February 25, 2006 11:00 AM
My Online Shopping A-List
I started shopping online one Christmas, about six years ago. It was when eToys was all the rage, and they used to send those red baseball caps free with your order. (Do they still do that?)
Online shopping is great for people who love getting new stuff but don’t like shopping. Sure, you have to pay shipping costs sometimes, but driving to the mall isn’t free (especially with current gas prices). And I like to think my time is worth something too. I don’t want to spend it driving all over town looking for the new Carlos Santana shoes I want, when I can just go to Zappos and get them much more easily.
So I’ve compiled my list of favorite online shopping experiences for you:
1. Amazon—C’mon, who doesn’t love Amazon? Wishlists, pre-sales, free shipping on large orders.
2. Apple—Instead of battling the crowds at Circuit City this Christmas, I ordered my daughter’s iPod directly from the Apple Store. It arrived in two days, and I even had her name engraved on the back. And the site’s Support area is awesome.
3. Chadwicks of Boston—For classics like wool blazers and ribbed cotton sweaters, no one beats Chadwick’s prices. Although their shipping isn’t exactly speedy at times, they make up for it in selection, good customer service, and low prices.
4. K-5 Boardshop -- Yeah, you read it correctly. My son and nephew dress in skate/surf/snowboarding apparel, ONLY. This online store has a good selection, and they ship quickly. Jay’s Board Shop is a good one too.
5. Itunes –I can’t remember the last time I bought an actual CD released by one artist at a store. There’s really no need to do that anymore. I just jot down the songs I like, download from iTunes, and load them onto my iPod or create a CD. No more skipping through the bad songs on CDs you buy, either.
6. Harry & David’s – My dad loves fruit and chocolate, so he gets a basket for nearly every gift-giving holiday.
7. Blooming Cookies-- If you need a unique, or just really, really cute gift basket, this is the site to hit. And when the recipient opens the door to a bouquet of cookies, let’s just say you’ll be their new favorite person.
8. eBay—I’ve bought everything from cowboy boots to scented candle tarts to Kate Spade sandals on eBay. I’ve also sold clothing, books, and a few antiques there. If you need something, you’ll probably find it here. Just make sure the seller has a good rating before you bid.
9. Artbeads—unless you’re a beader, you’ve probably never heard of Artbeads. But their selection is fantastic, their customer service even better, and their shipping is fast and FREE.
10. iStockphoto—I recently signed up for a membership on this site because I had some clipart needs that my Microsoft Clip Art Gallery just couldn’t fill. Now, I’m addicted. Fabulous illustrations, photos, backgrounds, and more can be found here, and locating what you need is quick and easy.
Comments
I'm very familiar with Amazon, Harry & David's, Blooming Cookies and ebay. Thanks for the tips on the others. For what it's worth, I'd love to add a few of my favorite shopping spots on the web (and I hope your other readers do the same). Deep Discount DVD's has a fabulous selection, great prices and free shipping!! L.L. Bean has great stuff, fast shipping and it's also free!! Abe Books is a great resource for rare or out of print books.
Posted by: Tammy at February 26, 2006 07:26 PM
