Shopping from the Comfort of Home

<p>Buying by telephone and mail is a convenient way of shopping for most consumers. As more people have access to a computer, and as more companies sell their products and services online, the Internet is also becoming a convenient way of shopping for most people. <p> Consumers face more choices than ever before, not only when selecting merchandise, but in determining whether to shop through the mail, via the Internet, over the phone, at their local store, or the new mall outside of town. The following tips are what smart shoppers should know about purchasing merchandise through the mail, by telephone, or via the Internet. <p> Shop carefully before buying <p> First, do some comparison shopping. If the product you want is available locally, how does the local price compare with the telephone or Internet price? (Remember to add the price of handling and delivery for orders that are shipped.) Also consider the advantage of receiving the product right away from a local merchant, and of having the merchant nearby if problems develop. (But also remember the cost and time involved in getting to and from the mall.) <p> Watch out for offers that seem unbelievably cheap. The merchandise will most likely be of poor quality, or you may never receive it. <p> Most retail sellers allow a customer to return purchased merchandise within a reasonable time for a full cash refund, store credit, or an equal exchange. Find out the seller's return policy. Many sellers have a very limited return policy. Some do not allow returns. Can you return the item if the item is too large, or the color is not exactly right? Who pays for return postage? If the seller does not allow returns for full cash refunds, store credit or equal exchanges for at least seven days, the seller's refund policy must be conspicuously posted. <p> Find out if the quality and performance of the merchandise are guaranteed. Is there a warranty? If so, check the terms of the warranty. Are repair parts available? Can the item be repaired locally if it needs repair? Who pays for shipping if it needs to be returned to the seller for repair? How long will it take the seller to repair the product and return it to you? <p> Ask the seller for a more detailed description of the merchandise, and ask for a copy of the warranty, if one is offered, if you have any doubts about either. <p> Find out how long it will take the business to ship your order. If the business does not state a delivery time, the maximum time you must wait for shipment is 30 days, according to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule, and a similar rule in effect in California. If the business does not ship the item within the proper time frame, it must notify you of the delay and give you the opportunity and a cost-free method to cancel the order and receive a refund. <p> It is safest to order from reputable merchants who are known to you, your family, or trusted friends. If you have not done business with the merchant before, and the purchase is especially large or important to you, check the business' reputation. If you have any doubt, call a local consumer protection agency or the Better Business Bureau to find out if they have received any complaints about the company. However, if the Better Business Bureau has not received complaints about a business, which does not necessarily, mean there have not been any complaints. Unless you already know the company by its reputation, it is best not to start out with a big order. Instead, find out how the business handles one that is smaller or less important to you. <p> If you decide to order <p> Your name, address, and product information (e.g., stock number, color, size) must be communicated clearly. If you want the item sent to someone else as a gift, it is especially important to give the correct name and address of the person you are sending it to. Most sellers also ask you to provide a means of quick and inexpensive communication, such as a telephone number or e-mail address. Since doing this will involve giving up some of your privacy, give it some thought before you do so. <p> Keep a copy of your order form and any letters you send to the business. If you order by telephone, make a note of the date, time, type of payment, and confirmation number. If you order over the Internet, print out a copy of your order. If the transaction does not pan out, this information may be of help. <p> Never send cash. Pay by check, money order, or credit card so that you have a record of payment. If you do not know the company or its reputation for integrity and competency, it is best to pay only by credit card, since you ordinarily can cancel the payment if the promised merchandise is not delivered. <p> Examine the merchandise immediately when you receive it. Make sure it is what you wanted and ordered. If it is not, telephone or e-mail the business right away. All reputable mail, telephone, and Internet sellers maintain an easy-to-use method of returning such merchandise and either returning your payment or sending the merchandise you ordered. If things do not seem to be going right, notify the business in writing and keep a copy of your letter. Return any merchandise promptly for a refund or exchange. <p> Before buying over the Internet <p> Internet shopping can be as safe and advantageous for consumers as shopping by telephone or mail. You have many more options, including purchase of air transportation, music, books, and almost anything else, but there are also some risks, which you can reduce by acting carefully and cautiously. <p> Find tips about <a href="http://www.healthandnutritiontips.net/gastric_flu_symptoms/gastric_flu_symptoms.html">gastric flu symptoms</a>, <a href="http://www.healthandnutritiontips.net/gluteal_abscess/gluteal_abscess.html">gluteal abscess</a> and other information at the <a href="http://www.healthandnutritiontips.net">Health And Nutrition Tips</a> website. <p> <p></p>

Social Networking Safety Tips For Your Teenagers

With social networking sites being as popular and accessible as ever before, there is no doubt that parents need to use caution when letting their teenagers use these sites. These popular social websites like Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter are excellent places for your teenagers to interact with other teenagers, make new friends and learn more about the larger world around them. These sites can provide safe access for your teenager to meet people from all over the world and interact with teenagers on a whole new level. But these sites can also be dangerous places where people are not always as they seem and could be looking to harm your child. But if you follow these simple safety tips and exercise caution and common sense, you and your teenager will get the most out of safe, social networking.
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<br>Never List Personal Information
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<br>It is important that you teach your teenagers, before they ever touch a keyboard, to never list any personal information anywhere on the internet. Information such as phone numbers, addresses, email accounts, schools or even neighborhoods should never be listed anywhere on the internet. This information may allow others personal access to your child which is exactly what child predators and scam artists use to build trust with teenagers and garner private information.
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<br>Never Have Inappropriate Conversations
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<br>People often feel invulnerable online and feel they can say whatever they please without any repercussion. This is a big misconception. Every computer has tracing mechanisms in IP addresses and other software, that if you make a threat against someone, or violate a law in anyway, you will have to account for it. Teach your teenager there are things that they just shouldn't say online, like racial, sexist, or crude comments, and threats made towards other people.
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<br>Never Agree to Meet Anyone You Met Online Without Supervision
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<br>It is very important that if your child makes new friends online and wishes to meet with them in person that there is extensive supervision. People may not always appear as they seem and you do not want to put your child in a possibly dangerous situation. It is never smart to meet anyone that you met online, but if your child does, then make sure you know everything you can about this person, and that you are there to supervise. It could just about save your child's life.
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<br>Never Giveaway Passwords
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<br>A simple password to your child's email or social web account may be a ticket to identify theft and other potential problems. Others can use this information to divulge inappropriate messages, pictures, or other content that could be harmful to your child or family. Remember that passwords are never requested in emails so teach your teenagers never to divulge this information.
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<br>If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to post it to your site or blog and forward this link to your friends. Have a great day!
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<br>Don't forget to check out our blog.
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<br>About the Author: Jonathan Boyd has written countless articles for Meeting Wave, a free website to <a href=" http://www.meetingwave.com" rel="nofollow">meet people</a> offline, for social or business networking. Check out the MW blog at <a href=" www.meetingwave.com/blog" rel="nofollow">www.meetingwave.com/blog</a>
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Choosing the Right LASTIK Surgeon | ArticlesBase.com

<p>The eyes are one of the most important parts of the body. It gives us the sense of sight in order for us to see our surroundings. The eyes work the same as a camera. Every part of the eyes contributes to the clarity of our vision. Imagine the eye as a camera with a lens cover. The cornea receives the reflection of light and then bends it into the pupil. The pupil is the round dark colored opening in the middle of the colored iris. Both the pupil and the iris work similar to a camera's aperture.<br /><br />The lens is responsible in focusing the light rays in the retina behind the eye. This is the part which becomes blurred when a person has cataract. The retina has millions of small nerve cells which can sense light. They are called cones and nods. The cones are focused in the middle of macula. The cones are capable of detecting different colors and details. <br />The rods can extend beyond the outer part of the retina which allows us to see our peripherals. It can also help the eyes to identify movements and be able to see at night time. The light rays are then converted into electrical impulses by the cells in the retina. The electric impulses created are then passed to the brains by the optic nerve which creates the image we see.<br />The health of the different part of the eye dictates the clarity of our vision. Sometimes there are many factors affecting the quality of our vision which leads us to wear an eyeglass or contact lenses. There are other surgical procedures which can treat different kinds of eye disorders.<br /><br />One of the breakthroughs in treating eye disorders is through Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis or commonly known as LASIK. This is a method of surgical procedure capable of correcting eye problems with a large margin of success rate.<br /><br />LASIK became a very popular method of treatment because patients need not suffer from pain brought about by common surgical procedures. Patients see the results in a such a short time.<br /><br />LASIK procedure is best for astigmatism, nearsighted, farsighted and many other problems. If you have an eye problem and have decided to undergo LASTIK surgery, it is very important to choose the right LASTIK surgeon.<br /><br />This is a crucial decision because it is a surgery and if done improperly it will affect your life or you might even lose your eyesight permanently. So be careful in choosing the surgeon for your LASTIK surgery.<br /><br />A lot of refractive surgeons promote or advertise their centers through daily newspapers, television, radio and print ads. No matter how good their ads, never base your decisions solely on their slogans and marketing employs.<br /><br />It is best to ask the surgeon his or her affiliations whether it with medical schools, hospitals or a medical company which is known for its specialty in such procedure.<br /><br />A good consideration is to choose a surgeon which have affiliations with academic medical centers because they more update on new methods of surgery. Surgeons who are members of the Fellow of the American College of Surgeons are known to be among the best.<br /><br />Some surgeons might mislead you with claims that they have been doing such surgery for more than 15 years. Think again because LASTIK surgery has only been introduced recently.<br /><br />You may also ask for some referrals from your optometrist. You may also inquire through phone calls and ask for more detailed information on their method of surgery.<br /><br />When you have a shortlist of your prospect surgeon, you may ask several more questions to the surgeons when you have an appointment. This will be the best opportunity to ask all questions you want related to the surgery.</p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br /><p>For more information on <a href="http://www.lasiksurgeryfacts.net/what-is-lasik.htm" rel="nofollow">Lasik Surgery</a> and <a href="http://www.lasiksurgeryfacts.net/how-eyes-work.htm" rel="nofollow">How Eyes Work</a>.please visit our website.</p>