Introduction: How to Shop Online Without Getting Scammed

* Shopping online is wonderful: you have an almost unlimited supply of sellers, and you can find even the most obscure item for sale. Unfortunately, online shopping also has its drawbacks: you can’t see the product in person, and sometimes it’s hard to tell if you’re getting the best price and if you can trust the seller. This page will offer tips on finding what you want online, and make sure you’re happy with your online shopping experience!

Step 1: Find Reliable Product Reviews and Information
Do some research before you buy! (Photo by Steve Woods)
Do some research before you buy! (Photo by Steve Woods)

* No matter what you want to buy, be it a blender or a computer, it’s always a good idea to research it first. How else will you find out if the latest Banana Jr. computer has been recalled three times, or the BlendAll blender doesn’t actually blend much of anything? The steps below will tell you how to find the best resources on the Web to research what you’re planning to buy.
o If you already know what you want to buy, check Step 2 for advice on how to find the best price and Step 3 to learn which online retailers you can trust.

Product Buying Guides

* If you’re trying to get more information on a general product category, buying guides can be very helpful.

1. To find buying guides on a wide number of items, go to ShopWiki.
* Choose the category your product falls into. On the category page, select your product and you will be directed to the appropriate buying guide.
2. For technology items, go to CNET Reviews.
* Find the category you’re interested in by scrolling down the page and clicking on it.
* In the column labeled “Buying Advice” (on the left-hand side of the page), click on the buying guide for that category.

Product Reviews

* With the Web, you can find reviews on almost any product.

1. Go to ConsumerSearch. This site compiles and cross-references reviews from many sources.
2. In the box in the upper right-hand corner, type in the name of the item you’re researching.
3. Scroll past the four “Ads by Google” at the top of your search results, to the section just below the word “Web”.
4. Read the item headings and click on the appropriate link for what you want to buy.
5. Scan over the information presented to get a quick idea of what the best-reviewed product is.
6. Click on “Full Story” to get a thorough, detailed overview of all products.

Research a Specific Product

* Now that you know specific makes and models you might like to buy, it’s good to get feedback on what other consumers thought when they purchased the product!

1. Return to to ShopWiki.
2. Type the name of the specific make and model of product you’d like to research into the Search field.
3. Click Search.
4. Click on the specific item you’d like to read up on.
5. Click on the “Product Reviews” tab to read reviews from Amazon.com, Target, Epinions.com, and other resources, all compiled into one page.

* Other great sources for product reviews are:
o Product reviews for all topics: Consumer Reports – please note that Consumer Reports is a subscription service, so full product reviews may not be available.
o Technology reviews: CNET, PC World, PC Magazine