How to Shop Online

You can buy just about anything online, even right here at eHow. These instructions provide a general picture of online shopping, so be sure to check out each site you use.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Modems
• Internet Access
• Credit Cards And Loans
• Computers

1. Use a search engine to find the product you're looking for if you don't know specifically which site to go to. Or try a product-comparison site to check different prices or product reviews.
2. Visit several sites to find the best products and prices.
3. Most sites use a shopping cart system. As you browse the site and find items you want, click Add to Cart (or a similar button).
4. Specify a quantity and other relevant specifics (color, size and so on) when you add an item to your shopping cart.
5. Click Continue Shopping (or a similar button) to keep browsing. Otherwise, click Proceed to Checkout (or something similar) to finalize your order.
6. For any kind of shopping site, provide your name, address, e-mail address, phone number and payment information when prompted during checkout. Once you've entered this information, you are usually presented with an order-confirmation page, including all your items, the total price, and the address and other information you've entered.
7. Make sure your order is accurate and then confirm it.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to check out the eHow Store for a wide variety of products that help you get things done.
• Most traditional and catalog retailers have Web sites now.
• To find out more about how to protect your credit card information online, read the Related eHow "How to Shop Online Securely." In general, you only want to shop from sites that use a secure server to process transactions. Many web browsers show a lock icon on the screen to indicate they're a secure site.
• In most cases, the online store will send you an e-mail message to confirm the details of your order.
• If you're uneasy about providing your credit card number online, you can usually choose to pay by check or call in your credit card number by phone.
• Many online stores send you e-mail updates if any problems occur with your order.
• Shipping times and costs vary among sites.