Posts Tagged ‘online shopping’

Conscious Consumerism is…

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Conscious consumerism is being aware of where your money really ends up when you spend it. It’s the practice of purchasing goods and services that the consumer (you) considers to be produced in an ethical manner.

Money leaves a social and environmental footprint wherever it goes. So if a company makes a habit of spilling oil in the ocean or refusing to give its employees benefits, you’re unknowingly saying “yes!” to all that by purchasing their stuff.

On the flip-side, conscious consumers are aware of all this and avoid products that do harm to or exploit humans, animals or the natural environment. They not only favor ethical products but also boycott merchandise and companies that act unscrupulously.

Making it Work: Internet Shopping Entrepreneurs Talk Shop

Monday, June 27th, 2011

Carla Holtze and Kimberly Skelton used business school as an excuse to do what they already wanted to do: create a social website that roughly imitates the experience of having your best friend give you the thumbs-up or thumbs-down in the dressing room. Thus was born WingTipIt.com.

But starting a company isn’t easy – especially when it involves learning new technology in a relatively new industry. Watch them talk about what’s worked and what hasn’t:

>> TILE brings you exclusive opinions, explanations, and interviews from experts in every industry. Have a burning question or an expert you’d like to see interviewed? Just Ask TILE!

Online Shopping Gets Smarter [Than You]

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011


(credit: Unhindered by Talent)

Guess what? Retailers are getting smarter and smarter when it comes to separating you and your cash (or credit card info, to be more precise).

First there was members-only designer discount site Gilt Groupe, with time limits for checking out with your items. Then we saw the daily deals companies like Groupon and LivingSocial. There’s Rent the Runway, where you can rent a hot little piece of couture for an event for under $200.

And now, for a mere $30 monthly subscription fee, online shops like JewelMint will get to know your tastes and offer up pieces it’s sure you’ll like. All based on an algorithm. This is in some ways even cooler than the computer from Star Trek: The Next Generation that made Captain Picard all those cups of tea with a simple voice command.

The online shopping world will surely continue to evolve, getting cooler, more convenient, and quite a bit more manipulative in the process. So don’t forget to bring your brain when you go on your next online shopping spree.

Think you’re a conscious consumer? Take our Where Does the Money Go? challenge!

Guess what? You’re probably committing tax fraud on a regular basis! Yes, you!

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011


(photo credit: swanksalot)

Did you know that New York State requires residents to pay sales tax on items they order from Amazon.com?

Not at the time of purchase, because Amazon doesn’t calculate state taxes. But when you file your state tax return every year, you’re supposed to tell the state exactly how much unpaid sales tax you owe on everything you’ve purchased from out-of-state retailers (i.e., almost everything you buy online). And at the end of the year, you’re supposed to write a check for that amount.

Which, of course, nobody does. So states have been trying to pass laws requiring online retailers like Amazon, FatWallet, and Overstock to collect sales tax at the time of purchase.

Why all the sudden fuss? Well, most states are facing multi-billion-dollar budget deficits these days, and unpaid sales tax on online purchases could add up to more than $10 billion this year. Aside from selling the local park to a private company, taxes and traffic tickets are really the only ways a state can hope to raise the money it needs.

When you’re low on cash, don’t you suddenly start thinking about all the money that’s owed to you?

Click here to learn about hidden taxes, tax evasion in Switzerland, and tax breaks for do-gooders.

Your Clickable Drugstore, Complete With Robots

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Soap.com will revolutionize, digitize your drugstore experience.

  • The owners of Diapers.com, a company that turns an impressive profit selling, yes, diapers, have decided to take on all commonplace household products digitally by launching Soap.com this summer.
  • Although big sites like Drugstore.com and Amazon.com already offer online drugstore products, Soap.com believes its strong grasp on logistics will set it apart.
  • Soap.com possesses a unique warehouse technology that includes robots which determine the most efficient way to pack products. They also physically retrieve the items from the warehouse shelves.
  • Orders arrive within two days, and shipping is free.

Facts & Figures

  • Diapers.com sold $182 million worth of diapers and baby products in 2009 and anticipate $300 million in 2010.
  • Soap.com expects to carry 40,000 products by the end of the year.
  • Currently, the offline drugstore market generates $125 billion. The online market makes $8 billion.

Best Quote

“These are products you bought a thousand times before and don’t need to see or touch them again.  These are chores.” - Vinit Bharara, Cofounder of Quidsi, which owns Diapers.com

Is it OK to buy stuff online with your credit card?

Monday, October 5th, 2009

Shopping online is wonderful. You can shop in your pajamas, you can compare prices without going all over town, and you have virtually every store to choose from. However, many people are still worried about the safety of buying online. Fortunately, online stores have realized this and taken steps to ensure your credit card information stays safe.

You should never simply trust a website because it is a well-known brand. Check the bottom of the page to see what type of security the website uses. Here are several tips to keep your sensitive information to yourself:

  • Use a credit card instead of a debit card when shopping online. Many credit card companies offer full fraud protection that keep you from being responsible for any fraudulent purchases. There are also pre-paid credit cards that you can get rid of once you’ve used up the balance. These cards aren’t linked to any of your account or personal information, and they make it hard for thieving hackers to steal a lot of money from you.
  • One easy way to check the security of the website is to look closely the URL. When you are entering sensitive information, the URL should always be https:// instead of http:// which ensures it is secure.
  • Lastly, it is important to shop at your own computer and not on a public one. Public computers could be infected with spyware and any information you enter could be captured by hackers.

It is important to constantly keep up to date with latest security features to make sure you are taking the correct precautions when purchasing online but following these tips is a first step to ensuring your sensitive informations stays safe.