6 billion. Websites such as play.com provide a huge array of gifts at low prices, which is why it is expected that sites like this will see a vast increase during the festive season as customers are turning to the internet for bargains. With 29 million people expected to use the internet to buy Christmas presents this year the internet easily out sells high street stores for people’s choice when it comes to buying gifts.

When it comes to shopping for gifts, the only place that can guarantee you will find everything you want and more is the World Wide Web.