Internet shopping is on the upswing for more reasons than just that consumers want to save gas and avoid crowds at the mall. Where else can you find a gold- dipped leaf necklace whose purchase means you’ll end up with not only an object of beauty but they’ll plant a tree too?
Discovering the website that has just the right item for the person who isn’t easily satisfied cuts out a lot of the hassle inherent in the shopping process, namely wading through piles of undesirable merchandise before finding great goods.
Tracey Tee, the Denver-based co- founder with Lynda Keeler of , says her site aims to be such a place. Tee, 31, who is the merchandise buyer, operations chief and “content creator” of the site, says she aims to offer merchandise that is “beautifully designed and insanely useful.” The gold-leaf necklace was among her recent offerings.
The site features one item per day and gives an incentive, such as free shipping or a discount. Merchandise stays listed on the site until the item is sold out.
Among the things Tee likes for the holidays are such “green” items as Envirosax shopping bags, which sell for $34.50 for a set of four; a cleaning set from Boulder-based Twist; stainless steel beverage bottles from Sigg, $19.75; and recycled- glass jewelry from Drika B.
Tee’s tips on making the Internet shopping experience successful include:
Subscribe to newsletters of favorite sites so you’ll be alerted to sales and specials, shipping deals, family rates, etc.
Learn about the product before buying it: Does the site offer dimensions, give a detailed description, have a sharp photo and informative text? has paragraph-length descriptions of items and includes comments from its team of testers.
Find out if all items are in stock before you buy them.
Be sure payment information is secure. When you are ready to enter a credit-card number, the page should have an “https” designation, meaning it’s a secure transaction. Also look for the “VeriSign” logo on the page.
Know the site’s shipping policies and rates. , for example, charges a flat rate of $7.95 to a single address whether an order includes one item or five.
Check return policies before making purchases. If you’re buying the item as a gift, make sure you know the recipient’s size and color preferences.
Keep in mind that shipping problems aren’t always the company’s fault. As Tee says, “We pack with a lot of love and care, but once it’s shipped, it’s out of our hands.”
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
