Category Archives: E-Commerce

Rent–Don’t Buy–the Special Occasion Dress

By Marilynne Rudick on October 22, 2012

Do you have too many wear-once dresses bought for weddings, graduations, bar mitzvahs, charity balls. or Academy Awards? Are men onto something by renting—not buying—duds for a special occasion? That’s the premise for RentTheRunway. Rent the special-occasion dress at a fraction of the purchase price. Wear it once, then send it back.

Also posted in Fun!, Saving Money
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Why Do Ebooks Cost So Much?

By Marilynne Rudick on April 18, 2012

Do ebooks cost too much? The U. S. Department of Justice thinks so. It filed suit against Apple and five publishers charging them with price fixing: colluding to jack up the price of ebooks. Will the suit result in lower ebook prices?

Also posted in eBooks, Saving Money
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December 16th is Free Shipping Day

By Marilynne Rudick on December 14, 2011

If you’ve put off buying holiday gifts, your procrastination will be rewarded. More than 2000 merchants are offering free shipping on December 16th. But don’t despair if you miss out on December 16th. This holiday season lots of merchants are competing for your business by offering free shipping. But why pay for shipping anytime? Here’s how to find merchants who offer free shipping–and free return shipping–all year.

Also posted in Saving Money
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Ten Tips to Make Your Online Shopping Merry and Safe

By Marilynne Rudick on December 2, 2011

A growing number of people do their holiday shopping online. Cyber Monday sales were up 22% from last year. But more than online sales are soaring. So is online fraud—bogus websites selling counterfeit goods, and scammers who steal your identity while you hunt for bargains.

Does this mean giving up online shopping this holiday season? No! The vast majority of sales are legitimate and hassle-free. But it does mean taking precautions. Here are ten tips for making your online shopping merry and safe.

Also posted in Safety & Privacy, Saving Money
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What is PayPal and Is It Safe?

By Marilynne Rudick on June 26, 2011

Have you seen the PayPal logo when you make an online purchase? Maybe you’ve skipped over it because you’re not sure what it is, or whether it’s safe. PayPal is an electronic payment service that lets anyone with an email address securely send and receive online payments.

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Etsy: An Online Marketplace for Handmade Crafts

By Marilynne Rudick on June 13, 2011

The usual flurry of summer wedding invitations reminds me of how much I dislike gift registries. I much prefer to purchase something unique and handmade. But finding the right handcrafted gift for birthdays, holidays, and weddings is hit-or-miss.

Etsy, an online market for handcrafted and vintage gifts, makes buying the unique gift much easier. It’s a portal for hundreds of thousands of artisans in more than 150 countries. So you are sure to find the perfect gift.

Also posted in Fun! 5 Comments

What’s the Daily Deal? Groupon and Livingsocial Offer Deep Discounts

By Marilynne Rudick on February 3, 2011

What happens when you marry e-commerce and social networking, then add the age-old advertising tag: limited time only? The result is deal of the day. Here’s how it works. You sign up at the deal website, and everyday you get a special offer via e-mail for a deeply discounted product or service customized for your location. The catch is you can only purchase the deal that day. But typically, you have up to a year to use the deal you purchased.

Also posted in Fun!, Saving Money, Social Networking, Uncategorized 1 Comment

Techie Gifts for Non Geeks

By Marilynne Rudick on December 15, 2010

It’s getting harder and harder and harder to find unique gifts for family members and friends. Here are some unique techie gifts that are sure to please the over–and some under– 50s.

Also posted in Fun! 2 Comments

Who Is Craig and What’s His List?

By Marilynne Rudick on October 8, 2010

Craigslist is the world’s largest online classified ad service. Use it to find a job or sell an item. It’s appeal–mostly free and ads are posted to a specific geographic area (currently 700 locations and more than 70 countries). Sellers as well as scam artists flock to Craigslist. Learn how to use it, and how to avoid being scammed.

Also posted in Safety & Privacy, Saving Money, Social Networking Add a comment

How to Find Free Shipping E-tailers

By Marilynne Rudick on September 26, 2010

Hate paying shipping and handling fees on online orders? Here’s how to find e-tailers that ship for free.

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Half-Price Ticket Service Gets a Goldstar

By Marilynne Rudick on June 22, 2010

The online ticket broker, Goldstar, offers half-price ticket to event in 13 cities. Subscribe to a weekly e-mail customized by ZIP code for a listing of all discounted events.

Also posted in E-Mail & Messaging, Fun!, Saving Money
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