First, advanced phone systems that allowed consumers to check retailer prices and inventory with a short call connected to a specific department. This often saved comparison trips but still could take some time a leave a lot of room for human error. Also, this limited your search so you could still only compare local retailers. Over the last 10 to 15 years we have seen a major leap in the evolution of commerce. The market place brought directly to your home, always available and with more products than you could ever imagine right on your computer through the internet. Forget shopping around; many search engines will directly compare prices on products and services for you. A few clicks and you are paying near wholesale cost for any given item. Products and services shipped directly to your door from all over the world, both tracked and insured.



Companies based online are also able to offer better prices because of low overhead costs. Websites themselves have a fraction of the over head costs of traditional brick and mortar retailers. Most internet based companies have no store front, far less employees, less item returns, and are always open for those late night shoppers. The internet has become the key to making sure you get the most out of your hard earned money.

Now that you know how to shop, the next question is where? The internet is obviously much larger than your town or city. There are millions and millions of retailers across the web.

Here are some tips to ensure you're getting the best experience:

1. Always check popular auction websites for price comparisons.

2. For popular items, check common spelling mistakes. Example: Instead of diamond, try searching dimond. You may hit the jackpot on a great deal that no one else can see! This is very effective on auction websites.

3. Try to shop from reputable websites and sellers to prevent the possibility of purchasing a fraudulent item and ensure customer satisfaction.

4. Make no exceptions on your payment being 100% insured as a buyer. Never send cash, check, money order, or cashiers check for any reason. Credit card transactions are normally insured between merchant and credit card provider presuming the item is shipped and tracked to the credit cards billing address, leaving the buyer without any transaction risk.

Good luck shopping!