Online Shopper's Survival Guide

Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (1/07) These days you can stay at home and never venture out to a store again. You can buy insurance, pay your bills, order groceries, furnish your house, get your prescriptions filled and even buy your pet food, all from the comfort of your own chair. All you need is a computer and a modem. But how safe is shopping online? How do you find the items you need? What questions do you need answered before you buy from and unknown store? You can get the answers to all these questions simply by reading the "Online Shopper's Survival Guide." Originally conceived as a book to teach people how to sell on eBay, the focus changed when a seller told her what was really needed was a guide to teach people how to buy online. His reasoning was that there were plenty of sales sites, tens of thousands of them--what was needed was more customers for those sites. This book is the result of that conversation. Written for seasoned shoppers as well as the neophyte, there is sound advice to be found for everyone. Jacquelyn Lynn has the book set out in an orderly process; beginning with the ancestors of online stores, the brick and mortar shops we all grew up with. Part two takes us into the field, explaining the ins and outs of online auction sites with a few tips many people don't think of, such as poor spelling may be your best friend in an auction (Page 46). She also discusses the pros and cons of buying items such as tobacco, liquor and firearms online. A short section I found interesting and had never given any thought to before was buying from another country, which could entail a duty fee or customs tax. There is a large portion of the book devoted to online safety; how to keep your credit card information safe, how to protect yourself from scammers, tips to make sure a sale site is legitimate, and, if the worse should happen, how to deal with being defrauded. And finally, near the end of the book, a great listing of all the websites mentioned in the book, listed both alphabetically and then by category. I keep "Online Shopper's Survival Guide" next to my computer just to visit some of the sites listed. I thought I was a savvy shopper, but I learned many new things that I use everyday...especially the poor spelling tip, probably my favorite, since I bought three pairs of ladies jeans for $3.00 each.

It's amazing that the age of the Internet has ushered in such a wide array of shopping items - all available from a few clicks on the computer. "Online Shopper's Survival Guide" gives readers savvy advice on obtaining great deals on food, pet supplies, jewelry, medicines, cars, boats, travel accommodations, real estate, vacation rentals, and much more. Lynn even guides online shoppers to helpful sites for finding jobs, friends, and dates. If it's available online, this book shows you how to find it and get the best value. Also the co-author of Make Big Profits on Ebay: Start Your Own Million $ Business, Lynn is clearly an expert on online buying and selling, and eagerly shares her secrets for getting the most for your money when shopping the Internet. This book is a great source of information that you'll want to refer to over and over again. Leslie Halpern, author of Reel Romance: The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies and Dreams on Film: The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science.

I recently read the Online Shopper's Survival Guide (Entrepreneur Press, 2006) written by Jacquelyn Lynn and found some great ideas! Not only does Jackie tell readers how and where to look for the best bargains all over the world via the Internet, but she also gives them a heads up on consumer protection issues including frauds and scams. A couple of my favorite tips on how to save when shopping online are: - Have Your Entire Order Shipped Together: If you are ordering more than one item from the same web site, make sure that your order will be shipped together so that you are not charged for separate shipments. - You Don't Need Fries With That: Resist unnecessary upselling when you are making a purchase from a web site. Just like fast food restaurants who try to encourage customers to "value size" their meals, many online merchants will also try to sell you additional products or service agreements during the checkout process. If you ever shop online - whether its once in a while, seasonally, or frequently, this is a must-read!

The only thing Online Shopper's Survival Guide doesn't tell you is how to get the money to pay for your online purchases--that's something you have to figure out for yourself. But it does tell you everything else you need to know to find things online, get good deals, and avoid fraud. Experienced online shoppers may find some of the advice basic, but even they are likely to learn something that will save them far more than the price of the book. This is an easy, enjoyable read, and the book is well-organized. You can read it straight through or jump around to the topics that interest you. Lynn also maintains a blog with current advice on a variety of consumer issues and she uses that to update information in the book.