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D E L I V E R Y
Making sure it all gets there by Christmas Day
Timing is everything. Place your holiday orders early—by, say, Dec. 10—to allow plenty of time for standard shipping. This is the busiest time of year for retailers, and UPS Ground takes a week to deliver a package across the country in the off-season. Many sites will estimate delivery times for particular items. Or consider picking up your online order at a brick-and-mortar location; an increasing number of merchants are offering this option and it can save you time and money.
R E T U R N S & E X C H A N G E S
When it's not what you want
Many e-tailers have gotten more generous with their return policies, in some cases arranging for pick-up of the unwanted items or providing pre-paid return shipping labels. If by Christmas it will be too late for your gift recipient to return or exchange an item, ask for an extension. And be sure to save all printed invoices and emails from the vendor, just in case. Ideally, the goods will ship with a packing list that doesn't mention price and is all your gift recipient needs.
S A L E S T A X
An added cost you might not notice
Not having to pay sales tax for items purchased online has been one of Web shopping's longstanding perks. E-tailers are still not legally required to collect sales tax from customers in states where they have no physical presence, but they may soon be, and in anticipation of that change, several have started collecting it voluntarily. You'll see it added to your bill at checkout.
S E C U R I T Y
Keeping transactions safe and protecting yourself from fraud
Identity theft is a real threat, and using a credit card to make an online purchase can make anyone feel vulnerable. Before placing an order, make sure you're on a secure web page; the padlock along the status bar of your browser should be snapped closed. Beware of spoof emails from cyberthieves masquerading as legitimate Web merchants, and don't respond to messages requesting bank account information or your social security number. Always use the same credit card for online purchases, and check monthly statements for unauthorized activity (most card issuers have limited liability policies). Never use a bank debit card online; by the time you report the fraud, the money will be gone from your account.
C O M M U N I C A T I O N
Keeping track of the status of your order
Most e-tailers use email to confirm purchases and to notify customers when their orders have shipped. This is reassuring, but if you're doing a lot of online buying, set up a separate email account for this correspondence. Online merchants also depend on email as a way to lure you back, and you may want to keep those special offers and sales alerts out of your primary mailbox. Just don't forget to regularly check that secondary account; e-tailers also use email when they run into problems.
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