From bobrankin@MHV.NET Wed Dec 3 22:56:58 1997
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 18:09:13 -0500
From: Bob Rankin
Reply-To: TOURBUS-Request@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
To: TOURBUS@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
Subject: TOURBUS - 02 Dec 1997 - Holiday Shopping Online
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\___/ \___/ T h e I n t e r n e t T o u r B u s \___/
TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPIC: HOLIDAY SHOPPING ONLINE
Online shopping - it's a $2.5 BILLION dollar business, and analysts are
predicting that the final tally for this holiday season will top a
billion dollars. Will you join the ranks of those who point and click
their way past the crowded malls, or are you still nervous about
whipping out the plastic in cyberspace?
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If you hate crowds, and you're looking for an alternative to telephone
shopping, the Web may be just the ticket. But the convenience of point
and click purchasing isn't the only benefit of online shopping. Some
online stores offer special discounts for Internet customers, and
consumers can also shop smarter by taking advantage of comparison
shopping services such as Compare.Net (for general consumer products)
and NetBuyer.Com (for all things geeky). These sites will help you by
providing product reviews and comparisons, and even point you to the
online store where you can get the best deal.
I poked around at NetBuyer and found that prices on the EPSON PhotoPC
600 digital camera ranged from $700 to $799. And it's no doubt even
higher at your local department store. Check out these two sites at:
BUT IS IT SAFE?
Even though most browsers have offered secure transaction features for
some time, there are many netizens who remain skittish about using
credit cards online. Some people are wary of shopping on the Internet,
because they fear a retailer may not be legitimate or a hacker will get
their credit card number. To a certain degree, that fear is healthy,
but you can shop online with peace of mind if you keep these points in
mind:
- Think twice before entering your credit card number into an e-mail
message. E-mail is about as secure as a paper postcard, so it's
possible an employee of an Internet service could sneak a peak at your
message.
- Shop at secure web sites. You can tell you are in a secure site
when Netscape's little gold key (lower left corner) turns solid or
Internet Explorer's little padlock (lower right) looks locked. A
connection with a secure server ensures that all data is encrypted
before leaving your computer so nobody can eavesdrop on your credit
card number or other personal information.
This browser encryption technology is called SSL (secure sockets layer),
is in use worldwide and has proven to be extremely effective. It's
often said that online shopping with an SSL connection is just as safe
as giving a waiter your credit card in a restaurant. If you don't think
twice about doing that, or ordering products over the phone, you should
feel at ease about ordering online from a secure site. It's safe!
- Never buy from a spammer. People who abuse the Internet and annoy
millions of users by mass mailing their pitch should receive your
scorn, not your hard-earned cash. If they flout the rules of the
online world, they're most likely crooks in the physical world.
- Contact your local attorney general or other consumer fraud
authorities if any problems arise. Many consumer protection agencies
are becoming computer savvy, so don't hesitate to complain to them.
You can also find the Better Business Bureau online
. You can visit there to submit a complaint form
or check their online business reports database (for certain US
cities) to see if a company has any complaints on file.
WHERE TO FIND IT
Okay, you're sold on the concept of doing all your holiday shopping on
the Net. A few clicks, a bit of tappity tap, then you can sit back and
smirk at frustrated friends fighting the rush hour mall crowds. But
where do you find that special something for Aunt Belle? Here are some
good places to start your online shopping expedition:
- Buy It Online - Search their database to
find a site that sells the product you want. Especially good at
finding offbeat items such as handcrafts and specialty foods.
- The Internet Mall - The world's largest
shopping mall, with over 27,000 merchants and stores offering a
complete range of products and services to the consumer.
- Yahoo/Visa Shopping Guide - Links to
vendors in many different product categories, consumer tips and an
ATM locator.
- Compare.Net - A complete source for product
information. The CompareTool(tm) lets you store information, compare
models, and email your shopping list. If you're looking for holiday
gift ideas, you can find suggestions from their product database that
meet your budget.
- NetBuyer - Similar to Compare.Net, but
specializing in computers and accessories. Compiled by the people
who print the monthly Computer Shopper magazine, this is the best
place to go if you want to find a good deal on a specific computer
accessory such as memory, modems or motherboards. Sure beats leafing
through all 850 pages of Computer Shopper!
- Insight Direct - A popular mail order and
online discounter of computers, hardware and software. If you're
looking for one of those $1000 PC systems to put under the tree,
check here first.
A NOTE ABOUT TOURBUS PLUS
-------------------------
The first TOURBUS PLUS edition comes out this weekend! As Patrick
mentioned, we've sent out the two free issues of TOURBUS PLUS, and
we're now accepting subscriptions online at
We've had a very enthusiastic response so far, but some people report
having trouble accessing the secure order form. If you can't get
through, you can always use good old fashioned snail mail or fax.
- To order by MAIL: Send your check for $10 (US funds) and your
e-mail address to BOB RANKIN / PO BOX 39 / TILLSON NY 12486 / USA
You can also use a credit card when ordering by mail - see below.
- To order by FAX: Send credit card number, expiration date, your
name, billing address and e-mail address to 1-914-658-3351.
See you next time! --Bob
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