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Friday, July 4, 2014

E-COMMERCE AND SHOPPING

eCommerce & Shopping

More and more consumers are doing the majority of their purchases online to avoid the hassles of in-store shopping. Articles, such as books, electronics, clothing and housewares, easily purchased through eCommerce websites have become a popular and profitable business since the Internet was created. Busy lives and the need for two-parent incomes have made online shopping a necessity. Find out more about eCommerce and online shopping and how they benefit your life.

10 Online Clothing Stores like Forever 21

Looking fashionable at a reasonable price is a dream come true for every girl. And your dream is just about to get real with this list of online clothing stores like Forever 21, which cater to your style while taking care of your wallet.
 
What if you could dress each day like Serena Van Der Woodsen? Or like Aria Montgomery? Or continue to look like you are forever 21? No doubt your GQ (glamor quotient) would tank up, but looking your very best would also work kudos for your self-confidence. Every girl intends to dress up and stay in vogue each day. However, professional restraints, budget constraints, and time, refrains some of us from putting in much thought into what we wear.

But what if there was someone who picked out your clothes for you? Decided the style, and helped you shop as per a certain look too? An idea worth giving a thought, isn't it? Well, your solution is online shopping from within the confines of your home, on sites just like Forever 21. Listed below are 10 sites that offer reasonably priced shopping experiences, advice, and offers for dressing up the fashionista in you.

Online Shopping Stores Like Forever 21

ModCloth

What it Offers: A shopping experience that ranges from being vintage to the wardrobe of our very own Jess, the new girl. The prices are slightly on the higher side, but the site does offer some great discounts. Interestingly, it offers you a huge range of apparel depending on the occasion, the fashion time period, color schemes, and some style options that you may want to pick from. What keeps this site fresh at all times is that it claims to add new fashionable pieces of clothing items and accessories almost daily. Once you've visited this site, you will find every reason to be obsessed with it!

Get Shopping @ ModCloth

ASOS

What it Offers: It provides you a huge number of brands under one roof. This site offers fashion apparel for men as well. As there are multiple brands under this one portal, the price range is highly varied. It is a perfect 'go to' site when you have ample time on your hand and an unleashed imagination to create your own look. It claims to be the biggest retailer of fashion and beauty in the U.K. with over 60,000 branded and own label products for both men and women.

Get Shopping @ ASOS

rue21

What it Offers: A youthful collection, reasonable prices, and great sales are three unique selling points of rue21. Raid! That's the one word which perfectly summarizes this online store. Staying true to its name, rue, meaning street in French, and 21 signifying the age we all want to be forever, this site provides clothes for both men and women. The legitimately cute clothing should not be ignored by anyone who wants to stay forever young. This retailer also has shops set up over 47 states allowing its loyal customers to see and feel the fashion they so desperately crave.

Get Shopping @ rue21

Urban Outfitters

What it Offers: If you are looking for the very chic, the very bohemian, the free-spirited, and totally the kind of clothing that is meant for the young at heart, Urban Outfitters is the website that you ought to go to. It is not a website that sells clothes and accessories, but also one that gives you credible advice on beauty, fashion, culture, music, and a whole lot of other things. Once again, this is a site that is for both him and her.

Get Shopping @ Urban Outfitters

1015 Store

What it Offers: A range that is inspired by slight haute-couture and conventional sophistication; however, 1015Store maintains the much-needed 21-year-old-look with its pop colors, collection of quirky accessories, and a signature style statement that you need to find out for yourself. The prices range from under USD 15 to USD 100. Yes, shopping on this site is quite a steal!

Get Shopping @ 1015Store

LuLu*s

What it Offers: LuLu*s started sometime in 1996 and ever since that time, it has grown to provide its loyal customers selected quality pieces of great fashion. This site sells clothes for women only. With amazing sales and a blog, this site does offer great value for money. The site procures its clothing from various designers, making their numbers limited. Thus, this keeps the style quotient truly unique and few in a million. So, if you get dissuaded by the money that you will eventually spend, remember you are only investing it in something more worthwhile.

Get Shopping @ LuLu*s

Gypsy Warrior

What it Offers: Although the name says Gypsy Warrior, the theme of this online clothing store diverges a little. As you browse through their site, the clothing line that appears tends to be a mixture of goth and punk. Nonetheless, the site walks the line of Forever 21 by selling clothes that appeal to a younger generation, or to a generation that wants to keep the young alive. The main inspiration for the collection on this site is rock 'n' roll, the tattoo culture, NYC street style, and the love for vintage that designers who run this site have.

Get Shopping @ Gypsy Warrior

Charlotte Russe

What it Offers: While enlisting online clothing stores like Forever 21, we surely cannot forget Charlotte Russe. From punchy printed tops to dreamy dresses, this site has a perfect mixture of sober and bold. If you want to look cute and fashionable, this is the place to be. Besides running an online store, Charlotte Russe also has over 400 outlets across the country. This makes it very easy to try out the clothes on offer, just in case you are unsure of its fit.

Get Shopping @ Charlotte Russe

GoJane

What it Offers: If you call yourself a frugal 'fashion fanatic', but someone with an immaculate sense of dressing, GoJane is your go-to site. The interesting part about this website is that it does not really follow the tides of the fashion world, but rather intends to make a mark of its own. Vibrant colors and bold designs make this site worth a visit and definitely worth a purchase. This site believes in, and thus aims at, raising confidence levels by improving style sense amongst young people.



How to Get Free Shipping on Amazon
The most popular shopping website, Amazon provides home delivery service. But there are shipping charges attached to this delivery, which pinches shoppers the most. In this Buzzle article, we provide tips on how to get free shipping on Amazon. 
 
 
The popularity of online shopping has increased drastically in the past few years, and the concept of home delivery with shipping charges has become the preferred norm. E-shopping websites charge their customers additional money for delivering ordered or purchased stuff. However, while shopping with Amazon, you can save shipping charges. How? We, at Buzzle, have listed a few tips that will show you how to avail free shipping on Amazon.

Place an Order of Minimum USD 35

If you place an order of USD 35 or more, you can avail free shipping service. The products that are ordered will reach your doorstep in 5-8 business days once all the ordered items are available for shipping. The two methods to avail this opportunity are listed below.

Place an Order Using the Shopping Cart

Proceed to checkout.
Ship the items to your U.S. address.
Next, select the shipping preference as Group my items into as few shipments option.
Select Free Shipping as your shipping speed.

Place an Order Using 1-Click

On the 1-Click confirmation page, click on Review or edit your 1-Click orders.
Next, in the shipping speed option, click on Change.
Select Free Shipping option, in the shipping speed tab.

Essentials to Avail Free Shipping:

Ship to a U.S. delivery address from the said 50 states only.
Ship to APO/FPO address with U.S. zip codes.
No geographical restrictions on the products.

Conditions Where Free Shipping is Not Applicable:

Your order contains items without the 'free shipping' tags.
You have placed an order that includes special products.
The total purchase or order doesn't add up to USD 35.

Amazon Student

If you are a student, you can avail free shipping on order or purchase. Amazon Student offers free membership to college students (who are enrolled in at least one class). Students should have a valid .edu email id. Once a student enrolls in this membership program, he will receive six months free Amazon Prime service. Apart from this, he will be entitled to 2-day free shipping and one-day shipping at USD 3.99, without a minimum purchase limit. However, once the trial membership expires, it will be automatically upgraded to paid membership for USD 39/year.

Amazon Mom

This program provides parents and caregivers some monetary relief by offering discounts on baby products. This membership is free for three months, after which, it will convert into a paid one. During the trial period, parents receive free 2-day shipping and one-day shipping at USD 3.99, even if the minimum purchase limit is not met. Apart from this, customers are entitled to a 20% discount on diapers and wipes alongside video streaming and Kindle rental discounts.

Amazon Prime

To enjoy two-day free shipping for most of your purchases, you need to be a part of the Amazon Prime paid membership program. However, during the initial free trial period, you can enjoy 2-day free shipping and one-day shipping at USD 3.99, without a minimum purchase limit. Apart from this, you can enjoy instant streaming of select movies and TV shows along with free monthly Kindle book rental.

Top 5 Engineered Wood Flooring Manufacturers
Engineered wood floors are relatively cheaper than solid wood floors, and are less prone to damage, like dings, scratches, and abrasions. In this Buzzle article, we give you some of the top manufacturers of this type of wood flooring. 
 
Engineered wood is nothing but wood that has been engineered, or made, to exact specifications. Though most people seem to think that engineered wood is inferior to solid wood flooring, this is not true. If installed properly, very few can make out the difference between engineered wood flooring and solid wood flooring.

In fact, in some cases, like, for example, in basements, it is better to use engineered wood instead of solid wood. This is because engineered wood is more resistant to moisture, and is perfect for basements, that are usually damp, and have higher humidity levels. Invented in the 1960s, engineered wood, instead using a solid plank of wood, uses several layers (up to 12) of ply, that are compressed and glued together to form a single plank. This is then topped off with different finishes, giving it the impression and look of solid wood. Thanks to the multiple layers, engineered wood proves to be stronger, more durable, and more resistant to moisture and damage. These planks then can be glued, stapled, nailed, or just placed on the current floor or sub-floor, with gravity doing the job of keeping it in place.

If you have decided to install engineered wood flooring in your house or office, then the following are among the best manufacturers of this type of flooring. Each of them follow a unique process to make some of the best flooring options available. You can visit their websites to see the options they have available, and then contact them to get your flooring needs fulfilled.

Shaw Floors

A Fortune 500 company, Shaw Floors has been in business since 1946. Starting off as small rug company, today they are part of the Berkshire Hathaway group, and one of the biggest carpet and flooring companies in the world. With values such as honesty, integrity and passion, and a vision to create a better future for their customers, they are among the top flooring manufacturers you can opt for.
Name
Shaw Floors

Established
1946

Website
shawfloors.com

Contact
1-800-441-7429

With over 55 exotic engineered wood finishes, you have a wide range to choose from. Prices for engineered wood at Shaw Floors start from as low as USD 8 and go up to a relatively affordable USD 14. The Shaw Floors website not only provides an installation PDF to install the floors yourself, but also features a 'My Shaw Floors' option, where you can upload photographs of your room and see how the finish looks in your room. These can also be saved and shared, enabling you to get an opinion from others before spending even a single dollar.

Depending on the product, Shaw also provides comprehensive warranties. Some examples of engineered wood finishes from Shaw Floors include Cypress Mountain, Castlewood Oak, Brushed Suede, and Castlewood Hickory.

Mohawk Flooring

Mohawk Industries has been around for more than a century, providing customers with top-quality flooring options, in addition to other services. The company uses state-of-the-art equipment, and is well known for its superior quality products at affordable prices.
Name
Mohawk Flooring

Established
1878

Website
mowhawkflooring.com

Contact
1-800-266-4295

With more than 200 finishes of engineered hardwood floor options to choose from, Mohawk ensures that you can get the perfect finish you want. While pricing depends on a lot of factors, including where you live, the company has a lot of offers to make it affordable to consumers. Engineered wood floors from Mohawk use special 'ArmorMax Finish with Scotchgard Advanced Repel' technology, that ensures prevention of stains and abrasions. So sure is the company of their technology, that most engineered wood floors come with a 50-year warranty. Mohawk engineered wood flooring reviews disclose happy customers, which suggests that the company is doing a top-notch job of producing floors.

Engineered floors from Mohawk also feature UniClic® technology, that makes them among the easiest to install. Examples of finishes from Mohawk's line of engineered wood floors include Oak Cocoa, Hickory Country, Cognac Maple, and Tigerwood Natural.

Quanex Building Products

Starting off in 1927 as the Michigan Seamless Tube Company, Quanex is essentially a company that deals in all building products. The company wants to, in their own words, "be the preferred supplier in every market we serve", which considering their range of products, is commendable. They are also an environmentally friendly company, that in addition to manufacturing energy efficient products, also makes sure that their manufacturing processes are eco-friendly as well.
Name
Quanex Building Products

Established
1927

Website
quanex.com

Contact
713-961-4600

With almost 50 finishes to choose from, Quanex too is a major provider of engineered wood flooring. The flooring is provided in finished and unfinished options. Quanex follows the 'sawn' method for its top layer, which ensures that their products can be refinished at least a couple of times, making them last longer. Their top layer also features multiple coats of aluminum oxide, making it extremely resistant to abrasions and dings.

Thanks to all this, Quanex can afford to offer a 35-year warranty for residential floors, and a 5-year warranty for commercial floors. Examples of finishes that Quanex offers include American Cherry, Red Oak, Hard Maple, and Black Walnut.

Mannington Flooring

Mannington has been in the flooring business since 1915, and is a family-owned business since the last 4 generations. They aim to be "the best people to do business with in the flooring industry", and looking at the success they have achieved in almost a century of business, this seems to be true. With a plethora of awards won for their various products, we wouldn't hesitate at all to recommend this company for your flooring needs.
Name
Mannington Flooring

Established
1915

Website
mannington.com

Contact
1-800-356-6787

When it comes to engineered wood flooring, Mannington claims that their floors are stronger than others, thanks to the several layers of 'plies' they use. With over 125 varieties of engineered wood finishes, you won't be stuck for choice when it comes to Mannington. The company also features a 'Show this Floor in Virtual Decorator' option, where you can choose a flooring sample, and apply it to a picture of a room (static pre-uploaded image) to see how it looks.

Depending on the type of finish you opt for, Mannington offers different warranties. They provide a PDF with all the different types of warranties offered, along with care instructions, and claim information. Examples of Mannington's engineered flooring finishes include American Maple, Madison Oak, Montana Oak, and Atlantis Prestige Brazilian Cherry.

Mullican Flooring

Mullican is a relatively new player in the flooring business, being founded in 1985. Since then, the company has been using state-of-the-art equipment and technology to ensure that its products remain among the highest-quality in the world. Mullican produces almost all of its flooring in the United States itself, thus making sure that it can keep an eye on the quality during each step of the process.
 
How to Sell Loose Gemstones
If you possess a set of precious loose gemstones, you can be both happy and perturbed. Happy because they can fetch you good money, and perturbed because if you sell at the wrong places, you can be ripped off! So, do your research beforehand and get your gems sold at a reasonable price. This Buzzle article gives you some helpful tips on how to sell loose gemstones the right way. 
 
While a significant number of buyers buy these precious jewels only when they are studded in a piece of jewelry―earrings, pendants, bracelets, rings―there are some buyers who prefer buying the gemstone first, and then getting it studded in a customized jewelry design they have in mind. In fact, many people, especially the older generation, like to collect these stones purely for aesthetic or sentimental reasons, perhaps as a hobby to adore their glimmer, or because they have been in the family for decades.

There are a lot of reasons why you would want to sell these gems. Firstly, if you don't have any reason to hold on to them, they are a good means to get some instant cash. Secondly, selling them would be an experience in itself, that is sure to teach you some rules in the business. Yes, this whole process is pure business, and you are sure to come across many "businessmen" who are likely to play many tricks to get these pricey stones at the minimum prices. You have to put up your guard and be prepared to sideline such intimidating encounters.

Essential Steps for Selling Loose Gemstones

1. Know Your Gems Well

How did these gemstones come to you? Why do you wish to sell them off? Be ready for these questions that will come your way through interested buyers. Keep in mind that the way you answer their queries, will determine if they can trust you with the purchase or not. It would be good if you know your history well―where do these gems come from? What is their cut? Have these been tested? The reason why you must be prepared with these answers is because the market is loaded with the practice of fake imitations being sold at the price of a real jewel. Also, these imitations are so perfect that it is very difficult to differentiate the fakes from the real ones. Which is why, the next step is, by far, the most crucial one.

2. Get Them Appraised by a Professional

Trust us when we say this―there are many professional buyers out there who are in constant search of ignorant sellers, who fail to identify their product's (in this case, gemstones') true worth. Which is why, make it a point to get the gemstones appraised by a renowned gemological institute, such as the Gemological Institute of America. You can also go through the website of the American Society of Appraisers to find a trustworthy appraiser in your area. This will give you a fair idea of the price of the gemstones, and the price you should quote to the buyers. Getting the report of authenticity would also eliminate buyers who rip you off by stating excuses such as, "the gems are of low quality" or "they are fake".

3. Evaluate Your Options

Once you have the much-needed report in hand, start evaluating your options to advertise your jewels in a target market. You could either target jewelry shops, pawn shops, advertise in the print media or virtual media. We suggest to try all these options if you can, and settle for a deal that seems to be the most profitable. Other than inquiring at jewelry stores and pawn shops, advertising on websites such as eBay, Craigslist, and Overstock may prove to be helpful. In fact, we came across a website called pawnbanc which claims to give a good price for loose gemstones and diamonds. According to the website, it has been acknowledged by high-end names such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, and some major TV networks, and ensure that the transactions are safe and secure.

4. Place the Advertisements

Presentation is extremely important. You need to lure the buyers through effective advertising. For this, you need to click some high-resolution pictures of the gemstones from different angles. Get the gems cleaned professionally if they've been gathering dust in your safe for the past few years. You can place these pictures with a catchy byline in the print media (newspapers, local magazines, brochures, pamphlets) and online sites mentioned in the previous point. Don't forget to mention that these have been tested by a renowned appraiser. If possible, try to provide a copy of the report online, or give important details about its findings so that potential buyers can eliminate any relevant doubts.

5. Insure the Shipment

Seal the deal with the best offer you get. Remember, you must be flexible with your expectations. While we do expect our goods to fetch us maximum money, this usually is not the case in reality. In fact, you may have to deal with some additional costs involved in the evaluation of gemstones, placing advertisements, and shipment. In the end, you may or may not get the desired price, but at least, you won't be ripped off drastically! Once you've got the cash and it's time for you to ship the gems, make sure that the package is insured so that in case it gets lost or misplaced, you can claim the money.

The aforementioned steps will help you avoid the mistakes that most people end up making. For instance, in the absence of a formal appraisal of the gems, a pawn-shop owner, or a dishonest jeweler may offer you half the actual price of the stone. Many might say that these are "fake" and that you should be grateful for the peanuts that are being offered to you for these. On a final note, we would advice you to undertake this task with some time in hand―at least 2 to 3 weeks. It has been observed that urgency or desperation could lead to great losses, you wouldn't want to bear that, would you? 
 
7 Awesome Alternatives to Groupon
Groupon is a wonderful site to pick up discount coupons for your many shopping needs. However, owing to its humungous popularity, discount coupons are all gobbled up within minutes of going on sale. This Buzzle article lists some amazing alternatives to Groupon that are just as good. 
 
Whether we admit it or not, the truth is that we all love freebies! Little wonder then that retailers try to cash in on our perpetual quest to make a saving on any and everything with some rather smart pricing. So, while something priced at USD 100 might sell a handful of units, a price tag of USD 99.99 seems a lot more appealing to potential buyers. While you might not quite make a huge saving on these slyly-priced products, there is a place where your dream of discounts on any and everything actually do come true.

Groupon is probably every shopper's delight. Think of the site as one that does charity for you, me, and everyone! It offers discount coupons for a range of products, right from food to cars. The popularity of this site is a double-edged sword, really, with most of the best deals picked up within minutes. The good news is that there are many sites similar to Groupon that offer deals as good or, at times, even better than it. Here's a look at these sites where you stand to make an absolute steal on goods and services.

Alternatives to Groupon

LivingSocial
The site has a very simple, yet engaging layout. Users are greeted by a sign in page, wherein the user can either log in to his/her existing account, or select his location and provide his email address to register. Offers are presented as thumbnails with a relevant image of the product/service and the value of the coupon. The most recent offers are displayed on top, just by the side of the extensive category list. The search tool on LivingSocial lets you search for a product/service according to location.

Website: LivingSocial

8coupons
8coupons is a very interesting site that brings in the best deals from around town. The site compiles and lists the best deals from Groupon, Scoutmob, GiltCity, LivingSocial, and the website Restaurant. You can sign in using your existing account on the site, or look for deals once you provide your email id and zip code. You can even select offers from an interactive map which displays all the deals in a particular area.

Website: 8coupons

Tippr
This is a great site for people looking for offers on gadgets and electronic goods. There is a long list of categories to choose from, right from travel packages to pet products. The most popular deals pop up on top, while you can use the search tool to pick the product/service of your choice by location.

Website: Tippr

Seize the Deal
This is the perfect site for foodies looking for a great bargain at their favorite eating joints. Once you select your location, you are presented with a list of offers with a brief about the savings you stand to make. While the site does not have the longest list of deals, it sure has some real good ones. There's also the option for users to bid for certain items on the site. Offers can be sorted according to location, and the handy search tool helps you get to your product/service faster.

Website: Seize the Deal

HomeRun
A simple non-cluttered website, HomeRun lets users look for the best deals available in their area. It has some great exclusive offers, especially for cosmetics and fashion accessories. The lack of a site-wide search tool though is a bummer.

Website: HomeRun

Yipit
Yipit is probably one of the most organized discount sites out there. Once you register on the site with your email address and your location, you're directed to a page that lets you choose the avenues that interest you. There are six categories to choose from, with their own subcategories which you can simply click on to select. Once you pick a nickname for yourself and type in your zip code, you are greeted by a long list of offers related to your choices. Offers from various other discount sites are also listed here.

Website: Yipit

Fab
Fab is a Mecca for anyone looking for great deals on home accessories and furniture. The site has a very clean and uncluttered UI and has a very intuitive layout. Products and services are broadly divided into 7 categories. Placing your mouse on any of these category tabs reveals a drop-down list of other subcategories for you to choose from. By default, the best offers from each category are displayed as scrollable thumbnails with a synopsis of the offer. The search tool on the site is great, and is almost always right on the money when it comes to pulling up a relevant search.
 
10 Tips for Smart Shopping at a Garage Sale
A yard sale may turn out to be a great means to get some awesome things at great bargains, provided you are well-prepared for it. Yes, you need to be ready and relaxed, not only physically but mentally too. This Buzzle article gives you 10 tips to amplify your garage-sale shopping experience that will ensure you get the best out of the event.
 
10 Tips for Smart Shopping at a Garage Sale
A yard sale may turn out to be a great means to get some awesome things at great bargains, provided you are well-prepared for it. Yes, you need to be ready and relaxed, not only physically but mentally too. This Buzzle article gives you 10 tips to amplify your garage-sale shopping experience that will ensure you get the best out of the event.
 
 

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