Cyber Shopping Simplified

I’m sure you heard the big news . . . the Monday after Thanksgiving has now been officially christened “Cyber Monday”. Online shopping is now even more popular. But who is out there in cyberland, the WWW universe, the ever-so-huge internet to help you navigate your way? Who is helping you avoid the common pitfalls that so many online buyers fall into? For today, I am. (You can thank me later.) We will use Scavengeinc.com as a model for our discussion, but the pointers given, if heeded, will help your online shopping experiences be pleasant and successful instead of stressful and upsetting. Here are the five areas where most boo-boos are made :

1. Billing address doesn’t match the credit card. Your credit card company has an address on file for the card you are using. The address you enter on the “Billing Address” line during checkout absolutely must match what your credit card company has on file or else your order is dead in the water. This is not necessarily where you want the package shipped, or even where you may be at the moment. It’s where the bill or statement is sent every month. Sounds simple, and it should be, but it is the most common mistake made.

2. CVV code. So many people have no clue what this is. Let me tell you what it is not. It is NOT the last 4 digits of your phone number, it is not the last 4 digits of your social security number, not your birthday, not your lucky number, and not the number of children in your family. And, most importantly it is NOT the last 4 four digits of your credit card number. Let that sink in. It is on the back of your Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit card. It’s the last three digits in black ink usually on the right hand side. On your American Express, it’s the four numbers on the front of the card to the right, up above the credit card number. Scavengeinc.com gives you pictorial examples if you need them. This is a security measure by the credit card companies. Again messing this up will end your shopping experience just like that.

3. Shipping addresses that don’t exist. This seems like a joke, I know, but it seems many people aren’t sure where they live or where they want their package shipped. (This seems to happen mostly with students away at school). Simple fix – if you are having the package shipped to you, walk outside, look at the address on the front of your home sweet home and - presto! – that’s the one you enter in the shipping address. If you’re in a dorm, go talk to your resident advisor (they get paid to know this sort of valuable info). Basically whether you are shipping it to yourself or to someone else, ask or look and just make sure you’ve got it right before you type it into the “Shipping Address”.

4. Check the sizes. On every product page on Scavengeinc.com there is a link that says “View Size Charts.” It’s a real link. It’s not a cruel joke. It will tell you what size you should or shouldn’t order. Now be forewarned – if you are usually a size 8, you aren’t going to suddenly fit into a size 0 – nope, ain’t gonna happen.

5. When will it arrive? Now think about it – you are on your computer, clicking and shopping away. Your order has to be picked and packed. Then it has to be picked up by the delivery person (USPS or UPS) and then it has to make its way to you. Now with Scavengeinc.com your order is going to go out the same day IF it is placed before 2:00 p.m. PST. So if you order at 8:00 p.m. and want it the next morning, you have to realize the UPS man is sleeping and won’t get your package onto his truck until the next day. So pay special attention to those shipping times. No matter how big your event is and how badly you may need your item, online stores cannot make miracles happen – not even Scavengeinc.com.