You hate the shopping, the crowds, the queues, the car parks and the overall effort it takes to carry everything, so this year you’ve decided to buy your Christmas gifts online. You could be after BakerRoss toys, clothes, books, wine or Christmas hampers. Whatever you need, buying online can be an effortless and fun experience and much easier than hitting the stores – but only if you really know what you’re doing. Follow these tips below to help navigate your way through the “Christmas-net”.

1. Start early

The key to your online Christmas shopping experience is to start early. Give yourself a good couple of months to get yourself organised and find what you want online. It will save you from panicking at the last minute and it also means sparing you the drama of finding something you like online and then worrying about whether it will be delivered in time. Getting in early also means your desired items will mostly likely be in stock and you won’t have to deal with Christmas sell-outs or wait for a back order.

2. Decide what you want

The Christmas-net can be an overwhelming place if you don’t know where to look – it’s a great place to get ideas but unless you decide on what you want, you can become lost in the infinite choices. So once you’ve done your research, make your lists and stick to searching for exactly what’s on it.

3. Do your research

One of the major things you’ll need to do – and one of the advantages you have of starting your buying early – is to research your products. The worldwide web offers dozens of websites from which you could buy your item, so you’ll need to “look around” to get an idea of the different prices available. If it’s a matter of only saving a couple of pounds, choose the site that you think you can trust the most or that offers a return or refund policy. You can also check out customer and product reviews and feedback from other buyers to give you more security in your choice, particularly if you’re buying an expensive present.

4. Look for bargains

Looking for bargains can take a little more time but it can also save you lots of money in the long run. See if you can find any coupons or discount vouchers online or if any retailers are offering special bargains, and hunt around for bargain sites. If you buy multiple items from a site, you can also save on shipping or be eligible for free shipping, which can save you a lot of cash.

5. Beware of shipping & handling

Of course, nearly all sites you shop at will charge you a shipping and handling fee to have your item delivered. Make sure you check out what this fee is to determine the final price of your item. Some places charge by weight, others by volume and some will just charge you a flat, once-off fee regardless of what you buy. If you’re looking for gift baskets, make sure you check out the delivery fees too, as some will have these included in the price and some won’t. You can sometimes thwart delivery fees by getting your item delivered to a nearby store for pick up. It still means you have to go out, but it also means that you won’t have to deal with the crowds or the queues.

6. Gift wrapping

If you’re shopping online because you’re after maximum ease, then consider getting your items gift-wrapped too, so they’re ready as soon as they arrive at your doorstep. Wrapping paper usually costs a bit more but can be worth it if you don’t want to have to spend a good couple of hours wrapping all your presents and getting caught up in the sticky-tape.

7. Payment methods

Lastly, consider which payment methods you’re going to use. Almost everywhere accepts credit and debit cards, but there are also lots of other options these days like Paypal and direct deposit, which are great if you don’t want to run up your credit card bill.

Guest Blogger: Sachin

Did you know?

At the beginning of January, 2011, online shopping had grown 12%, according to comScore.

-Tari

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