The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Shopping Book

	Introduction	1
	How to Use This Book	2
	Conventions Used in This Book	3
Part 1	How to Shop 'Til You Drop in Cyberspace	5
1	Getting Started on Your Online Shopping Expedition	7
	What You Should Know Before Buying	8
	How Buying Online Works	9
	Nirvana for Cheapskates: How to Get Free Samples Before You Buy	15
	Should You Research Online and Buy Offline?	17
2	Show Me the Money! Paying with Credit Cards and Electronic Wallets	19
	Playing Card Games: Paying with Your Credit Card Online	20
	Paying with Electronic Wallets	21
	Want to Be Alone? Privacy and Security Issues Online	23
3	So, Where Should I Shop Online?	27
	Everything Plus the Kitchen Sink: Browsing Through the "Metabuying" Sites	28
	Prosciutto, Futons, and Titanium Golf Clubs: Specialty-Buying Sites on the Internet	30
	Online Department Stores	31
	Online Malls: One-Stop Shopping Without the Mall rats	33
	Buying Through Online Services	34
Part 2	How to Be a Cybersavvy Shopper	37
4	How to Be a Cybersavvy Shopper	39
	Now You See It, Now You Don't: Beware of Hidden Costs When Shopping Online	40
	Many Happy Returns: Checking Out Return Policies and Warranties Before You Buy	45
	How to Know You're Buying Through a Secure Site	48
5	How to Check Out a Site and Products Before Buying	51
	How to Research the Shopping Site	52
	Checking Out a Site's Privacy Policy Before Buying	55
	How to Research What You Buy Online	56
6	Avoiding Online Scams and Con Artists	61
	How to Recognize Online Scams	62
	What to Do If You've Been Scammed	67
7	Shopping Robots, Agents, Search Tools, and Virtual Shopping Assistants	75
	What Are Shopping Search Tools?	76
	Meet George Jetson and His Maid Rosie: Getting ShopBots to Do Your Shopping	81
Part 3	In Search of Bargains Online	87
8	Have I Got a Deal for You!	89
	Sold to the Highest Bidder: Auctions and Swap Meets	89
	Buying Through Classified Advertising	93
	Savings in Numbers: Online Buyers' Clubs	94
	There's Savings in Numbers: Save Money at Bulk-Buying Sites	95
	Buying Through Usenet Newsgroups	96
9	Great Stuff Cheap! Coupons, Contests, and Free Stuff	101
	Yes, There Is a Free Lunch on the Internet	102
	A Free PC! Are You Serious? There Must Be Some Kind of Catch Here	102
	How to Get Free Internet Access	105
	Your Virtual Clipping Service: How to Get Free Coupons Online	107
	Get Paid to Surf the Web	110
	Play Games and Contests for Free, Have Fun, Win Prizes	112
10	Classified Information: Getting the Most Out of Classified Ads on the Internet	113
	Classifying Classified Sites: What Kinds of Sites Are Out There?	114
	Classified Intelligence: How to Shop at a Classified Site	116
	How to Pay for Your Classified Purchases	118
	How to Take Out a Classified Ad	120
11	Sold American! Buying Through Online Auctions	125
	Why You should Shop at an Auction	126
	So How Does an Online Auction Work?	126
	Various Kinds of Auction Sites	130
	How to Become a Cutthroat Cyberbargainer: Top Tips for Bidding at Auctions	131
	How to Pay at Auctions Without Getting Burned	133
	Become an Online Mogul: How to Make Money at Auctions	135
Part 4	How to Buy Anything in Cyberspace	141
12	Hot Wheels: How to Research and Buy New Cars Online	143
	Fast, Sleek, and Shiny: Using the Internet to Help Buy New Cars	144
	The Best New Car Sites in Cyberspace	154
13	Avoiding Clunkers and Lemons: Using the Internet to Help Buy a Used Car	159
	Getting the Best Deal on a Used Car	160
	There's Gold in Them Thar Wheels: Selling Your Used Car over the Internet	169
14	That's Entertainment: Buying Books, Tapes, Movies, and CDs	171
	As the Bookworm Turns: Finding and Buying Books on the Internet	171
	Best Book-Buying Sites in Cyberspace	175
	Play, Maestro! Buying CDs and Tapes Online	179
	Lights, Camera, Action: Buying Movies Online	186
15	Mall Fever: Department Stores, Malls, Closeouts, and Bargain Hunting	189
	I'll Skip the Food Court: Shopping at Online Malls	190
	Visiting Department Stores Online	194
	I Can Get It for You Wholesale: Closeouts and Bargain Hunting Online	196
16	Drive a Hard Bargain on Hardware: Getting the Best Deal on Buying a Computer	201
	How to Get the Best Deals on Computers and Hardware	202
	Oldies but Goodies: Buying Refurbished Hardware from the Manufacturer on the Internet	212
17	Don't Be a Softie: Getting the Best Deal on Buying Software	215
	How Do I Buy Software Online?	216
	The Lowdown on Downloading	217
	How to Get the Best Deals on Buying Software Online	218
18	How to Buy Consumer Electronics	229
	Great Guides to Gear, Gadgets, Gizmos, TVs, and More	229
	Where Can I Buy Consumer Electronics Online?	231
	Consumer Advice for Gearheads	233
	Best Sites for Researching and Buying Consumer Electronics	235
19	Come Fly with Me: How to Get the Best Travel Deals	239
	Getting the Best Deals on Airplane Tickets	240
	The Frugal Flyer: How to Get Rock-Bottom Airfare Prices	244
	Fly and Fly Again: Using the Web to Get More Out of Frequent-Flier Plans	247
	Best Sites for Frequent Fliers	247
	Book It! How to Get Hotel and Car Reservations Online	248
	How to Get Special Deals and Rock-Bottom Prices on Hotel Rooms	249
20	Food, Glorious Food: Groceries, Wine, and Gourment Foods	253
	Please, Sir, May I Have More? Ordering Groceries and Food Online	254
	Your Weekly Shopping List: Ordering Groceries Online	254
	The Surfing Gourmet: Buying Specialty Foods and Wines on the Internet	259
21	It's the Money, Honey: Shopping for Financial Services Online	265
	Taking Stock of Your Finances: How to Research and Trade Stocks, Mutual Funds, and Bonds	265
	Using the Internet to Help Find Loans and Mortgages	274
	Like Money in the Bank: What You Need to Know About Internet Banking	277
	Better Safe Than Sorry: Using the Internet for Insurance Information	280
22	Shelter from the Storm: Finding Houses and Apartments Online	283
	Dear Landlord: How to Use the Internet to Find an Apartment to Rent	284
	Give In to Your Nesting Instinct: Using the Internet to Help Buy a Home	289
23	Pump It Up: Sports, Recreation, Leisure, Health, and Fitness	297
	Where to Buy Sports, Health, Recreation, and Fitness Goods	298
	What You Should Know Before Buying Sports, Health, Recreation, and Fitness Goods	300
	Pharmacies and Vitamins Online	305
24	Home Sweet Home: Home, Garden, Flowers, and Gifts	307
	Home Is Where the Shopping Cart Is: Buying Home Products Online	308
	It's Easy Being Green: Buying at Garden Sites	313
	Everything's Coming Up Roses: Buying Flowers Online	315
	It's a Gift to Be Simple: Buying Gifts Online	318
25	Where to Buy Clothing, Grooming, Beauty, and Jewelry Products	321
	What Kinds of Sites Sell Clothing, Grooming, Beauty, and Jewelry Products?	321
	What You Should Know Before Buying Clothing, Grooming, Beauty, and Jewelry Products	324
26	More Than Child's Play: Buying Games and Toys	331
	What Kinds of Toy- and Game-Buying Sites Are There?	332
	Don't Play Games with Your Money: What to Know Before Buying at Toy and Game Sites	334
	Where to Get Consumer Advice Online for Buying Toys and Games	337
	Best Sites on the Internet for Buying Games and Toys	338
27	How to Help Your Kids and Teens Buy Online	343
	How you Can Let Your Kids Shop Online Without Breaking the Bank	344
	So Why Bother? What's the Big Deal About These Sites?	345
	What to Ask Before Registering at Kids' Buying Sites	345
	The Best Kids' Buying Sites Online	346
	Glossary: Speak Like a Geek: The Complete Archive	349
	Index	355