It was a not much noticed day promoted by the hungry online trading giants. But as of 2008, cyber Monday became the single day where more people throng to online e-commerce sites in a calendar year. The concept itself was a grand success in all sense.

Nevertheless it has brought much advantage to the consumer side too. This is a day when you can get the best of the deals and bargains that you have ever imagined. Moreover free shipping and valuable gifts are all waiting for you in the online sales. This is especially true of the electronic gadgets.

To get the most out of this cyber Monday

1. Sign in for newsletters of your favorite online shop and you would get the best of best.
2. Get on to sites like cybermonday.com and similar deal site to grab the opportunity at the earliest.
3. Seek out coupon codes, either online or offline. Make a note of retailmenot.com
4. Order through a reward site. You could get more offers than when you directly buy from an e-commerce website. Just check out upormise.com, fatwallet.com, mypoints.com
5. Always compare prices before you shop.

And for your safety check out the previous articles on eshopster.

Safe shopping tips

Saw an HDTV, plasma over your friend’s house and you would definitely consider the option of buying one for yourself. When the world goes for the smallest, in the television manufacturing industry the largest is the bargain, the same reason why you prefer a cinema to television. But considering the same options, if you are confused on the shopping side have a look at this HDTV buying guide in brief.

1. Brand: You may see a variety of brands ending with ‘ic’s and ‘io’s which are very well trying to grab a part with the brand popularities of the well known ones. They may sound less expensive. But it will surely cost dear within a few months of usage. So consider the famous brands of Samsung,
2. Price: As with any other electronics, cheapest is not only the worst but also the most costly in the long run. But you may consider online shopping to get the better deals. Just confirm the brand and model visiting one of the electronic shops. Check the online stores of the popular brands too (for the paranoids). Make sure these have fair return and replacement policies.
3. Rooming in: The most important factor in selecting the TV is your room size and lighting. Choose one that matches your room-not too big, nor too small. Bigger ones are to strain your eyes and neck. You would just want to switch off your TV and get a nap within a week or two after buying it. If the room is well-lit an LCD TV would suit your room. Plasma TVs would give a glare from the protective coating over them. However, plasma TVs would be the best in dim-lit rooms where the picture quality is better than you had imagined. The glance at the show room may deceive you as the large rooms would be suited for the large TVs and they may look mesmerizing there. But they may not be fitting yours.
4. Picture: Here, everything is individualized. The picture quality that would fit you may not be enough for someone else. So choose the one that is best in your own eyes. Cross-check the blackness of the blacks, whiteness of the whites, realistic look of the colours, motion blur and glare factors.
5. High-def content: Even if you have the best, expensive and the largest HDTV brand available in the country the picture would be complete disaster on it. If you buy a high-definition TV, you should definitely have high-definition content. A quality DVD, Bluray player is a must for your home-theatre set up and high definition cable service is more important if you choose to watch sports and tv shows. These would burrow into your savings more than the TV did and make a budget ahead of the buy.

This would very well be more than deep enough an HDTV buying guide. The future is that of HDTVs and the prices are to come down for sure. It would never be a waste of your resources unless you do not earn enough. But I would rather not consider your financial backgrounds in guiding you buying your favorites.

Market is flooded with faux leather stuffs which can be identified only by experts. Eshopster is humbly trying to create a consumer cautious expert in you. Genuine leather is something worth keeping for a while all those faux ones would either perish on its own or you would discard them too soon. This is a product for which you should take great care buying from the store and the greatest care shopping online. Check these for your genuine leather jacket (as well as any other leather products).

1. Genuine leather tag: Although it is possible to imitate anything online providing any labels, many a time the true ones come with a tag saying ‘genuine leather’. But it is not a dependable factor. Always take care in looking for some words that would give clue to identifying the faux like synthetic, man-made, designer, leather-like and all such sort of things end up with your shopping cart filled with a real duplicate.
2. Shine: All that glitters is not gold and here those shining ones are never the gold.  They look like the surface of butter and is smooth but thick.
3. Leather grain: Yet another thing which helps you distinguish both. However, stamps impersonating leathery grain design are more commonly used nowadays. You can very well appreciate good leather offline with their smell which naturally is moderate. Faux leather is either over-perfumed or lack the smell. The warm, thick ones are surely the ones that you have to go for.
4. Quality store: Always check out from a quality store. Those e-stores having some offline stores offers you the best in leather.

Get ready this winter with a jacket for yourself and gift one to your nearest. Warm wishes for the holiday season to all the readers.

A stroller is a product which actually needs to be custom built for you and your child’s needs and lifestyle. Hence it is better to shop yourself your baby’s stroller. These highly personal items which you use too often need to be errorless if it has to stand.

1. Select the type: First of all you have to select the type of stroller you need. If you travel too often in busy subways, cabs and trains, the best solution is a light-weight one which can be folded easily. For long walks an air filled tyred stroller is necessary. But your car needs to be large enough to accommodate it. You also need large tyres if you are using it in irregular terrains, unpaved side paths and over snow. Otherwise it would be found to difficult to traverse such paths. Jogging strollers are available helpful during your workouts and jogging sessions. Most of these have great shock absorption due to better cushioning.
2. Age: Consider the age of the baby and whether he/she can sit up. Otherwise a reclining stroller with all sides covered is essential. Check whether the baby can sit well in a car if it is a seating type.
3. Price: Strollers come at all range of prices from $75 to $750. The price mainly depends upon the material of build, its lightness and grade. Fabric, cushions and tyre quality are also reflected in the prices. This does not mean that the hind end ones are better. Wheel, handle, buckle malfunction are common. Prices do increase with better features like adjustable handles and swivel back seats. An average travelling person needs just a $250 stroller. If your travels are too infrequent, a $150 one is enough.
4. Test drive: Try the stroller at least once at a shop (even if you are going online shopping). Check the material and build, the wheels, handle and fabric. Compare your ease of use especially during folding, locking and applying brakes and whether height is right for you.
5. Certification: Certification from ASTM is enough for your selection of the product. Even though other customers have had good experience with non-certified items, better go for the certified one. The seal may be seen somewhere on the stroller.
6. Warranties: Check whether your stroller comes with a warranty and a return policy (at least 20 days). So it is better not to buy a stroller in advance since by the time you are using it, the returning period would be over. While buying online, be sure you get it from a seller with 100% satisfaction guarantees or one with an offline shop.

Get your kid rolling…

Memory cards are one of the most frequently damaged goods especially when bought from an online seller. This is mainly because duplicates of famous brands as well as local illegitimate brands are available to lure customers with low price and increased space. Few of the things which are to kept in mind when buying a memory card for your phone or camera are enlisted.

Price: Low prices are not always and never the best. They are but cheap imitations and are never up to the mark as per my own and some of my colleagues’ experience. It is better to go for something with an average price- meaning something with price similar to that of your local market.

Brand: You know the famous brands in memory card industry- Sandisk, Kingston, Sony etc etc. You will have to regret while buying these brands only until you find that it was a duplicate made somewhere in China or Eastern Europe. Otherwise these are pretty safe and cost-effective.

Capacity: Higher capacity drives are never any better, but may be unproductive and has frequent complaints and data loss than the lower ones. Capacities less than 8GB would suit most of our needs and are enough. Those 80 and 160 GB memory cards and pen drives over the screen are misleading and mischievous.

Warranty: Something which warranties you is most probably, not fake. Usually these come with 1-3 years of warranty. So check for it and ask for it.

If you ever get a chance to check the device, do it. Copy files to its full capacity and copy it back to your hard disk. If it is faked, you will notice that some unknown files are being copied back with unknown extensions. Do it a few times to confirm after formatting. Check the photos if parts of it are missing or any change in colours have occurred. You don’t have to pay for the half pictures and *.123 files you have got, only if you think before you buy.

Like any other shopper I too have got confused while selecting products for purchase. When the size and specs match, the price does not match. When price matches, look does not match. And a common tool for all the product comparison and selection was never found. I would have to go through the blogs and reviews and comments to have my final product listed. But this seems to be an easy method, but not the most perfect.

Measy is easier than you have ever thought of. Select the product you are to buy and fill in the survey. The results are on your side. Though vibrantly helpful, one most always rely on this service only as this is just computer generated. I think your brains have the power to think in the most crooked and cunning manner which anyway is needed while shopping especially online shopping.

Every shopper can become a shopaholic and get into indiscriminate buying and the psychology behind this is best known to none other but the sellers. Ads and offers are all methods to prick the Achilles’ feet or the weak point of a customer and almost 70% would fall into them. Here are some of the better known secrets which would entice the consumer in buying products not actually necessary.

1. Adwise: Ads which advise you or which seems similar to your life would always make you seek for the product even if you don’t need any. Height increasing machines, Penis elongation tools all prick this weak point and ask questions humiliating your self. And one would always think these in real propositions going for the product without even checking their efficacy. But the fact is that you would never face these situations and you would never gain any length from them. Advising ads also has a great impact on your unconscious mind making you crave for something you worship in your hero.

2. Special Offers: Offers are an age old custom to entice the consumer. The word FREE is often framed in our mind that even needless items will you buy if something FREE is given making you think ‘anyway it’s profitable’. Some of the sellers add a free item which you would never expect to get otherwise. The fact is that the value of the actual product is raised much higher, but you would never notice it. This is the basic principle of the retailing sector.

3. 5 in 1 vs 1 in 1: If a watch offers you time, mp3, camera blablabla… you will most probably go in for it even though your actual aim was watching your time. Before any of these could function well your product would go into dusts or warranty and replacement centres. A better idea about choosing in such conditions is provided in Selection of camera or camera phone.

4. Growling Stomach: An empty stomach would always lead you into traps. If happened to see a grocery section, you will definitely go in for more and more products which if you recheck once you have had your breakfast would seem absurd. Whether online or offline, an empty stomach is a devil’s work’SHOP’.

5. Girls: The basic technique of putting hardly dressed beauties in advertisement of any products whether it is a car, apparel, deo, condom, pen is simple- a Pied Piper Phenomenon. According to psychology experts the wet, shining, blush lips of the girl would actually remind you of a girl’s vulva in your what’s called subconscious or unconscious mind. And the admakers have learnt psychology better than anyone else. Their hands would move in a gentle way and feet and eyes point towards you. Hairy or muscled men would do the same to the fairer sex. So get yourself under control and remind these when some girl/boy look through your eyes.

Having gone this far, I know anyone would fall for these and it would happen time and again. Shopaholics needing some reason or the other for buying stuffs are the major aims. Others would go in for feedbacks and reviews which are seldom true. Dealing with them would need a altogether different blogpost and would soon be on your explorers.

Camera business is booming and the mobile phone is still over it. Phones and watches with cameras are not a thing you would see in the James Bond movie and it has become more than a reality now. Have you ever been in the acute confused state of mind whether to buy a mobile phone plus camera or a camera mobile alone? If the answer is yes, it seems you might have also passed through the same situation as mine- a shopper’s dilemma. At last I have decided the former would be better and there are quite a few reasons to support my conclusion. Seems this would apply to you too.

1. Expense: If you are looking for a camera, you would surely be hoping it is rather some pretty good one with megapixels more than at least 7. In the mobile you will be frustrated to find that one satisfying your demands would make your pockets 2-3 times lighter than when you buy a phone+camera with the same features. You would be spending money for what you never care for and will seem to be loss in the long run.

2. Complaints: A camera mobile phone would be unfit for taking a photograph when you mostly need it even if there are complaints with your screen, buttons, lens or the software which are very common. Won’t there be similar complaints for your camera? Yes, of course. But since it is made entirely for this purpose you would never find any unless there is a common batch complaint.

3. Settings: One who has compared both of these would have surely appreciated the pitfalls in performance of a mobile camera with varying lighting conditions especially the night mode which would seldom be clear. These are rarer over the other side. Light adjustment and flash are good only in phones which are made entirely for the purpose of scene capture.

4. Zoom: As you know optical zoom and digital zoom are pretty much different and the former is what you need to get a clear picture. Phone cameras with fixed lens do not offer the same, but may have good digital zoom which could trap you during your shopping spree. You would wonder how these are useful only while using any of these. But despise and despair afterwards is of no use.

5. Storage: While I use my mobile camera, it’s a rather common occurrence that when I am to capture some of the ‘most beautiful’ scenes, it comes to the screen that there is no space left behind as it would be loaded with my mp3s and videos. And since I have a dual device, I would always feel not to take my camera to my disappointment later. So the camera memories are entirely there for your use and you would never miss those unforgivable losses.

Though my hands are forcing me to write a 5 more reasons, these would be enough for the day. I have understood these facts based on my experiences and it is a great wastage of your money buying a phone with cameras over 5MP which would cost you much of your hard earned money and ultimately prove to be of no use at all. In this era, it would be a blunder not to take off one of those 10+MP cameras when you get that at a cost equalling to the cheapest mobiles.

Unsatisfied with the image and lighting quality, field depth and focus of your camera? It is high time you get upgraded to a DSLR camera. Unlike expected the costs of these high tech gadgets have well fell below the unexpected making it affordable to anyone with a craze for photography. You may better consider the following facts before you get to the shop or try one of those online shopping sites.

1. Price: Choose your budget as SLRs come in all ranges as already told from the expected to the unexpected. But it is very well known that low end could be better than some of those professional end gadgets. Price comparison shopping and checking reviews over Amazon or Ebay would be a good option. Some of the impartial reviews are available at Digital Photography School by Darren Rowse. Always do try the official website of the company and you can get good bargains by talking over the phone.
2. Size: Available in all range of sizes, it is better to consider your choice before you go in for shopping, otherwise you may have to get home and do the homeworks again. Consider your use whether it is for travel when bulky, heavy ones are not apt or professional sports photography where it would be more useful.
3. Use: Having mentioned both price and size the next question you would encounter is the purpose of use. Choose from any of the option like travel, sports, life, low light, nature etc where the choice seems to be altogether different
4. Gears: Consider whether or not to have any of the accessories and gears. You could use your previous gears if it seems fitting.

   • Lens: Previous lens of SLR would seem sufficient for you new DSLR. And if there is any option for upgrading from the already provided lens, better consider it too.
   • Battery: Travel, nature photographers would need spare batteries otherwise a good one is enough.
   • Memory cards: They are available at all sizes and it is better to consider one above 1GB (check the maximum capacity of your camera). Old memory cards are sufficient. If you are trying for a new one consider a known brand and one with warranty.
   • Filters:Outdoor photographers require UV filters if it does not come with the DSLR.
   • Camera bag: A good option is not to buy the free camera bag with your purchase. Get money instead of it and bargain would fetch you a great deal (if buying online consider calling the helpline which has been found useful).
   • Extended warrantee: It is a thing you can consider at the time of buying based on your budget.

5. Resolution: Megapixels are of importance only if you consider print enlargements for hoardings, posters or large size photographs. Otherwise it is well enough to choose an optimum quality based on your needs and use. Always consider the fact that more is not always the good. The seller may entice you into believing that it is otherwise but at a great cost and deficiency in other qualities.
6. Upgrades: It is always better to consider buying a DSLR with good and up to date features. As you gain in experience and expertise, the better of yesterday would seem worse and defective. Always ask the question whether the product is upgradable. This is an important reason why you should always select a product with good brand name and service options.
7. Flash: Though entry-level DSLRs include a flash, professional ones require a separate one.
8. Auto mode: Professional DSLRs lack the semi-auto modes like Night, sports, macro etc and if you are used to it change your options
9. Image sensor dust protection: It is a feature of the new generation DSLRs which has proved to be beneficial. Consider it, but of course for a greater price range.
10. Maximum shutter speed & Burst mode: This is necessary only if you are going in for professional sports or nature photography. Burst mode means just by pressing on to the shutter release, bursts of photographs are taken.
11. LCD Size: Although it may be considered obsolete, it has a large impact on the field and quality of your photography. Choose something in the range of 2.5 inches.
12. ISO settings: Low light photographers may require improved ISO settings to adjust to the light settings which is of considerable importance in their professional life.

Just 26% of products in the online sales list are available for open customer reviewing. But the fact is that the major portion of sales is from this category. Many including myself have either fell in for false positive reviews and at times discarded a product reading the warnings and negative reviews of some disgruntled people. I have found a few ways to overcome this mistake. Perhaps you could add more to this list.

1. Check for mixed reviews: Check whether your online shops have all mixed reviews, including both 5-star and 1-star ratings. But most of the forums get polarised and there would be only reviews standing at the two extremes which are better considered wrong.
2. Read the review: (I wont say carefully) but the grammar and spelling mistakes as well as local slangs may give you a clue of whether its a real person who had been over it. But, the marketeers can be too clever and easily mimic such a review.
3. Never trust a 5-star (also a 1-star): It may be the manufacturers and marketeers of the business who may be behind the hi5 ratings. On the other hand disgruntled employees and competitors may be the miserly ones. But its generally found that people go in for 4-star ratings than a perfect 5 (another market trick, beware!)
4. Negative reviews: They are not the ones which make you turn away from your products. They should be take as the precautions you should take when you buy the thing. Though negative reviews help assess the product better, always take time to read the positive ones too.
5. Average ratings: If the ratings stand in the middle chunk, make sure that its not the result of a large number of reviews. As the number of reviews increase the ratings usually tend to the medial line.

And always keep in mind that those marketing executives know all these beforehand. You may be forced to believe them or over the other way. So keep adding your suggestions.

1. Run virus & spyware scans: Always perform routine virus and spyware checks as these bugs may copy your credit card numbers. They make your computers prone all sorts of online frauds. Do not install any spyware scanners that automatically appear while browsing; telling your PC is fully infested. Anti root-kit protection also allows your password protection. There are some online virus scanners.Virustotal can scan with 35 antivirus scanners once you upload a file. Also check your outdated programs which make your computer prone for infections, Secunia may be useful software.
2. Shop on affiliated sites: Always perform online shopping on those sites accredited to standard and security agencies like BBB (Better Business Bureau), Buysafe, Verisign etc. Adding to this the logos should be clickable. If not confirm it’s not a trusted source.
3. Review return and exchange policy: Before buying an object, review the return and exchange policy. Some sites like apple do not offer any returns.
4. Avoid debit cards: Your account may be overdrawn even before you may get time to cancel.
5. Use credit cards instead: These are the most security risk free way of online shopping. You are entirely protected from any frauds or account overdraws. American Express, Visa and Mastercard have a zero liability policy. You do not have to pay anything for unauthorized transactions if you notify the financial institutions promptly. It’s better to signup for their password challenge programs wherein you are asked a password for each online transaction you are coming across. For more information check their websites Mastercard, Visa.
6. Paypal is even better: With paypal, you do not have to enter your credit card number anywhere and you will be freed from typing your details each time. It also offers a wide range of deals. Here is the list of shops enrolled with paypal.
7. Do not open promo emails: Most of those emails which get into your spam folder or even in the inbox which offers you unbelievable offers are better deleted. Also promos of any shopping stuff for which you have not registered should also be taken with precaution. These may open your sites for virus and spywares. Do not download any softwares that come along through an email.
8. Do not type in PINs: Do not type in your credit/debit card PINs anywhere. Also do not type in your addresses in unauthorized sites. Do not follow any links to shopping that appears as pop up windows while browsing.

Hope this would be enough for now. But this has to be constantly updated with spammers and hackers finding new and better ways to hack your accounts. Please send in your comments too. If you liked this blogpost please do click any of the icons below.

Online shopping may be the thing of the future. It may harbor much more articles than in the largest shopping mall in the world. But as far as I have learned there are a few items which are better bought offline if you do not want to get cheated.

1. Luxury goods: The first thing to notice is that most of these branded items are not offered online and therefore do not let that pranksters cheat you over them. Adding to that, these $5000 stuffs can never be offered for $500 or $50. And if you are offered one, it could be a counterfeit stuff whose halflife would be a few days to weeks without any warranties or guarantees. You can very well see that the price range for those ipods donot have a wide variation.
2. Prescribed medicines: Do not let those online medicine businessmen cheat you. Many of these products are fake or outdated with wrong contents which could do all harm to your body. Especially be aware of those spamming medical advertisers. But you can very well buy reliable ones from qualified online shops like drugstore.
3. Fragile electronics: There could be no guarantee that you would get these products in a single piece. Before letting yourselves pay online for these stuffs make sure the company would buy back those shattered products and pay back. If at all they pay back there would be a 10-20% fine or shipping fee trap behind. And if you notice many like Apple donot appreciate returns.
4. Groceries: A controversial topic, but if you like to have the tastiest and fresh apples or tomatoes it would be better if you walk through the markets and personally touch and feel them. I would prefer online purchase of groceries only if they offer free delivery.
5. Intimate wears: No one expects you sending back the briefs or bras you bought online and tried and almost no one accepts too. There would be a slight variation of these products between manufacturers. So buy them only if you are sure with the sizes and get lucrative offers online.

There may be a bit more you could add up to this list and it would be helpful if you did so.