Find It Now!

I adore my online shopping but not in the way that you would imagine. I use an online auction site to procure my goods. I'll give you a hint; it begins with an "E" and rhymes with "gray". Regardless of the method and site I use, the practice remains a decent one. Getting lower prices online, means you pay a fraction of the original cost of the item and it has truly never been easier. Let me guide you through the process, and you may decide for yourself if online auctions are the tool for you.

Step 1: Sign up
Enter a few details about yourself, such as the postal address of your winning bids and the credit card you will use to pay for items purchased. If you do not wish to use a credit card, other popular forms of online payment such as PayPal are also available. Once you have signed up, the fun begins.

Step 2: Search and ye shall receive
Using a simple menu structure, or a search box, find the item you wish to bid for. I have a personal preference for little toy rabbits, called Dunny's. So I type "Dunny" and over a 1000 toys present themselves to me. Scroll down the list and see which one matches your taste and price range (don't forget to check the posting price; this is usually high to offset the low price).

Step 3: Bid to win
It's time to bid. Select your option and enter an amount you think the object is worth. After the time has passed and you are the winning bidder, you will have won the item and may then purchase it by paying online. More often than not, a bidding war will begin and you will have to compete for your treasured item. Worry not, as after a few days of practice you will understand what constitutes a winning bid.

So shop online the smart way and bid your way to success. Happy hunting!

Online shopping is taking the world by storm as more and more consumers discover the ease and convenience of procuring goods and services over the Net. One of the clear benefits of shopping online is that you can never get lost on the way to the store. You simply type in the desired URL, click and browse the site, decide on your purchase and Bob is your proverbial uncle. Shopping in the real world presents a whole host of challenges that can be easily avoided by using online price comparison sites and stores. These include, in no specific order: traffic, pedestrians, road rage, cyclists, old ladies, trucks, skateboarders, parking attendants and queues. Not to mention jostling crowds, obnoxious children, slippery isles, unflattering fitting room mirrors, overbearing shop assistants and sneaky pickpockets.

But I digress. Speaking of getting lost, I was shopping online for a GPS the other day and got to thinking how much this simple little device has changed our collective lives. Thanks to the wonders of the Global Positioning System, first developed by the clever people over at the United States Department of Defense, we mere mortals can now get from point A to point B without the hassle of having to stop for directions. Isn't that swell? (Not that I had much of a problem with stopping for directions to begin with, although it does seem to bother those individuals who proudly sport the Y-chromosome a great deal.)

Having GPS units in circulation also means that delivery services no longer have any excuse for pitching up late. Previously your resident pizza delivery boy, Amazon drop-off or UPS carrier could've pleaded poor directions or inadequate knowledge of the area as reasons for being late, but no more. Having access to a handset that has 'Absolute Location' capabilities, now supplies even the most geographically-challenged individual with the tools to navigate with ease. (This can count against you, however, if you were planning to use the 'Sorry got lost' excuse in order to miss out on the boring speech part of a wedding or birthday)

Furthermore, if you choose to link your GPS system to a vehicle recovery service, you will enjoy access to roadside assistance in an emergency situation as well as a foolproof way of getting back your own in the case of your vehicle being stolen.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, we have certainly come a long way from days of hand-drawn maps, the compass and navigation by means of the Southern Cross. These days we are able to get where we need to be at the press of a button, which makes getting around a whole lot less complicated. Now, if they could only get the GPS lady to sound a little less nasal.

Online shopping is the greatest tool to ever bless our planet. Not dinosaurs, not roads, not even free McDonald's Day (this never happens but it should). Would you like a horse? How about a tree? Even an object as ludicrously crazy as crayons can be purchased over the internet. It's wonderful, I do it all the time and so should you. Do it now. Take your hand, enter into your browser the address of your favourite online shopping store, give them your credit card (willingly) and shop. Thanks to the fluctuating exchange rate, it is even possible to score a bargain on the product of your choice!

Shop smart my friends, use your wiles to discover the secrets of the online stores you peruse and find wondrous, amazing things. Do you love space? Then explore the final frontiers and purchase metro rocks from the official NASA store. Leather clothing for your pet? Believe it or not - it too can be ordered. Are you interested in the metaphysical? The world of witches and Warlocks is well within your grasp, thanks to the internet. Even the junior ghost hunter can procure all of the spectral hunting equipment they may need on their quest to become an ad hoc Ghostbuster.

Do not be scared of the internet my brothers and sisters. It was once the Wild West, teeming with bandits, viruses and a general lawlessness. No mortal can now step one foot outside of their home without hearing of another fantastic internet invention. We are all connected, therefore it makes sense to shop online and grab the best bargains before anyone else dares to. Start small, with perhaps an inflatable carrot or a lava-lamp shaped like a turtle. There are many bargains online; all they need is for to be discovered by you.

Price comparison Web sites are still relatively new to South Africa.
While there have been several basic sites emerging over the past few years the general public are only now becoming familiar with the phenomenon that has taken America and Europe by storm.

Most Internet users are aware that they can shop online for books, music and electronic equipment, or send flowers via the Net, but the concept of doing any serious research into the best product or service at the best price seems daunting.

Even if the Internet has made thousands of products available to the public, hunting for the right site and comparing one product type across a variety of online stores is an onerous task.

The beauty of price comparison Web sites are that they streamline the entire process and make all the pertinent information available to the user on one site, in seconds.

While the existing South African sites have done a good job with the technology available to them until now, the South African public can now access the latest, hottest price comparison site to hit the local scene to date.
Find It Now has launched its incredible site, utilizing a winning combination of successful standard features that have worked so well internationally and the latest technological features taking the service from average to awesome!

On Find It Now, you can

* Compare products according to features, price and quality ratings
* Find the best product AND the best supplier based on customer reviews and ratings. - It's not always about the cheapest product but also about the service you experience during and after the sale!
* Shop within a price bracket, receiving alerts whenever a product you are interested in becomes available within that price range.
* Compare two competing products on one page according to your specifications
* Read and write product and store reviews

Find It Now is set to become the leader in price comparison online shopping in South Africa.

Free to buyers, simple to use, fast and super-efficient it is sure to be a winner with the discerning South African shopper.

Online price comparison engines and bidding sites have revolutionized the way we conduct our online shopping business. If you are new to shopping online, you may find the process a bit daunting to start with. Here are a few handy tips to get you started:

Trust your gut. If you feel uncomfortable purchasing a certain item over the internet, then you probably shouldn't. There are lots of unethical operations out there that take advantage of the fact that consumers aren't quite clued-up with regard to online shopping procedures. The best way to protect yourself is to educate yourself.

Make sure to check prices carefully. If a price seems too good to be true then it probably is. It is best to compare prices (both online and offline) before purchasing a particularly expensive item. Also bear in mind that you might end up paying more than an item is worth if you are bidding through an auction site. It is best to keep a clear head and stick to a budget.

Take the time to read the privacy policy. We all know that it is a schlep and all you actually want to do, is get the registration bit over so that you can order the set of Disney books for your goddaughter's birthday, but the Privacy Policy really is kind of important. It tells you exactly what information the website in question will be gathering from you, how they will use that information and what you can do to stop the process. If a site doesn't list a privacy policy is it usually NOT a good idea to give them sensitive information like, say, your credit card details.

Check that your internet connection is secure before going through with the payment. There should be icons on your PC that indicates whether the security software is functioning and up to date.

Pay with your credit card. This is quite simply the easiest and safest way to conduct business over the internet.

Shopping online is extremely convenient and allows the consumer much more control over their purchase. Just make sure that you know your rights and that the establishment you are doing business with is ethical. Online shopping is sure to introduce you to a whole new world of retail revelry.