By Colby Horton
Shop Site of the Month
John's 4x4 Center Inc. - Boulder, Colo.
www.johns4x4.com
This site offers some of the best innovations on the Web today, including an online invoice payment, virtual service record and virtual service advisor. The graphics and interactivity make the site fun to visit.
Web Wise
'Tis the Season for Online Shopping
Believe it or not, it's that time of year again. For many people, the holidays are a time for stressful situations, including spending countless number of hours at crowded malls finding the perfect gift. More people are turning to the Internet to make the holidays easier to manage. But before buying online, you might want to be cautious when purchasing items from these e-tailers.
BizRate.com, an online consumer marketplace, reported that one in four online orders were delivered late during the 1999 holiday season. So, if you're planning on shopping online this holiday season, take some precautions. Before making a purchase, search for information on the Web site that pertains to contact information and corporate policies. Reputable online shopping companies make this information readily available and easy to find. You may also want to inquire about the company on consumer rating sites such as WebAssured.com. WebAssured.com invites consumers who have had problems with any online purchase to fill out a free online complaint form on their Web site. Their goal is to resolve any complaints filed by online shoppers.
One major complaint by shoppers the past year was the difficulty in returning items that were purchased online. This has become a key drawback in online shopping. E-tailers are attempting to better the situation this year. Companies such as Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com) and Eddie Bauer (www.eddiebauer.com) are allowing consumers to purchase items online, but return them to their stores. When purchasing items online, make sure you search for their return policy. It might make a difference in the online shopping experience.
Finally, before purchasing gifts online, make sure you are shopping on a secure Web site. Secure Web sites always begin with the protocol https:// (as opposed to http://). Secure Web sites encrypt credit card information that should not be intercepted by a third party. (For additional information, see the December 1999 Net Worth column.)
Despite concerns, the dollar amount of online sales is expected to skyrocket this holiday season. The Internet provides a means of convenience and ease when it comes to shopping. By doing your research on an online company, you can make the Internet shopping experience more enjoyable this holiday season.
Net Numbers
Online sales during the 2000 holiday shopping season are expected to exceed $6 billion.
Source: BizRate.com (www.bizrate.com)
ASA Web Ways
ASA's Home Page Offers New Features
In April, the ASA Web site underwent the first of many changes to its look and content. The final stage is now complete. The ASA home page offers a flashy new look, complete with information that is updated daily. The page is divided into three distinct sections: "For ASA Members," "For Motorists" and "For Industry Professionals." The purpose is to expose ASA to specific groups within the industry. An ASA informational advertisement is provided daily, streaming the latest news about ASA events, benefits and publications. A convenient search engine has also been placed on the home page, allowing easier access to the information within the site. Be sure to visit the ASA Web site and participate in our new online survey and take advantage of the new features on the home page!
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Net Worth is written by Colby Horton, ASA's electronic communications manager. He can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 234, or by e-mail at colbyh@asashop.org.
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