Online shopping on rise this season
Every year, more and more shoppers around the country are turning to
the Internet to find the best deals for holiday gifts. Jonesboro
resident Andrew Lane said he has been shopping online for years.
"It's a way to find good deals," he said. "Even if I don't buy it
online, I'll at least shop around online before I buy it in the store."
Lane said he usually shops at popular sites like eBay and Amazon, where
he recently bought the newest Harry Potter book for his niece.
"I'm definitely going to do some more browsing (on the Internet)
before Christmas," Lane said.
Graham Mudd, an analyst for comScore Networks, Inc., a company that
tracks online spending, said many customers are using the Internet to
shop around before searching for the product in stores.
Nationwide, online sales are up 30 percent from last year to $2.16
billion, he said.
Mudd said the increase in online shopping is not only a result of the
rebounding economy, but also of more people having access to the
Internet, more retailers making their Web sites conducive to buying
online, and more people being comfortable shopping online.
BizRate.com is a Web site that rates shopping sites based on customer
reviews. One of its best-reviewed sites is
www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com,
which has been reviewed by more than 2,500 customers. BizRate.com offers
advice on the best sites in different categories like home and garden,
clothing and jewelry.
One of the highest rated sites for toys on BizRate.com is
www.imaginethechallenge.com,
which sells and reviews educational toys.
Consumer Reports suggests
www.bluefly.com, www.gap.com, and
www.landsend.com for online
clothes shopping.
The organization also recommends popular vendors like
www.amazon.com,
www.barnesandnoble.com, and
www.cdnow.com for books and music.
For toys, Consumer Reports suggests
www.kbtoys.com and www.toysrus.com.
But well-known national shopping sites are not the only businesses
that benefit from the increase in holiday online shopping.
Kay Knestrick has owned and operated K-Art Needlework in Riverdale
since 1979. Three years ago, Knestrick set up a Web site to vend her
embroidery and picture-framing service. Since going online, she has
shipped orders all over the world.
"We've sent needlework to Europe and as far away as Dubai," she said.
In the past couple of months, she has received orders from holiday
shoppers all over the country. Knestrick said online orders are now
about 20 percent of her business.
"We've completely re-invented the way we do business," she said.
Knestrick said that her business can ship gifts in three to 10 days,
depending on how fast the customer wants it and how far it has to go.
Consumer Reports suggests that online shoppers find out the estimated
delivery time and ask about the cost of express shipping.
The organization also recommends checking the business' return
policies. A business should give at least 45 days to return items and
some will allow an online shopper to return or exchange the gift at one
of their stores.
If shoppers order gift certificates, Consumer Reports says to make
sure they're valid for at least six months. |
