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Online Christmas Shopping

As shoppers begin to feel more confident about the security surrounding shopping online, more and more Australians are choosing to avoid crowded shopping centres by doing their Christmas shopping online.

When you stop to think about it, there are a number of advantages of shopping from home. You don’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of time fighting for a car spot, no jostling for position in shops, or trekking to different stores to find the right gift or to compare prices.

With online shopping you can fix yourself a drink, sit down, and easily search for the perfect gift before quickly comparing prices. A few clicks followed by some payment pages and you’re done. After a few days your Christmas presents will arrive on your doorstep.

Comparison pages
Just as there are sites that specialise in comparing different banking options, there are price comparison sites for everyday products and gifts which do all the shopping around for you. Some popular options are:

• http://www.lasoo.com.au/
• http://www.myshopping.com.au/
• http://www.getprice.com.au/

Unique online gifts
Struggling to find a gift for that person who already has everything? There are a range of specialty stores where you can find some unique gifts. You’ll be surprised at what you can find. A few examples include:

• oxfamshop.org.au
• welcomehomebaby.com.au
• arterystore.com.au
• arcadetables.com.au

Security
Understanding some of the tricks used by cyber criminals can help you avoid handing over your credit card details to the wrong person. Knowledge of phishing scams and being able to recognise legitimate websites will greatly reduce your chances of being conned. Some things to consider when buying online:

• Check for a padlock symbol or other security verification information on the website
• When making online transactions check that the webpage’s address begins with https:
• Register with Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode.

It’s a good idea to check a website’s return policy and how long deliveries take. Nobody wants to be making excuses about a Christmas present that did not arrive on time.

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