Our online shopping blog at shopsafe.co.uk

Mothers Day this Weekend

2010-03-08T13:36:00.000Z

Don't forget that it's Mother's Day this weekend. Our Mother's Day newsletter had some good gift ideas, you can see it here if you missed it.

And of course, don't miss the list of Mothers Day Voucher Codes and Mothers Day Gift Ideas.

Happy Shopping!

Sunday Delivery for Mother's Day Flowers

2010-03-02T09:05:00.002Z

There was a time when you couldn't get your mum her flowers on Mothering Sunday if you had them delivered by an online company.

How far we have come!

Clare Florist are one of those florists that now can deliver on a Sunday. Perfect flowers and excellent customer service. Of course now all you have to do is make sure that your mother is at home to receive them.

So my best advice is: If you must get them delivered on a Sunday do it that way.

But for a stress free Sunday get them delivered to your home or office on the Friday before and deliver them personally on Sunday.

You get the convenience, quality and price from the web - and you deliver that special thought yourself.

Happy Mothers Day!

Shopping in the Long Tail

2010-03-01T09:36:00.000Z

Anyone who has ever wasted hours trawling through a book shop only to eventually be told 'we don't actually stock that title' will agree that despite what they may claim, the choice of stock offered by most shops is actually very limited. Of course shops that stock a wide variety of different things (such as supermarkets) will only be able to offer a small selection of each product. You are, for example, not likely to find a comprehensive selection of the thousands of different species of edible mushrooms in the 'fresh fruit and veg' section of your local supermarket. Yet as the above example of familiar book shop frustrations demonstrates, we often find that even shops specialising in one particular product frequently fail to stock the specific item that we are looking for. How many of us have walked out of shoe shops without a new pair of shoes in our hand? That will be everyone then.

As inconvenient as this limited choice can be, however, the reason behind it is both practical and understandable. Real 'bricks and mortar' shops - even those that specialise in a particular product - can only offer their customers a small selection of products because they can only hold a finite number of stock. When you then think of the number of books in the world compared to the size of your average book shop, it really is no wonder that you often will not be able to find the title you are looking for! As a result of this inability to stock a large variety of products, it is of course in every shop's financial interests to primarily stock items that are known,or can reasonably be predicted to sell well. If using a bookshop again as an example, it is then for this reason that you will generally only find each author's most famous and/or most recent titles stocked and why you will always be able to buy a copy of Harry Potter!

However, this principle of stocking only 'best selling' items simply does not apply to online stores and it is here that Chris Anderson's 'long tail' theory comes into play. Unlike regular shops, online shops are not limited in the amount of stock they can list as being for sale, which means as well as offering their customers generically popular items such as recently released Hollywood blockbusters and best selling novels, they can also offer obscure old black and white films and unheard of books by little known authors. They will obviously not sell as many of these niche products as they will 'best selling' ones, but if you stock a vast variety of niche products and only sell a few of each of them, you will end up making a rather tidy profit (just look at Amazon!).

Chris Anderson's so-called 'long tail' then refers to a graph that any online store might produce of all of its available products, starting with the best selling items on the left and moving over to the lowest sellers on the right. On such a graph you would see that a small number of the products on the left sell extremely well, but as you progress to the right the line gradually drops, levelling out at items that sell in low numbers. This kind of graph is therefore referred to as a 'long tail' graph, as the number of high-selling products is very short, whereas the number of products selling in smaller numbers is extremely long, yet increasingly more profitable.

Does the British winter make you want to book your summer holiday?

2010-02-17T11:17:00.000Z

Every year, as December approaches and the yuletide joie de vivre takes hold, we find ourselves yearning for a traditional white Christmas. Three weeks and thirty inches of snow later, we're invariably reduced to the end of our tether. If the winter of 2009 / 2010 was anything to go by, we no longer seem able to cope with those sub-zero temperatures, icy roads and flurries of snow. As we sit huddled around our fireplaces, the national grid stretched to the hilt, we might well wonder whether the old Dunkirk spirit also got buried in the snow.

Soon enough, barely have the Christmas bells stopped ringing and the holiday ads are all over the TV, promising us a cheap escape to paradise by the summer if we book early. How we fall for those tried and tested marketing ploys. Fair enough, if they get us to where we want to be, it is a win-win situation. In any case, the idea of a summer holiday gives the family something to talk about to get them through the post-Christmas boredom and the breadwinner is always more easily persuaded while under the influence of sherry and mince pies.

We all hate the cold, the driving rain, the wind, the fog and the snow and ice, not to mention those dreary January mornings when all we want to do is hibernate until Spring. So does the British winter make us want to book our summer holiday? The travel industry would answer a resounding yes, with package holiday sales reaching their peak in the post-Christmas period year upon year.

On the other hand if you are going to wait until summer to take your holiday, you might just miss out on the very best time to visit some of the world's most exotic locations. Visit Thailand in September for example and you are likely to make more use of your umbrella than your swimsuit. The same goes for India in July and Kenya in May. Head to the Caribbean in August and you may just be blown away, not by the stunning palm-fringed beaches but by the latest hurricane. Also if you hate what humidity does to your hair, avoid Costa Rica in May. Generally speaking, Europe and the Mediterranean are a safe bet in the summer months, leaving many exotic locations at their best at times such as February or November, which can be a disadvantage when we want to space out our precious work-breaks as evenly as possible.

The moral of the story? When the sun-drenched ads beckon, do not book hastily, under the influence of that winter-propelled desperation. Choose your destination with thought, which means researching exactly when the climate will be right for you, whether that be the lowest level of rainfall, the most comfortable temperatures, the lowest humidity or a combination of everything. Your annual holiday is probably the biggest investment you make each year and nobody wants to be in the wrong place at the right time, or worse still, the right place at the wrong time.

"Goods I Bought Online were Confiscated by the Police!"

2010-02-04T12:50:00.000Z

Online shopping has grown in popularity over recent years, as consumers have become familiar and in many respects dependent on the convenience and simplicity of buying goods over the internet. At Christmas, the urge to buy gifts online is encouraged by discount prices and fast delivery options, whilst the current winter cold snap has also driven many people away from the high street to the relative warmth and comfort of their computers. However, shopping online continues to pose a significant risk to consumers in a number of ways. Credit card theft and rogue traders are among the most pressing concerns, which is why some consumers have failed to take to internet shopping as many others have done so. The decision of these apparent Luddites is occasionally vindicated when major online retailers are compromised by hackers, but by far the most worrying aspect of shopping online is whether the retailers themselves can be trusted.

A friend of mine bought his wife some Ugg boots before Christmas. They were her main present, so he was extremely disappointed when they didn't arrive in time for Christmas. He couldn't get in touch with the retailer at all, and was starting to get worried when a letter form the police arrived. It told him that the goods he had bought were couterfeit, and they had been destroyed. And there was no chance of a refund.

As we now inow, police in the UK carried out the biggest operation of its kind in order to crack down on rogue online traders. In total, the Metropolitan Police shut down 1,219 websites that were either fake, fraudulent or dealt with counterfeit goods. In many cases, customers who had purchased products from the rogue websites either received nothing at all or had their credit card details stolen, whilst the more unfortunate consumers experienced both. The Metropolitan Police decided to close down the sites at the start of what is traditionally seen as the busiest shopping period of the year, just a few weeks ahead of Christmas.

Working with Nominet, which is the organisation responsible for issuing and managing domain names in the UK, many illegal websites were closed down that were actually based in foreign territories. In particular, networks of criminal gangs in Asia and Russia, who are estimated to generate millions of pounds from fraudulent websites in the run-up to Christmas, were thought to be behind many of the websites closed down by police. As such, tracing and apprehending those in control of such websites is anything but straightforward, so consumers who have lost out to them must rely on their credit card providers for refunds; although, as most victims of credit card fraud and rogue online trading will testify, the route to redress is far from uncomplicated.

The Metropolitan Police's e-crime unit shut down domains such as Australiaugg4shop.co.uk, hotlinksshop.co.uk and etiffany-shop.co.uk, which hardly have the appearance of respectable traders but were evidently convincing enough to fool many shoppers. It is always important to note that, before buying from a website, its security and authenticity ought to be clearly demonstrated. In this respect, only those sites that offer secure transactions (SSL), clear returns policies and customer contact details should be used..

Among the 1,219 fraudulent websites closed down by the Metropolitan Police, more than 400 advertised the popular and fashionable Ugg boots. However, in many cases the boots on offer were counterfeit items, whilst other sites simply lured customers in with too-good-to-be-true discounts without ever supplying the boots (genuine or otherwise). In fact, during the past 12 months, customs officers have seized around 20,000 pairs of counterfeit Ugg boots and, with the January sales approaching, this figure is expected to rise substantially.

I asked my friend if he'd found the site on Shopsafe. Of course, I already knew the answer, so when he said he hadn't, I reminded him to make Shopsafe.co.uk his starting point for online shopping.

Valentines Day Newsletter

2010-02-02T09:12:00.000Z

We sent out our Valentines Day newsletter this morning, with gift ideas, offers and voucher codes. If you're not receiving it, make sure you register, and you won't miss out.

Which Online Shops Have Benefited From The Cold Weather?

2010-01-29T11:32:00.002Z

High street retailers and supermarkets have been hard hit by the recent cold weather with fewer people venturing into town centres and retail parks, preferring instead to pop out to the local corner shop for essentials. Some smaller high street retailers have even had to close for short periods, partly because of customers staying at home and partly because of branches having to close due to staff absences. John Lewis reported a drop in high street sales of 30% during the week ending 9th January this year. In the same week their online sales increased 56%! Tesco Direct reported a 50% increase in the six week period to 9th January with online sales growth of almost 20%.

Some online shops, or etailers, have admitted that in spite of overall record sales in recent weeks they did experience a drop in sales during the worst of the weather. Tesco.com reported a drop of 0.5% over a six week period and Ocado experienced a 5% dip in sales during the worst week. These online grocers will nevertheless have impressed many new customers forced by the weather to shop online instead of doing a supermarket run.

In the early days, consumers' experience of online shopping was disappointing with complaints of poor delivery and returns policies. Since then, etailers have taken up the challenge and made huge improvements in these areas, such that consumers are now rating the online shopping experience more highly than department stores and supermarkets. Many consumers forced by the exceptional weather to sample etailing for the first time, will have had their low expectations met and exceeded by the online shops' ability to get their deliveries through. There are reports of some Tesco.com staff using their own 4x4 vehicles for deliveries in Glasgow, whilst staff in Hereford actually walked through the snow to get to disabled customers! Ocado Chief Executive Officer Tim Steiner said: "Whilst we did cancel a small number of deliveries due to snow in the lead-up to Christmas, our staff worked tirelessly to contact customers and we were able to offer all of them a re-delivery before Christmas Day."

Many online stores took advantage of their exemption from the legal ban on opening on 25th December and launched their sales on Christmas Day, or even Christmas Eve, instead of the more traditional Boxing Day. IMRG, the industry body for global etailing, reported that shoppers spent £102 million on Christmas Day last year and the total is expected to be even higher this year.

Resistance to e-commerce has been highest amongst older consumers who tend to have a natural suspicion of cyberspace, in some cases with good reason; high profile scams in the guise of "Web loyalty" programmes perpetrated by marketing companies were the subject of a Senate hearing only last November. "Safe-shopping" has become a priority for the big name sites, however and coupled with antivirus software and greater consumer awareness of the dangers and how to avoid them, this means that cybercrime is much less of a worry than in the past.

First-timers to online shopping will have found directory-type, market place and price comparison sites making it easy to pull together details of etailers. In some cases these sites offer money-saving voucher codes for the produce and services offered. Once the weather improves, many of these new customers will remain.

Get Your Valentines Day Flowers Delivered on the Sunday

2010-01-28T11:30:00.002Z

This year Valentines Day falls on a Sunday and getting flowers delivered on a Sunday can be a tricky service to find.

Clare Florist have told us that this year they will be using a specialist courier delivery company and can now guarantee a Sunday delivery for your flowers.

So whether you're sending a beautiful bouquet or some classic red roses, use Clare Florist and have a happy Valentines Day.

Prezzybox.com - winner of the Shopsafe Customer Service Award

2010-01-27T11:34:00.004Z

It gives me great pleasure to say that we've awarded Prezzybox.com the Shopsafe Customer Service 2010 award.

This award recognises the superb levels of customer service given to Shopsafe customers over the last 12 months. In particular, the levels of service given to customers over the busy Christmas period were second to none.

We've never given this award before, but felt the high standards set by Prezzybox deserved some recognition.

If you've not visited the site before, Prezzybox.com has a terrific range of gifts, it's ideal if you're stuck for gift ideas.

The site is simple to use, and packed full of things you'll be dying to get your hands on yourself.

Congratulations to Prezzybox from everyone at Shopsafe.

Who Was St Valentine And Why Have A Valentine's Day?

2010-01-25T16:55:00.001Z

Occurring annually on the 14th of February, Valentine's Day has become an important date on the calendar for many people who are involved - or wish to be - in a romance of some description or another. On Valentine's Day, it is customary for lovers to exchange cards that express their feelings and presents such as flowers, chocolates, alcohol, jewellery, perfume and soft toys. Although many people consider Valentine's Day to be just another commercial exploitation of consumers, the majority of couples take the day seriously. So, who exactly was Saint Valentine - the man whose name is honoured on the occasion - and why do people celebrate the 14th February each year?

The identity of Saint Valentine is, unfortunately, not very well known. Although most people have heard of the man through his association with Valentine's Day, there are few specific details that describe his existence. Broadly speaking, Saint Valentine is thought to have been a Roman priest, bishop or martyr, whose actions resulted in his association with love and the 14th of February. One of the first accounts of Saint Valentine, however, does not appear in Roman text; indeed, the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493 remains the first written account of Saint Valentine's life. Understandably, this has lead to doubts about the authenticity of the report itself and whether its facts can be relied upon. Nevertheless, the Nuremberg Chronicle is thought to be accurate by many scholars and analysts.

In the Nuremberg Chronicle, Saint Valentine was depicted alongside a description of a priest who was martyred under the rule of Claudius II. Having encouraged and assisted Christian couples to marry, which was outlawed at the time, Saint Valentine was allegedly arrested and imprisoned; however, it was apparently only after Saint Valentine had attempted to convert Claudius II that he was sentenced to death. According to popular opinion, Saint Valentine was clubbed and stoned before he was beheaded on the 14th February, around the year 270 AD. Some 226 years later, Pope Gelasius marked the 14th of February as Saint Valentine's official day of celebration. Over time, this day of celebration became more heavily connected to love and romance generally; in fact, it was a commonly held belief in England and France during the Middle Ages that birds paired up on this day, which prompted Chaucer to write: "For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day, Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate".

Why people continue to celebrate Saint Valentine on the 14th of February is easy to understand. According to the popular adage, love makes the world go round; as such, celebrating the day on which a man who reportedly helped persecuted couples get married was executed seems a fitting tribute to love in a broad sense. Love endures much pain and sacrifice in order to survive, so a man's ultimate gift to those who wanted to unite together in holy matrimony ought to be celebrated forever. Valentine's Day is, therefore, an important reminder that love is a great reward for those who struggle through adversity together. Valentine's Day is also an ideal time in which to remind others that they are very much loved - in modern times this is usually accentuated through the exchanging of various gifts, as mentioned above. The 14th of February is also ideal for kindling new romance.

Shopping heroes of 2009

2010-01-21T14:18:00.002Z

With 2010 is in full swing, we thought it would be interesting to look back at 2009. Every year sees its fair share of winners and losers in all spheres of life, the shopping arena being no exception. Sadly, due to the economic downturn, 2009 was very much the year of the losers, when a number of well known high street stores bit the dust one by one, including well-loved famous names such as Woolworths, MFI and Principles.

But flip the coin and we find a more optimistic side to shopping in 2009. For a number of years now, retailing has been less about sales and profits and more about what can be done to help the community and how that can raise the profile of responsible companies. So just who were the benefactors of 2009 and what were the good causes they bought into?

Medical heroes

Britain's biggest retailer Tesco has been synonymous with the fight against cancer since 2002 as National Sponsor of the ladies-only Race for Life event, held at around 230 venues across the country. The retail giant is proud to have helped raise an overwhelming £135 million since the annual 5km running event began in 2002 to further the pioneering work of Cancer Research UK. The number of ladies signing up is increasing year upon year and saw close to a million entrants in 2009, many of them having surviving cancer themselves. They say charity begins at home and with the big C now affecting one in three of us, it seems an ever more appropriate fundraising event for a retailer that contributes so closely to our daily lives.

Environmental heroes

2009 will be remembered for the war against plastic carrier bags, when shoppers across the country were urged to reduce their harmful effects on the environment by adopting eco-friendly alternatives. High street giants Asda, Boots and John Lewis all bought into the appeal and pledged their ongoing support by committing to some ambitious targets, including cutting their carbon emissions and waste by over 25% over a period of 4 years. All three companies are attempting to reduce water use, improve recycling information and cut down on the use of packaging on their own-brand products, as well as encouraging customers to adopt more environmentally friendly behaviours.

Ethical heroes

Anita Roddick was ahead of her time when she pioneered the concept of ethical business, launching the Body Shop way back in the 1970s. These days ethical trading is a hot topic in retailing, with an ever increasing focus on the sale of fairtrade products and initiatives that benefit workers in third-world countries. The Co-operative for one, brands itself as one of the leaders in fairtrade. As one of the founder members of the ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) Monsoon Accessorize is committed to valuing every person that contributes to delivering its range of accessories to our high street from many remote corners of the world. In 2009 further ETI members Marks and Spencer, Next, New Look and George at Asda have also worked tirelessly with overseas suppliers to improve their processes, communications and forecasting abilities and as a result have made a real difference to working conditions and pay in Third World countries.

Giving a Gift Experience?

2010-01-15T10:34:00.001Z

May will agree that the best gift you can give is the gift of experience. Whether it be a holiday, an exhilarating adventure or a special day, an experience creates a lasting memory, offers a chance to grow and learn and makes us feel fantastic. Thanks to our growing desire to seize the day, buying gift experiences for our friends and loved ones is growing ever more popular

If you're buying a gift experience visit Give a Gift Experience where you can compare prices of all kinds of gift experiences and use voucher codes to make sure you get the best price.

Tips for January Sales Shopping Online

2010-01-14T16:29:00.001Z

One of the great things about online shopping is the ability to hit the January sales from the comfort of your own home. Rather than face the heaving high street, long queues at the tills, a lack of car parking spaces and piles of scattered goods in the shops, you can shop at leisure, at a time that suits you and seek out the absolute best of the bargains.

Online January sales shopping does require a little planning and discipline however - it can be as hit and miss as the frenzy of high street shopping if you don't approach it with a broad plan in mind.

Firstly, think about what sort of things you are looking for and pull a list together of the stores and online sites you'd like to look at. Secondly, have a budget in mind - it is very easy to build up a large online shopping basket and suddenly realise you have spent more than you wished to. Use the basket to keep a rolling tally - and if you are debating whether or not to purchase something, then add it to your online cart - this will save it being ordered by someone else and you can always remove it later. Be warned however, some shopping baskets will automatically empty after a certain period of time if they aren't taken through the checkout process - this is to keep as much stock available for customers as possible and to minimise online 'reservation' of items.

Use our price comparison service to hunt down the cheapest branded items and use voucher codes to save even more money on your purchases, where available. For items on the high street such as clothes and boots, make a note as to when your favourite store's sale begins - this information is usually found online over the holiday period, or in the newspapers. You may be able to start shopping for your most-wanted items at an earlier time than that at which the high street sales actually start.

If you are shopping for clothes, look for designer items that you might not usually be able to afford. You should look for classic pieces that will last season after season. Department stores are also ideal for designer bargains and you will find that many Christmas gifts are reduced to half price in the January sales.

When you have bought your online purchases be sure to keep the e-receipt safe and check returns details carefully. Many sale purchases have to be returned within seven days rather than the standard 14-28 days. You may also find there are specific provisions around the return of online purchases - check the small print before you buy if this is likely to be a problem.

With these basic tips in mind you should find that you have a great online shopping experience and get all the bargains you could ever have wished for in the January sales.

Save money on Valentine's Gifts

2010-01-11T17:21:00.003Z

If you're looking to save money on your Valentines Day presents make sure you visit Valentines Day Voucher Codes, all the voucher codes listed are valid to use today, and more will be added in the run up to Valentines Day.

New Year resolutions to save money in 2010

2010-01-08T14:14:00.000Z

One thing that we may all have learnt during the past year is that it can be a very good idea to have a financial nest egg to fall back on in hard times. So why not start 2010 by setting yourself a New Years resolution to start saving to ensure that you are always prepared for the next minor, or major, cash crisis.

There are still a number of attractive ways to save whilst still having access to your money should the need arise. Perhaps the best known is by regular savings into an Individual Savings Account (or ISA). Since October, anyone over 50 can save up to £5,100 in cash and £5,100 in funds, stocks or shares or the whole amount into stocks or shares or funds. Lower limits apply for those below 50. From April 5th 2010 everyone will have these limits to save tax free. There are a number of regular saver ISA's with attractive rates and should you decide to invest in stocks and shares then any dividend or capital gain is free from tax.

But you don't have to invest in an ISA to enjoy good rates of interest. Many banks and building societies offer regular savings accounts where any amount up to around £300 per month can be invested to enjoy attractive rates of interest. Some may limit the ability to withdraw cash until the end of the year but they can be an attractive way to stash cash that you may not need for up to a year.

Of course there are many other ways to save. Putting odd change into a piggy bank can soon add up to a few pounds but why not add to your New Years resolutions by giving up a vice and saving the cash that you would have spent instead! Still a smoker? Well, at £5 per pack and 20 a day will net you £35 per week or almost £150 per month. With that, you can overpay your mortgage to reduce interest charges of clear off an expensive credit card balance.

If the cost of Christmas got a little too much then start saving for next year by putting some money away into an account that you cannot access until needed. Some supermarkets offer a pre-pay type facility where you can budget for a large food and drink spend at Christmas. There are still schemes where you can join a Christmas Savings Club to help budget for next year more easily.

If you want to help your children or grandchildren or relatives children be financially independent in the future then why not contribute to their Child Trust Fund account. Every child born since September 2002 has a government sponsored tax free savings account that family and friends can contribute to for the benefit of the child. Any money invested cannot be accessed until they are 18 and there is a limit of £1,200 per year that can be invested but it could be a welcome nest egg for any young adult when they reach 18.

With the general cost of living and taxes set to increase in 2010, there can never be a better time to make a resolution that will save you cash and where you can see the rewards for your effort grow.

Internet shopping 1999 to 2009

2010-01-08T14:09:00.002Z

Shopsafe.co.uk has been around since 1999, so we thought we should take a look back at online shopping through the noughties.

When rumours of the dawn of the 'Information Superhighway' began in the early 1990s, there were those who took notice and then the sceptics who claimed it was just another flash in the pan. But since the millennium in particular, nobody can dispute that the internet has become the major global phenomenon of our time, something we now rely on for everything from renewing our car tax to finding romance.

When the first retail websites arrived, advertising static images of their products, it was difficult to envisage one day being able to order and pay for them with the click of a mouse and have them delivered gift-wrapped. For one thing, our snail-paced dial-up connections saw to it that we'd only be able to view a few products before the screen froze up. Cue the arrival of Amazon, who by the turn of the century was already the world's biggest online retailer and quickly expanded its product base from just books to videos, music and electronic gadgets. Ebay wasn't far behind, taking the idea of the jumble sale and turning it into a worldwide shopping obsession. Needless to say, it didn't take long for other retailers to jump on the bandwagon.

Online shopping has changed beyond recognition since its infancy, but the journey has been far from smooth. After an initial surge in sales as a curious population began to dabble, a lack of online security and a growing sense of mistrust held many people back from committing to those purchases. But as consumer concerns were raised and issues of online consumer protection were addressed more and more closely, so our attitudes relaxed. New technologies saw the introduction of secure online payment methods and reliable online credit card processing. In parallel the population became more computer literate, along with our ability to search more efficiently and consequently our willingness to shop at more sites. Not surprisingly this has led to something of a rebirth in online shopping in more recent years.

So what exactly is it that we've been buying? Whereas our initial purchases back in the early years were limited to CDs and DVDs, computer software and electronic equipment, we're now becoming increasingly adventurous, shopping online for all manner of household items and clothing. While men are still more likely to shop online than women, particularly for electronic equipment, women have been the driving force behind the growth in popularity of food and grocery shopping. By 2005 around 40% of the population had bought goods online, rising to 53% in 2007. This percentage is now accelerating faster than ever before, fuelled by cheaper and faster broadband and a range of more innovative sites.

With the huge recent increase in the number of online retailers it's become simple to compare dozens of items online in a fraction of the time than it would take on the high street and savvy shoppers can pinpoint exactly where to source the best bargains. When we consider that limited time is having more and more of an influence on where we buy our goods, it's easy to see why the internet has been a godsend for the cash-rich, time-poor. As the online shopping figures continue to accelerate at an unprecedented pace and as we begin to order our weekly groceries straight from our mobile phones, the question on everybody's lips is exactly where the internet shopping revolution will take us in fifty years time.

January sales shopping - a cure for the Christmas hangover?

2010-01-02T21:08:00.001Z

Why is it that the best opportunities in life always come round at the wrong time? Certainly when it comes to shopping, spotting that must-have item is sure to coincide with having to pay a huge household bill. On the other hand, the time when we do have money to burn is the time we can never find what we're looking for.

With the onset of the winter sales, the post-Christmas period is one time that has become synonymous with shopping. In fact it is hard to believe there is anything else going on at all, judging by the ads on TV and the chaos on the high street. But why do we do it when, let's face it, there are so many reasons why we should not? Talk about bad timing, it is just typical that the stores do everything they can to tempt us in for a spending frenzy at the one time of year when we've just completely spent up.

Barely has the turkey carcass been discarded, than we suddenly seem to find we need things to relaunch our lives as the new year dawns. Not only do we turn to gym equipment to shed those Christmas pounds, but new TVs, music systems, dishwashers, washing machines, you name it. There is nothing like a fresh start and unlike at the end of December, in January we're suddenly deluded into thinking we have the whole year to pay for these things.

Do we really need more clutter in our lives when surely, Christmas brings with it a whole pile of gifts? Well, judging by the speed with which we flock to post them all on internet auction sites on Christmas day, you'd be forgiven for thinking that in general, we don't really like what we're given. Perhaps unwrapping all those useless gifts simply leaves us with a sense of disappointment and yearning that has to be cured and we find that getting out there and grabbing what we really want is the only way to fill the gap. Then of course there is the issue of boredom. There is only so long we can stay cooped up in our living-rooms with our in-laws watching chick-flicks. There comes a moment when we simply have to abandon ship and head to the shops for stress relief.

But far from it being conducive with the seasonal spirit to put a dampener on one of its greatest pleasures, the virtues of the January sales do have to be extolled. After all this is the time of the winter blues and every woman knows the dark days that lead up to Spring will always generate a need for new handbags, DVDs, books, make-up and whatever else is out there to lighten the spirit. Savvy shoppers also know that it is the best time to buy Christmas presents and cards for the following year, as well as hugely discounted sparkly dresses for next years Christmas party.

As long as you keep your head on the straight and narrow, there is no doubt the January sales can prove to be an exciting time. However, whether or not you have recovered from the Christmas hangover, the fact that shopaholism is now officially recognised as a real addiction is a sobering thought. Maybe we should turn our attention to the time-honoured tradition of new years resolutions and give up shopping for the year. Or, if those shop windows are just too tempting, you might want to leave it till Lent...

January Sales Voucher Codes

2009-12-29T11:38:00.003Z

On top of grabbing a bargain in the sales, you can still use voucher codes to make even more savings! Visit January Sales Voucher Codes to see the voucher codes you can use in the January Sales.

Your rights when buying sale items online

2009-12-29T11:32:00.001Z

Online shopping has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years as retailers have got their act together and more and more consumers have switched to this medium as a way of acquiring goods. Legislation is sometimes slow to keep up with technology changes so there can be some grey areas regarding shopper's rights when buying online.

Most disputes arise as a result of unfair charges, quality issues or the cost of returning items that do not fit or are not what they seemed when received. The good news is that three major pieces of consumer and contract law apply to any internet purchase, whether new or second hand or a sale item. These are The Sale of Goods Act 1979, Distance Selling Regulations 2000 and the E-Commerce regulations which date from 2002.

The Sale of Goods Act covers any item bought on the internet, high street shop or mail order and requires the seller to comply with a number of contractual terms. The key ones are that the goods must be 'fit for purpose', are 'as described' and that they are 'of satisfactory quality'. If you believe that the item you have bought does not comply with any of these three major categories then you can claim a repair, a replacement or possibly a refund.

Since 1979, additional provisions have been introduced to 'beef up' consumer rights under the Sale of Good Act but the core provisions remain as described.

Some retailers may try to side step their responsibility by buck passing to the manufacturer. The law, however, is quite clear that it is the seller of the item who remains responsible. Also, you have a 'reasonable time' to make a claim. 'Reasonable' is not defined but will be interpreted by a court of law (if the case gets that far) so do not hang around in making any claim against the seller. Always make sure all correspondence and records of telephone calls are kept to back up your case.

Be aware, however, that if you were made aware of faults with an item before you bought it then you cannot make a claim. This is particularly the case when buying some sale or ex display items.

Likewise, you cannot just change your mind about buying an item. Many retailers do have a returns policy but this is not a right of yours but a gesture on their part. That said, the Distance Selling Regulations give added protection to buyers where there has been no face to face contact with the seller. This states that goods should be delivered within 30 days and allows you 7 days to withdraw from any purchase decision without having to state a reason. If you are buying services and the supply begins within the seven day period then this right is cancelled. Always cancel in writing (or by email) and keep a copy.

The Distance Selling Regulations do not cover sales of land, vending machines or auction goods when an auctioneer is present. Financial services have their own specific set of distance selling regulations.

Finally, the E-commerce Regulations enact a series of EU Directives into UK law. These tidy up the rules regarding the availability of contracts to buyers in a form that can be retained and printed. These regulations also include items of information that should be available to the buyer including full details the goods or services being sold, details relating to the seller, delivery costs and applicable VAT rates.

January Sales Now On

2009-12-24T08:09:00.003Z

The January sales are now on, but we want to know...

Is bargain hunting online as much fun as on the high street?

As a nation of shopaholics we may not be afraid of giving our wallets a good airing on a regular basis, but even the most spendthrift will admit there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of snaffling a good bargain. While on the one hand we love the hullabaloo of trawling our way through the half-price sale rails, in the last ten years sales via the internet have soared by a staggering 3,500%.

While the impression is that town centres seem to be forever bursting with shoppers, either those crowds are shrinking or we're simply window shopping just to order online when we get home. All the figures indicate that online shopping is relentlessly on the up. In fact award-winning clothing retailer Primark reported last year that their online sales increased by 12% against a fall of 6% in over the counter sales. Total UK internet sales are forecast to reach a staggering £72bn in 2010. But is online bargain hunting really more fun than shopping on the high street?

Every online shopping addict knows that feeling of euphoria induced by the online auction, when you succeed in outbidding your rivals and bag that coveted bargain. The internet also introduces us to thousands of retailers we'd never even see on the high street via price comparison websites. Being able to look through such a wide selection of items in the comfort of our own homes is quite simply addictive and many women in particular will admit to browsing for hours on end, credit card at the ready.

Thanks to developments in web design, the online shopping experience is also becoming a lot more like virtual reality. Not only can we zoom in so close on that dress that we can practically see how the fibres intertwine, we can also twist things round and turn them upside down. On some clothing sites, even short videos of models parading the items on the catwalk are being used to seduce us into a sale. Who knows what the future holds? We may soon find ourselves dressing up our own virtual avatar as a substitute for high street changing rooms.

In just the same way as certain sectors are fearful that instant messaging and social networking is threatening face to face interaction, it looks like we need to be on our guard that online shopping doesn't jeopardise our love of the high street. But as much as we'll admit it's fun to buy online, just like everything in virtual reality, it's no substitute for real life. Alongside the fun of online shopping, real-life shopping has grown into something of a social ritual. Who would want to lose the cameraderie that develops between shopkeepers and customers, the banter between yourself and your fellow shoppers, that golden mid-afternoon break in your shopping, when you settle down for a snack in a coffee shop and peruse your purchases?

There's also something irresistible about the shopping meccas, the bright lights and the adrenaline rush as the items scream 'buy me' from those brightly illuminated shelves; items that come into view at random and not because we've searched for them. And there's nothing quite like the high street for giving us obscure things we'd never find online, whether it's something just too gorgeous to resist, or something we didn't even realise we needed. It's the moments when we stumble upon those little treasures that make lasting memories of our shopping days.

Can Online Shopping get us out of a Recession?

2009-12-21T15:49:00.000Z

Trends in the way in which we shop for our Christmas purchases are changing with the advent of new technologies. For many, the desire and/or time available to pound the pavements in search of bargains or that special present just isn't there. And with the growth of the internet, many retailers have found a new way to supply the demands of the savvy shopper.

The growth of online retailers such as Amazon is spectacular. The early adopters in the shopping market pressed on despite security fears over financial transactions the company has now grown into one of the leading retail organisations in the UK.

What the internet does is allow people to search and price hunt in a way not possible in years gone by. Add that to the convenience factor of 24 hours 'shopping' and guaranteed delivery and it is not surprising that the internet shopping area is tipped for success this Christmas versus traditional high street stores.

Most research being carried out seems to suggest that the total spend this Christmas will be about 0.7% down on fourth quarter 2008 levels. Stripping out food and beverages (which are expected to increase by 2.5%) and it is clear that every retailer will be working hard for each pound spent. Sales and discounting are widespread so the actual volume of goods sold may not be too different, but the all important revenue and margin will be down leading many traditional retailers struggling. It is not uncommon for some businesses to take as much as 70% of the annual turnover in the run up to Christmas so times are looking bleak.

With online shopping comes access to global suppliers. Whilst there are issues around VAT and import duties, many goods can be sourced from overseas. As consumers gain more confidence in the security of payments and the delivery mechanisms associated with internet shopping, this sector will continue to grow - probably at the expense of the bricks and mortar high street stores.

Online shopping tends to be item specific. That means that 'browsing' or impulse buys are harder to convert since when users log on, they tend to be looking for specific items at the lowest/best price with delivery assured.

As trends develop, the Centre for Retail Research has predicted that 2015 will see the first Christmas where more than 50% of seasonal purchases will be made online. That is a huge sum as even this year internet purchases are expected to reach £6.8bn - or an increase of nearly 14% on 2008. This equates to every one of us spending £132 online.

So it is unlikely that online shopping alone will get us out of a recession but it will play an important and valuable part in making Christmas more affordable and enjoyable for both shoppers and recipients of presents alike. The recession is looking as though it will have a long tail and with significant tax rises, increased unemployment and cuts in public expenditure having to be made over the coming years, disposable income will be squeezed making a consumer spending boom unlikely in the short term.

Christmas Gift Hampers

2009-12-17T10:15:00.002Z

If you're searching for a last minute Christmas gift idea, have you thought of a Christmas gift hamper? Packed with everything you need to a Merry Chrsitmas, these can make great gifts, especially if you're going to stay with relatives over Christmas.

You can compare the Christmas hampers from different online shops at Gift and Food Hampers, very useful at this time of year.

Shopsafe on BBC Radio Gloucestershire

2009-12-14T21:29:00.003Z

If you were listening to BBC Radio Gloucestershire this lunchtime you will have heard us interviewed today.

Jill Mission asked us about how you can stay safe online, especially at a time when people who don't normally shop on the Internet are drawn to the convenience and deals.

Listen to it here

Last dates for Christmas Shopping Online

2009-12-11T10:04:00.003Z

Well if you are anything like me you are just thinking about starting your Christmas Shopping - that's blokes for you.

This year the calendar has fallen kindly for us last minute shoppers and there is still plenty of time!

Here are some selected last dates:

Next 20th Dec
House of Fraser 21st Dec
Debenhams 21st Dec
Prezzy Box 22nd Dec
IWOOT 22nd Dec
Toys R Us 22nd Dec
Hamleys 22nd Dec
Figleaves 22nd Dec

Find more last dates for online Christmas Shopping

And if you really want to leave it till the last minute why not try Argos' Check and Reserve System - order online and collect in store - GENIUS.

Happy Christmas Shopping!

Shopsafe on This Morning

2009-12-10T09:33:00.002Z

If you were watching "This Morning" yesterday, Donal MacIntyre gave Philip and Holly some advice on safe shopping online. His first thing he did was to recommend using Shopsafe.co.uk, great advice in our opinion!

You can watch the video How to beat the scammers on the This Morning web site.