1. Why Buy Online? Selena Day

2. Statistics National Retail Federation by BIGResearch estimated that shoppers would do a quarter of their holiday shopping online in 2006. Forrester Research predicted that holiday online sales in 2006 would reach $27 billion.

3. Statistics Census Bureau  97% of retail sales in America are NOT online.  Only 22% of travel services and reservation arrangements were made online. Interactive Advertising Bureau and Price WaterhouseCoopers LLP  Estimated that Internet advertising was $4.2 billion in the third quarter – 30% increase from a year ago.

4. Statistics Forrester Research – nearly one-third of online consumers have purchased software online. One in five experienced some kind of problem.  53% received software that wasn’t what they ordered  36% reported that the software didn’t work  14% realized that the software was pirated  12% never received the product

5. Online Shopping Sites

6. Advantages Convenience!  People who live in remote or rural areas  Disabled people  Wedding and Baby registries Easier to compare prices and find bargains Cost  Shipping compared to the cost of gas is much less

7. Advantages Easier to buy those “hard to find” items Saves Time No sales tax Custom Orders Shop from home or work

8. Disadvantages Can’t touch, feel, and smell Can’t try on clothes or shoes Returns sometimes cost the consumer Requires a credit card or the set-up of an online payment account Requires access to a computer with internet access

9. Online Shopping Safety Tips Research vendors and personal sellers before buying anything Confirm online seller’s physical addresses and phone numbers Inquire about a company’s privacy policy Never give a seller financial information via email or pop-ups

10. Online Shopping Safety Tips Read the product description closely. Look for words such as…  Refurbished  Vintage  Close-out Carefully check the costs of purchases, including shipping and handling. Maintain a paper trail.

11. Online Shopping Safety Tips Consider using an online payment services such as PayPal or your credit card. This protects your transaction under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Be certain that the Web Site is secure. Look for the secure icon. Never send cash for a purchase under any circumstance.

12. Conclusion The internet provides another means for shopping that has many advantages, with convenience being at the top of the list. It is important, though, to educate yourself on the hidden dangers associated with shopping online so that your shopping experience can be worth the effort. A new slogan for the online shopper to replace “Shop til you Drop” could be……

13. “Let your fingers do the shopping”