Shopping for mobiles at your local retail outlets sounds easy and painless, but the reality is different. What happens is you buy a phone from your local mobile phone store, come back home, and check out the new models on your computer and find out that you could have made a better choice.

The Internet gives you information about everything under the sun and mobile phones are no exception. By browsing the popular online stores, you can get your hands on the best mobile phone. Given below are 5 benefits of online shopping for mobiles and the ways you can get the most from it.

1. Better Price

Usually, online stores have better offers to make. They give awesome discounts that you can avail if you stay tuned. How do online stores give you so many benefits? The reason is local stores have to pay huge sales tax, building rent, staff fees and so on. On the other hand, online stores don’t have to pay these expenses. So, the products they sell don’t include the additional expenses. As a result, you pay less for your desired products.

2. Variety Of Choices

Shopping online you are not restricted to a particular brand. You have a larger variety to choose from. With information on so many different types of phones, you can compare them for features and price. Not only this, you can read up customer reviews for the mobile phones you are interested in to find out the best features and possible problems.

Also at online stores, you can choose from the older as well as the latest models of a brand in addition to brand new and used phones. On the other hand, in local stores, you can see only those models that are high in demand or the limited brands the store promotes.

3. Comfortable Buying Method

Shopping for cell phones online is a lot simpler and convenient. All you have to do is go to the stores, check out the specs of your favorite phones and then make a choice after reading reviews.

Making a purchase of a desired handset is as easy making a few clicks and paying the money. This is unlike personal shopping where you will have to go to the store in person often jumping from one store to next to get the mobile phone you want. This will cost you a lot of time and energy. Online buying allows you to make purchases from the comfort of your home. Not only this, you can ask for the product to be shipped to your address. If there are any damages to the product, you can always have it returned for a good unit.

4. Better Buying Decision

Another big benefit of shopping for cellphones online is that you won’t have to deal with the over-smart salespeople. You can take a look at what you want to buy and then choose a product based on good reviews left by real users. This allows you to make the best buying decision.

5. 24/7 Availability

Unlike local stores that have fixed working hours, you are not bound when it comes to online shopping. You can browse stores on your way to work or at 12 in the night after you wrap up your kitchen.

How You Can Get The Most From Buying Online

So, how can you get the most from buying your cell phone online? Well, this is easy. All you have to do is go to the trusted cell phone stores, check out your favorite models and then read reviews left by the real users of the phones. As a matter of fact, reading feedback left by the actual users of the cell phones is the best way of buying the right phone.

The world of trade and commerce has undergone drastic changes with advent of the internet. These days, the entire domain of commercial activities revolves around the virtual entity of the World Wide Web (WWW). In this circumstance, businesses that sustain on eCommerce and multiple servers are obviously thriving. Among the vast list of eCommerce platforms, robust, open-source, cloud-based and secured platform of Magento deserves to be specially mentioned.

Magento – At a glance

Businesses that are powered by Magento enjoy certain benefits. The eCommerce platform has:

• A lower learning curve
• Reasonable maintenance cost as compared to the other open-source platforms
• It offers adequate security
• The methodologies are not only impressive but agile as well

As such, Magento customization is dependent on the Zend framework and PHP 5.

Realistic and secured

Now, commercial enterprises require websites to cater to their respective customer base 24×7. However, they invariably come across several challenges day in and day out while running their business online. The best possible way to resolve all these challenges is Magento customization. The fraternity of eCommerce websites certainly requires to appear realistic to online customers. Simultaneously, the aspect of security happens to be of paramount importance too.

The eCommerce platform of Magento caters to all the aspects that businesses require to operate online. In fact, it is an ideal platform for all categories of businesses to develop their respective websites. Commercial prospect of technically sound Magento developers is rising exponentially in this situation.

The vast online community

Another significant advantage of investing into this eCommerce platform is its robust user community, which is spread all over the world. Myriads of developers across the planet are dedicatedly contributing to its coding. There is also a vast collection of Magento documentation available across the internet. This documentation particularly proves valuable to novice users who are still in the process to learn how to make the most of it across the robust eCommerce platform.

Easy availability of the plugins

Flexibility is a major characteristic of Zend framework. In fact, with the easy availability of the vast number of Magento plugins, transition into the Magento platform is much easier. As such, professionals involved with this eCommerce platform do not need to overburden themselves with functionality that could be irrelevant to their particular applications.

Relevant services

IT organizations that provide Magento solutions usually deal in a host of relevant services. Most of these enterprises provide an array of services based on PHP framework, eCommerce and the CMS platforms. The services usually include:

• Bootstrap
• CodeIgniter
• Zend
• CakePHP and
• Yii, etc. under the PHP framework.

Under the category of eCommerce platform, these organizations provide the following services:

• Opencart
• Zencart
• Woocommerce
• OSCommerce and
• Virtuemart, etc.

Similarly, under the CMS development, the following solutions are included:

• WordPress
• Joomla
• Drupal
• Shopify
• Typo3 and
• Concrete5, etc.

Conclusion

It is an undeniable fact that Magento development is utmost necessary to achieve eCommerce success these days. This particular eCommerce platform is indeed potential enough to integrate the best of both digital and physical shopping experiences and providing a greater leverage to the business and trading community.

The US retail sector may be post peak, and with the changing demographics and online sales competition, the once popular shopping mall and Department Store may become much like the once dominant species of our pale blue dot. Like the dinosaurs, the department store model looks like it will soon be ancient history. Let’s talk, as there is more evidence than not to back up this prediction.

The Kansas City Business Journal had a piece titled: “Study: Department stores must prune mall space to bloom again,” published on April 25, 2016 which stated: “A real estate research firm says department stores must close hundreds of sites – about 20 percent of all anchor space – in U.S. malls to regain their productivity of a decade ago, The Wall Street Journal reports. For example, Sears Holdings Corp. should shutter 300 stores, or 43 percent of its total, to achieve the sales per square foot it had in 2006, according to the study by Green Street Advisors. This is so even though Sears and other retailers have closed hundreds of stores in recent years with the rise of online sales and discounters.

Meanwhile, The Louisville Business Journal had a telling article recently titled: “Major retailer plans to close all of its Louisville-area stores except one,” published on April 22, 2016, which stated: “Kmart is planning to close all but one of its stores in the Louisville area this summer. The retail chain’s parent company, Sears Holding Corp., announced Thursday that a total of 78 Kmart and Sears stores will be closing, and that number includes four Louisville-area Kmart stores, WDRB TV reports.”

And, what exactly was that Wall Street Journal piece saying in addition to all this? Well, read it for yourself; “Glut Plagues Department Stores,” by Suzanne Kapner – and the recommendation from the research firm that in the US there needs to be at least the closure of 800 anchor tenant department stores for profitability to stabilize, that would be about one-fifth of all major department stores. Can you say; Ouch!? For the Retail Sector, I think this is what all retail stock fund managers are collectively saying about now, and one would have to ask; why? Why is this happening?

Well, consider the exuberant growth over the years, and the increase in online sales, expansion of Wal-Mart superstores and the spendable income of Americans declining – due to college tuition costs, health insurance, and the increased costs of things once not heard of, but now necessities of modern life such as: smart phones, cable TV, etc. Wages and Salaries on average have been stagnant and alongside even moderate to nil inflation flat in their growth. The world is changing and the retail world must adapt or die – there is no longer a choice in the matter. Please think on this.

Buying a new car is not an easy decision. It is an expensive thing to buy after a house. You can buy a car with cash or consider several financing options available in the market. When you are looking for a car, one of the smartest moves you can make is to compare financing options just as you compare car models.

What Financing Options are available in the Market?

‘You may be running out of options, but running away from making a decision isn’t an option.’

If your credit score is bad or your loan application is weak, do not think that you cannot buy a car. There are many financing options available with you. You can compare the following options and choose the best option for you:

· Car Loan

A car loan offers flexible terms and it is easy to obtain. A bank or a financing company pays the full price of the car. And, then you have to pay off the lender or the financing company in the form of monthly payments. Usually, the loan is approved on the basis of your credit score and income.

· Personal Loan

If you do not want to use car as collateral, personal loan can be the right choice for you. It is an economical way of financing a car. While obtaining a personal loan, the only condition is that you should have a good credit score. You can get the loan from a local bank or a credit union.

· Leasing

If you opt for leasing, you do not own the car until you have made the final payment. Leasing enables you to use the car, while the financier retains actual ownership of the vehicle. People opt for it as it offers fixed monthly lease rentals and affordable interest rates.

· Dealership Financing

The only thing to remember while obtaining dealership financing is that to do research. Check your credit score and ask for quotes from several dealers before making a decision.

Dealers love lazy car buyers who do not do their homework. Keep in mind that there is no point in bargaining a good price for the new car if you are going to opt for a poor financing deal.

· Online Auto Financing Companies

It has become easy to get approval on a loan with the help of the internet. Online auto financing companies offer a second chance to bad credit borrowers and help them buy a car. When you apply for loans with an online auto financing company, you get the advantage of quicker approval with fewer documents.

Loan Shopping is as important as Car Shopping

Loan shopping is a wise decision. Sometimes, it is the only way you can find a lender who will work with you. Keep in mind the following quick reminders because they will help you to have a better loan shopping experience:

· You should have knowledge of the different financing options that are available in the market before you choose one. It is wise to contact several lenders to find the best loan at the best price.

· Different lenders offer diverse terms. If you want to get better terms, then do your research.

· For a better loan shopping experience, it is important to improve your credit score.

· Pay attention to the amount of monthly payments and be sure if you can afford the same.

· Don’t forget to look at the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) as it takes into account the interest rate and other loan charges.

· Before you approach a dealer, decide the financing option that you would like to opt for buying a car.

Few people can afford to buy a car with cash. Luckily, a lot of financing options are available in the market. Do not say yes to the first financing option that you come across. Instead, compare different options and find the best one that suits your needs.

Are you looking for a way to make money fast? If you have a large utility vehicle, like a pick-up truck, you can retrieve and return shopping carts for a cash reward.

Most every mid to large retail grocery, variety and department store has a stock of shopping carts on hand. They are purchased by the store, of course, so that customers can use them when shopping in their store.

Shopping buggies are expensive. The average cost to the retailer for just one is between 75 and 100 dollars. Large ones like the kind you find at wholesale and club stores can run upwards of 200 dollars or more.

Most retail stores have dozens of them; busy big-box stores may even have hundreds of them. Purchasing enough of them to meet a store’s demand and traffic levels requires a significant expenditure of cash.

It is, therefore, in the best interest of the retailer to protect that investment. Most retailers do their best to make sure that carts remain on store property. However, shopping buggy theft is all too common. The average store loses about $8,000 $10,000 to per year to this problem.

Because they are so expensive to buy, many store owners and retail companies pay cash rewards for the return of their carts which have been stolen (or “borrowed”) and not returned. Cash rewards typically range from 25 to 50 dollars per cart.

Here’s how you can retrieve and return those buggies for cash: contact retailers in your area which have shopping carts. Find out if they pay for returned carts. Many do, but won’t give cash rewards to just anyone. (Store owners don’t want the public to abuse the reward system by stealing carts themselves in order to get the reward.) Usually you have to sign a cash-for-retrieval contract.

You’ll have to provide some forms of identification, usually a driver’s license plus one other item (like a Social Security or credit card). You may have to sign a waiver absolving the store of liability in the event of something unforeseen.

You can make arrangements with any or all of the retailers in your area. The more contracts you have, the more money you can make.

If you’ve lived in your city for any length of time, you’ve probably seen common dump sites for stolen shopping buggies. Visit these areas regularly. Additionally, get in the habit of keeping your eyes open every time you’re out and about town. You’ll probably spot discarded shopping carts regularly. You can pick these up and return them as you come across them, or store them at home until you have several of them.

Advantages of Online Shopping

The Internet has revolutionized the way we shop. Because of the numerous advantages and benefits, more and more people these days prefer buying things online over the conventional method of going into stores.

What are some reasons that many people love online shopping and why is it so popular? Below are my top ten reasons for shopping online.

10 Benefits

Given below is my list of 10 reasons why it is better than conventional shopping.

Convenience. The convenience is the biggest perk. Where else can you comfortably shop at midnight while in your pajamas? There are no lines to wait in or shop assistants to wait on to help you with your purchases, and you can do your shopping in minutes. Online shops give us the opportunity to shop 24/7, and also reward us with a ‘no pollution’ shopping experience. There is no better place to buy informational products like e-books, which are available to you instantly, as soon as the payment goes through. Downloadable items purchased online eliminate the need for any kind of material goods at all, as well, which helps the environment!

Better prices. Cheap deals and better prices are available online, because products come to you direct from the manufacturer or seller without middleman being involved. Many online shops offer discount coupons and rebates as well. Apart from this, online shops are only required to collect a sales tax if they have a physical location in our state, even if we buy from a store across the world.

More variety: The choices online are amazing. One can get several brands and products from different sellers all in one place. You can get in on the latest international trends without spending money on airfare. You can shop from retailers in other parts of the country, or even the world, all without being limited by geography. A far greater selection of colors and sizes than you will find locally are at your disposal. Apart from that, the stock is much more plentiful. Some online shops even provisions in place to accept orders for items out of stock and ship it when the stock becomes available. You also have the option of taking your business to another online store where the product is available.

You can send gifts more easily. Sending gifts to relatives and friends is easy, no matter where they are. Now, there is no need to make distance an excuse for not sending a gift on occasions like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and so forth.

Fewer expenses. Many times, when we opt for conventional shopping, we tend to spend a lot more than planned. There are other outside expenses on things like eating out, transportation, and let’s not forget impulse buys!

Price comparisons. Comparing and researching products and their prices is so much easier online. Also, we have the ability to share information and reviews with other shoppers who have firsthand experience with a product or retailer.

No crowds. If you are like me, you hate crowds when you’re shopping. Especially during festivals or special events, they can be such a huge headache. Also, it tends to be more chaotic when there are more crowds out and this sometimes makes us feel rush or hurried. Grumpy, annoying, and smelly people also annoy me when I’m out shopping. Plus, parking becomes a huge issue. All of these problems can be avoided when you shop online.

Less compulsive shopping. Often times when we’re out shopping, we end up buying things compulsively that we don’t really need. All because shop keepers pressure us or use their selling skills to compel us to make these purchases. Sometimes, we even compromise on our choices because of the lack of choices in those shops.

Buying old or unused items at lower prices. The marketplace on the Internet makes it much easier for us to buy old or unused things at rock bottom prices. Also, if we want to buy antiques, there’s no better place to find great ones.

Discreet purchases are easier. Some things are better done in the privacy of your home. Online shops are best for discreet purchases for things like adult toys, sexy lingerie, and so on. This enables me to purchase undergarments and lingerie without embarrassment or any paranoia that there are several people watching me.

So, have I given enough reasons to choose online shopping over conventional shopping? Please comment below on why you and others prefer it!

Things to remember when Buying from Online Stores

When you are buying from online stores make sure that you check out the following.

Does the online store value your privacy and confidentiality? Is their privacy policy available to read if you want to see it?
How long have they been in business? Are they reputed in business with great reviews from customers?
Does the online store have a way to contact them?
If you’re unhappy with your purchase, do they have a refund policy?
If you take care of the above, Online shopping can be a very rewarding experience because of its numerous benefits.

If you are planning to buy electronics, there is no better option than online electronics shopping. Thanks to the reasonable prices, convenience, wide variety, secured shopping environment and numerous other advantages the online medium of electronics shopping offers to us. However, quite a few individuals still hesitate to shop online because of the frauds and scams online shopping is prone to.

Although online electronics shopping is fun, but sometimes individuals tend to make some mistakes while shopping online and hence, there online shopping experience turns out to be a failure. In order to evade such a situation, one must avoid making some mistakes for the best results. These include:

1. Making a hasty purchase: Decisions made in a hurry often prove to be wrong. So make sure to avoid making quick decisions without evaluating each point of concern before buying electronics online. You must thoroughly check the terms and conditions of the store you are buying from, its return policy, shipping charges, contact details and other significant information.

If there is something about the website that doesn’t appeal to you or does not seem to be up to the mark, simply don’t buy the product. It’s better not to buy a product that doesn’t meet your requirement rather than returning it afterwards.

2. Buying expensive electronics without any discount: Buying expensive electronics at full price is a very common mistake that most individuals tend to make. It is suggested to buy electronic items during the festive season when most of the websites offer the best deals and discount offers on a range of electronic products. Most of the electronic stores offer Diwali discounts, anniversary sales, mid-season sales, winter discounts and more. You should make the most of these deals offered by different stores. You can buy your desired electronic item at a much lesser price at this time of the year.

In addition to the discounts, you can also get free gifts or free shipping as a bonus.

3. Choosing a random website: This is perhaps the most common mistake that people usually tend to commit. Due to our busy schedules, most of us choose any website randomly that offers the best price, but we forget to confirm the authenticity of the site. This may later cause us great loss.

Hence, you should always make a thorough research about the website before purchasing any item from it. Choose a website that’s absolutely transparent with the customers, read its reviews and also check its terms and conditions.

4. Not comparing prices: This is yet another big mistake that most individuals commit while shopping online. Not using the price comparison tools can be very disadvantageous.

Online shopping is known for offering the best prices, so you must use it to your advantage by comparing prices from the competitive websites in order to get the lowest price possible. Several online stores now offer price comparison tools to make your shopping experience even more simple and quick. Isn’t that great?

5. Following unknown email links or advertisements: This is one common mistake that can be very harmful for you. So make sure to avoid following any unsolicited emails or links, even if they emphasize on being authentic and trustworthy. It is because, these links can be a scam that would collect your personal information and misuse it later.

Albeit, online electronics shopping is much simpler and advantageous, it is also prone to scams and cheats. In order to have a safer online shopping experience, you must avoid making some common mistakes listed above. You should stay aware of the aforementioned mistakes and avoid making them at any cost.

Millions of people will go to a mall today. Among them will be single ladies. If your goal is to get more dates, then you have better get to the mall. Now, there are different times of day that you should go there. If you’re older than 18, don’t go after school, try to go during school hours, and try to make sure that you’re not going into shops and areas that are frequented by teenagers. That’s going to be a tough one for you. For others, this is fine, but if you’re over 18, be careful when trying to learn about meeting girls in shopping malls.

Find Similar Interests

You want to visit stores where women go, but that aren’t necessarily sexy. For instance, you don’t want to go to Victoria’s Secret and hang out. But you could go to a place like Hot Topic, which may have women that are into pop culture. Of course, there are other stores, but that’s just a quick example. Look for stores that have clothing for men and women, and try to keep an eye out for those that are shopping alone. Keep in mind that there’s a lot of stores where you can work on meeting girls in shopping malls.

Get Their Phone Number

When you see a woman that is shopping alone, just approach her. Say hello, and compliment them quickly. If they are approachable and smile back, ask for their phone number. Chances are they will either say yes or no. If they say no, wish them well and go away. If they say yes, then simply ask when a good time to call is, and leave. You don’t want a long conversation here, you simply want to get in and get out. Later on, depending on what they tell you about a good time, call them.

Get Coffee

The sure fire way that you’re going to need to consider when meeting girls in shopping malls is simple, they usually visit a coffee shop. Whether it’s for tea or mixed drinks, women love going to these locations. That’s where you can hang out and end up meeting someone. Ask to buy someone a drink, or better yet, get in line ahead of them and buy their drink outright. You’ll find that a great conversation starter can be simply buying someone a drink. You’ll be surprised how quickly this can work, assuming that the person is single.

Meeting girls in shopping malls is not hard. It’s just a matter of going out and being bold. The rewards of being bold are going to shine on you if you just ask. Don’t be scared, don’t be nervous, simply ask women out at the mall. Someone’s bound to say yes.

Shopping online has been a way of life today. You can buy clothes, shoes, books, electronics, appliances, and even food online. Because of the various conveniences online shopping has to offer, a lot of people are choosing this option instead of buying what they need or want from a brick-and-mortar shop.

Even today, online shopping is sometimes still not the safest option. There are still many retailers on the Internet that are unscrupulous and simply want to take the money of buyers. There are also some e-commerce sites that do nothing but steal sensitive information from customers, especially their credit card details.

If you like shopping online, you can still make sure all your sensitive credit card information will not be stolen by dishonest retailers. You can do so by following the tips below:

Shop only from reputable and familiar online shops. Most online shoppers today keep buying from the same e-commerce sites that they trust and had a good experience with. However, what if you want to buy something that is only sold by an online shop that you don’t have any experience with? Experts say that if it’s your first time to shop at an online store, conduct some research to ensure it is a legitimate seller. Check for merchant reviews online or ask for feedback from some of the e-commerce site’s past and present customers. In addition, go over the vendor’s refund policy and contact information. Read the privacy policy properly as well to understand how your information may be used.

Shop at sites that have locked HTTPS connection. Before entering any personal, credit card and sensitive information on a website, make sure the site is using a secure connection with SSL. Look at the browser’s URL bar to see if there’s a padlock showing. Make sure that the web address begins with HTTPS as well. If you can see these two, you are assured that you have a secured connection on that website and that your data is transferred safely and securely when you make a purchase.

Never store credit card details in browsers or online accounts. Online shopping involves a lot of tedious and long electronic forms which means a lot of repetitive typing as you fill out your name, address, phone number, email, etc. And you have to do this every time you have to buy something. If you store personal information on your web browser or your online accounts, you run the risk of having these details hacked. As such, aside from not storing these details, clear the history and cache of your browser after buying something online.

Share as little personal information as possible. There are a lot of online shops that won’t let you checkout without confirming some personal details. If you see the option to checkout as a guest, always choose this option. Also, fill out only the required fields and nothing more. Take the time to read and understand what information they’re asking for and how that data may be used. Again, you can read these on the site’s privacy policy. When online shops have little information about you, your risk of being embroiled in a data breach is lower as well.

Carefully and regularly monitor your credit card statements. Whenever you get your credit card statements, review them carefully for any unauthorized charges. Experts say that printing receipts from online purchases or saving the records you received in your email will make it easier for you to compare your bank statements against your online purchases. If you see any discrepancies, contact your bank and report the issue immediately.

Are you looking for the most happening Halloween costumes? If yes, you can find them online, a reliable and the most popular platform for your entire shopping needs. There is no dearth of online Halloween costume shops that offer a range of eye-catching outfits. Visit them and browse through the available options to find something different and unique. Here, we bring you a list of benefits that can be availed by shopping online for Halloween costume stores.

#1. Extensive Range of Options

Online portals offer a broad range of options in Halloween costumes. Sometimes, such a range is not even available at physical stores. Many of these stores also offer high-quality makeup and fashion accessories to complement with the costume to make it more convincing.

#2. The convenience of Shopping

As Halloween time comes nearer, market frenzy increases, and it becomes tough for the last-minute shoppers to get hold of a costume of their choice. Moreover, the swelling market crowds make it very difficult for the buyers to complete their shopping. Conversely, online shopping offers them with fantastic options, right till the last moment with a degree of convenience and comfort. Customers need not even step out from their home to look for a suitable Halloween costume. The buyers just need to make use of popular search engines on the Internet, typing “Halloween Costume Shops” and they will be amazed to see the sheer number of options available.

#3. Ease of checking out costumes

When shopping online, the shoppers have all the time to browse and check the costume arrangement. Here are many search selection tools available that help to streamline the options they are looking for. You can get size, material, color and many other options. There is no hurry or rush to make an immediate purchase. Moreover, there is no hassle to shop along with other shopping crazies looking for their favorite costumes, jostling for attention from the shopkeeper. Moreover, shoppers also do away with the parking hassles and the effort that goes into shop-hopping and explaining shopkeepers about what one is looking for!

#4. Affordable Rates

Halloween costumes are available online at reasonable rates. Since there are no overhead expenses for online portals as faced by physical stores, the online shops are able to pass on the profit to their customers in the form of reasonably priced products.

#5. Doorstep Delivery

Another advantage of shopping online is the doorstep delivery of the costumes being chosen online. Once you have made your selection, moved on to the payment gateway, shared the delivery details, you just have to sit back and relax as your chosen articles will be delivered to your doorstep in no time.