The Art of the Deal

More Shopping Secrets

Beware of bait-and-switch ploys: It's the world's oldest scam: a store advertise a great price for a product and then claims to have sold out of it when you want to buy it, forcing you to opt for a similar but different product--at a higher price. Or vendors may try to persuade you to buy accessories as a way to jack up the price. For more about all-too-common shady sales tactics, check out "Camera Confidential."

Avoid the gray market: You can find deals on items that were intended for sale in another country and rerouted to the United States. But gray-market goods, also known as international models, may come with non-English manuals or with AC adapters set to the wrong voltage, and they may not carry a U.S. warranty.

Read the warranties: Find out what the product warranty covers, how long the coverage lasts, and where you have to send the product to obtain repairs, a refund, or replacement. By law, if the item costs more than $10, the seller must explain whether it's covered by a full or limited warranty; the former type entitles you to free repair during the warranty period at no additional costs for shipping, removal, or reinstallation. But don't assume that you'll get a warranty: Used (or as-is) items often come with none at all, or they may include only scanty, 90-day coverage.

Ask about returns and restocking fees: If you're ordering online and the policies are not in plain sight, your smartest course is to leave the site and do your shopping elsewhere. Remember to check the money-back guarantee period, and find out whether you can you return an item that you purchase online at the one of the company's brick-and-mortar outlets. Would the return be for cash or for credit? Does it matter if the box is already opened? There should be no extra charge if you return a damaged or incorrect item, but if you want to return your purchase for some other reason, the vendor may charge you a restocking fee--usually between 10 and 20 percent of the original sale price.

Eliminate shipping fees: Instead of buying at sites that have brick-and-mortar equivalents (for example, Best Buy and Target), call in an order to the real-world store and pick it up. Or look for free shipping offers from Web-only stores such as Amazon.com and Buy.com.

Visit shipping carriers' sites: Make sure that the vendor you're buying from is not compensating for a low price by overcharging you for shipping and handling. Compare shipping costs by visiting the U.S. Postal Service site or the United Parcel Service and plugging in package weight and destination. At IShip.com, you can compare shipping fees from carriers like Airborne Express, Federal Express, UPS, and the Postal Service.

Use a credit card: The Fair Credit Billing Act protects your transaction if you use a credit card. This law empowers you to withhold payment temporarily if you suspect that someone has stolen your card number. No matter what happens, likely the most you'll pay is $50. Do not use ATM cards; they're not protected as credit cards are.

Shop safely: Sites using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or SET (Secure Electronic Transaction) technology are safe. To be sure that a site is using such a precaution, look for an unbroken key or padlock icon at the bottom of your browser when you load the vendor's Web page. Or check the Web address for the string "https://" at the beginning. Remember: Never send your credit card or bank account number via e-mail (if you must, break it up into two messages), and don't give out passwords, PINs, or the name of your bank.

Don't accept delays: When a company says that it will take more than 20 days to send you your item, unless you're preordering a product such as a book or a DVD, it may be a sign that you will never receive the product. PayPal, for example, requires sellers to ship items within 7 days of receiving payment. The FTC's Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule covers online orders and stipulates that vendors must send ordered goods within 30 days, must explain any delay beyond the expected delivery period, and must give you the option to cancel the transaction and obtain a refund. However, some delays are unforeseeable or result from substandard service, and are not necessarily illegal.

Open boxes immediately: Don't let your package sit unopened. Inspect the contents immediately, making sure that the item is what you ordered and is working, and that you were charged the correct amount. If you discover a problem, contact the vendor about repairs or refunds, and keep detailed accounts of your interaction. Some payment services, such as PayPal, require that you file a claim within 30 days of purchase. So don't delay.

Complain to authorities: If you're unhappy with your purchase, contact the seller via phone, e-mail, and/or postal mail. If that doesn't produce results, file complaints with your state attorney general, the Better Business Bureau, local media, the FTC, your state's department of consumer affairs, and other organizations like ConsumerWorld.org.