August 22nd, 2008 by admin

What is Cashback shopping? Basically it is as it says - you buy something, whether it be a product or a service, and you get cashback rewards every time you do so. Brilliant you might say, but how does this work in practise? Well if you were on the High Street you might visit Marks & Spencer, Boots, Tesco or Sainsbury’s. These well known high street retailers all operate rewards points systems whereby you shop and you get a percentage of your total spend back in rewards points. Marks & Spencer operate ‘&More’ Points, Boots will give you ‘Advantage’ Points, Tesco will give you ‘ClubCard’ points and Sainsbury’s form part of the wider ‘Nectar’ points scheme. These points are built up until you have enough to ‘cash them in’ against the value of other goods and services offered by these companies.

Very Good you might say, you are after all getting something back for buying things you would do anyway, regardless of any incentive. Of course there may be times when you give in to impulse shopping lured by the reward of extra ‘points’, but on the whole they are a system designed to recruit your loyalty for purchases you need to make with at least some regularity.

Ok, that’s the High Street, but how does Cashback shopping work online, when you are visiting sites on the Internet and you make purchases via them? This is where things can get even more lucrative for you, the consumer. Take a site like www.bakanda.com, they will offer you cashback every time you shop using their links - not points but cold hard cash! They can do this because their overheads are lower. You still get the item you want from the online shop or service provider that you like, but they encourage you to use their link to get there. As a reward, they give you cashback, based either as a percentage of their total spend or as a flat rate per transaction. As mentioned earlier though it is more lucrative for the consumer because as well as getting cashback from Bakanda, they can also earn their reward points from the store too. For example, if you use Bakanda to shop at Boots and you sign up to their ‘Advantage’ Points system, you will get the points you are entitled to for your shop exactly the same as if you had walked into the store. However, you will also get a percentage of your purchase back in cash from Bakanda! Result = Win, Win for you!

Cashback shopping in the UK is relatively new, but it is growing. In fact UK e-commerce as a whole grew 44% in 2003, and a further 46% in 2004. However in The United States it is estimated that consumers will spend $84.5 billion online in 2005 for retail goods and services, and that number will grow to $139 billion by 2008. This expected growth would significantly outpace total retail spending during the next few years. Amongst all of this, there is a lot of cashback waiting there for you, the consumer, to claim.

Why else would you shop online, other than just for cashback? Well, the top reasons for shopping online include avoiding crowded stores, the availability of lower prices and wide selection of goods and services. So, basically put you can sit at home and not get stressed by the crowds, still buy what you want but get it cheaper and choose from a wider selection, AND if you use the right site like Bakanda, get cashback too!

August 1st, 2008 by admin

Online shopping offers many benefits that you won’t find shopping in a brick and mortar store or by mail. The Internet is always open seven days a week and 24 hours a day. Internet-only deals and bargains can be numerous online. Shopping on the Internet is no less safe than shopping in a store or by mail. Keep the following tips in mind to help ensure that your online shopping experience is a safe one.

1. While Online Order Only On A Secure Server.

Use a secure browser and shop only at websites that offer encryption protection. A protected website will have one or more of these three features:

a) The small lock or key symbol at the bottom of your browser window;

b) An address that starts with https (”s” for “secure”) instead of just http; and

c) A security warning box that pops up at the point of purchase.

Your browser should comply with industry security standards, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). These standards scramble the purchase information you send over the Internet, helping to secure your transaction.

2. Pay The Safest Way.

Use a credit card or Debit Card with a safe online shopping guarantee. Look for a card with specific guarantees, like 100% coverage for any losses due to fraud when shopping on the Internet. Many companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return and/or purchase protection benefits.

3. Protect Your Privacy.

Look for and read a website’s privacy and security policy. Stay clear of a website that either doesn’t have one or does not guarantee your personal information will not be sold. This policy should disclose what information is being collected on the Web site and how that information is being used.

4. Know Who You’re Dealing With.

Research your merchant. Look at the ratings consumers give them and stay clear of websites that either aren’t listed or receive poor marks. Shop with companies you know. Anyone can set up shop online under almost any name. If you’re not familiar with a merchant, ask for a paper catalogue or brochure to get a better idea of their merchandise and services. Also, determine the company’s refund and return policies before you place your order. These should be posted on the company’s Web site.

5. Keep A Record.

Print out a copy of your order and confirmation number for your records. Reputable merchants will usually send you an email confirming your order. However a hard copy is always good to have in case your order is lost, deleted or not delivered as promised.

6. Guard Your Online Password.

Keep your password(s) private. Be creative when you establish a password, and never share your website passwords with anyone. Write them down and store them in a safe place. Avoid using a telephone number, birth date or a portion of your Social Security number. Instead, use a combination of numbers, letters and symbols. Do not use the same username and password at every website. Should your personal information be compromised, a thief won’t get very far if you use different passwords and usernames on different websites.

7. Track Your Purchases.

Use only one credit card to shop with online. This helps keep track of your online purchases during the holidays, and will make it easier to spot purchases that are fraudulent. Look for a card that allows you to review transactions online as well — you’ll be more likely to notice a problem early on.

8. Keep Personal Information Private.

Don’t enter more information at a merchant website than is absolutely necessary. There is usually no reason why you should have to supply information such as birth dates or Social Security numbers when making a purchase. Fill in only the bare essentials necessary to make your purchase. If you have children, teach them to check with you before giving out personal - or family - information online.

Clive Chansa writes for the Home Shopping Catalogues website at
http://www.home-shopping-catalogues.org.uk/ and he’s also a regular contributor to the Gift Ideas websites at:
http://www.gift-ideas-uk.org.uk/