December 8, 2005

Expert offers tips for last-minute online holiday shopping

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Online shopping may help holiday procrastinators with gift buying, but a Purdue University expert has additional tips gift givers can use when they find themselves on a tight deadline.

Sorin Matei, assistant professor of communication, says purchasing gifts from Web sites can be more convenient, but buying a poor quality product can tarnish the thought that counts.

Here are Matei's tips for buying online:

1. Always check out a computer, electronic device or appliance on a review Web site, such as Cnet.com or ConsumerReports.org. Make sure reviewers are not associated with the manufacturer.

2. Compare professional reviews with consumer reviews. The truth is often somewhere between, Matei says.

3. Look for clues in the product description and reviews to see if the product is easy to use or assemble.

4. Pay attention to reviews that criticize the product. Even if nine out of 10 reviews are positive, look closely at the one that is not. One out of 10 represents 10 percent, and that can be interpreted as 10 percent of the products didn't work.

5. Use a basic Google search. You never know what you may find.

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Sorin Matei, (765) 494-7780, smatei@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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