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FReeper Canteen ~ Online Shopping 101 ~ November 22, 2005
22-NOV-05 | Gummy News

Posted on 11/21/2005 5:59:15 PM PST by GummyIII

Christmas Shopping
Gummy Style!

gift          

Newsflash:  Gummy Hates to Shop
November 22, 2005


I hate to shop.  I know. You are thinking, "She's not normal."  Perhaps I should clarify.  I hate to drive to a busy mall or store, get out, fight the crowds, look in umpteen stores for the best bargain, and come home with nothing but achy feet and head.  When Al Gore invented the internet, he did it for me.  Honest. (Psssst....He would have told you that, but he's afraid you wouldn't believe him.) OK,  you've guessed it...I do all my shopping online.  Below are my best tips for online shopping. Oh, there is ONE drawback, gentlemen...you can't wait until Christmas Eve to shop.  It's a good thing I believe in Santa Claus! He brings me my present EVERY year.

(Hint:  if the animated background bugs you, hit the "stop" button on your browser.)

We Support Our Troops!!!!  Thank you for your service!!!

Shop Online Safely

Use credit cards. The big three credit card issuers, American Express, MasterCard and Visa, have a zero liability policy. You pay nothing for unauthorized transactions if you notify your financial institution.

For extra fraud protection, sign up for MasterCard's SecureCode or Visa's Verified by Visa. These are password challenge programs for online shopping.

Look for signs that online purchases are secure. At the point that you are providing your payment information, the beginning of the Web site address should change from http to shttp or https, indicating the information is being encrypted. Your browser may also signal that the information is secure with a symbol, such as a broken key that becomes whole or a padlock that closes.

Never enter your personal information in a pop-up screen. When you visit a company's Web site, an unauthorized pop-up screen created by an identity thief could appear with blanks for you to provide your personal information. Legitimate companies don't ask for personal information via pop-up screens. 

Keep your computer secure for safe shopping and other online activities. Protect your computer with spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, pop-up blockers and a firewall, and keep them up to date. Go to http://www.staysafeonline.org and http://www.onguardonline.gov to learn more about how to keep your computer secure. Or use El Gran's wonderful site:  Canteen Resource Center.

Disclaimer: Not suitable for Grinches or Scrooges. Santa reads this news, too!!

Tips for Saving Money and Sanity

Try online coupons. Many online stores provide regular customers with promotional codes. These codes are entered during the online checkout process. They save you money, just like a traditional coupon. Coupon Cabin, Current Codes and Naughty Codes are three websites that list promotional codes for online stores. (Google "promotional code" and the name of the store from which you are purchasing.  Others may show up.)

Promotional codes usually offer free shipping or a reduced price. Often, online stores offer multiple codes, but you'll probably have to use one or the other. 

Use disposable e-mail. You must register an e-mail address with stores when you purchase online.  The store e-mails a confirmation of your purchase and, often, tracking information. Additionally, it may send you promotional codes. But it may also send you unwanted e-mail.
There are a couple ways to handle this. You could create a new e-mail address. A number of sites offer free e-mail, including Hotmail (www.msn.com), Yahoo (mail.yahoo.com), Techemail (www.techemail.com) and Netscape (www.netscape.com).

Or, sign up for a disposable e-mail address. Free services such as spamgourmet and Sneakemail allow you to create a temporary e-mail address. They forward mail to your "real" one. Sign up for a temporary address before making a purchase. When you've received your purchases and are satisfied with them, you can eliminate the temporary address.

COMING NEXT WEEK:  
All I want for Christmas is..........

Gummy News is produced  as a service to our troops.  Volume 1, Number 1. 

grinch

Comparision Shopping 101

Yahoo, Inc., Shopzilla, Shopping.comGoogle Inc.'s Froogle.com, PriceWatch, PriceGrabber, NexTag and ShopLocal are a few of the top contenders for online comparison shopping.  Take the time to see how each one works.  Most will sort by price, look for items within a price range, and look for specific brand items which you specify. 

Many of the above sites have ratings for you to check the product.  Other sites are cnet.com, zdnet.com, consumersearch.com, epinions.com, PCMagazine, BusinessWeekOnline, ConsumerGuide, and many others.  Also, many of the consumer online sites offer customer reviews.  Use those in conjunction with other reviews. For example, Amazon.com and Circuit City's online store are two sites with customer reviews.



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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic; Technical
KEYWORDS: bath; computer; ecommerce; heroes; ma; online; shopping; troops; troopsupport; trouble; woohoo
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I want everyone to email me with what you want for Christmas. I'll compile the top choices and use them in next week's thread. (Did I tell you I have Santa's ear?? ) I overheard Lady Jag at the computer the other day. Here's what she said:


1 posted on 11/21/2005 5:59:17 PM PST by GummyIII
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To: 2LT Radix jr; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; 80 Square Miles; acad1228; AirForceMom; Alas Babylon!; ...

Thread's up!


2 posted on 11/21/2005 5:59:43 PM PST by GummyIII (If you have the ability, it's your responsibility." Marine Sgt. John Place, Silver Star recipient)
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To: GummyIII

mine!


3 posted on 11/21/2005 6:00:02 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Code pink stinks)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

LOL!! How'd you get here so quickly?? HOWLING!!


4 posted on 11/21/2005 6:00:48 PM PST by GummyIII (If you have the ability, it's your responsibility." Marine Sgt. John Place, Silver Star recipient)
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To: GummyIII

What a cute idea....and shopping is my middle name! WOOHOO!


5 posted on 11/21/2005 6:01:47 PM PST by luvie (Our will is strong, our nation is united, and we will settle for nothing less than victory. GWB11-11)
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To: GummyIII

Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.

~Tribute to Our Troops~


6 posted on 11/21/2005 6:02:11 PM PST by AZamericonnie (~www.ProudPartiots.org~Operation Seasons Greetings~Serving those who serve us!)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

Hey, DBR! How are you this fine fall evening? All ready to stuff yourself on Thanksgiving? ((((hugs))))


7 posted on 11/21/2005 6:02:36 PM PST by luvie (Our will is strong, our nation is united, and we will settle for nothing less than victory. GWB11-11)
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To: GummyIII
very cool thread. I want, (in this order): the troops to come home with a mission completed, mojo to call me everyday(hehe), a hand held GPS for geocaching with the kids,a coach bag named "Hampton's weekend"-(black with black strap), a new dishwasher and a horse shoes set. :]
8 posted on 11/21/2005 6:04:40 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Code pink stinks)
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To: GummyIII; Laurita; CMS; The Sailor; txradioguy; Jet Jaguar; Defender2; OneLoyalAmerican; bkwells; ..
Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread





FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.





Proud Patriots - Sending care packages, e-mails, and snail mail to US Military worldwide.
Proud Patriots is a group of private Americans who are working to ensure
that our brave military heroes receive the support we believe they deserve.


CLICK HERE
TO ENTER PROUD PATRIOTS




If you would like to be removed or added to my ping list please click below.

Please Remove Me
 
CLICK HERE to FReep mail to remove from ping list.

Please Add Me
 
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CLICK HERE
TO VISIT

txradioguy
and his live Armed Forces Radio Show from Camp Casey in Korea




Spc. John Wollaston on Warrior Radio...Camp Casey!


CLICK FOR Current local times around the world

CLICK FOR local times in Seoul, Baghdad, Kabul,
New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage

txradioguy previously reported to the FR Canteen from the field in Iraq.

9 posted on 11/21/2005 6:05:21 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
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To: GummyIII
I was waiting and lurking on you! My first -first!
10 posted on 11/21/2005 6:05:28 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Code pink stinks)
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To: GummyIII

Excellent thread Gummy & good advice! It's so sparkly!:) Gotta clean a little but I'll be back!


11 posted on 11/21/2005 6:05:51 PM PST by AZamericonnie (~www.ProudPartiots.org~Operation Seasons Greetings~Serving those who serve us!)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

Naw...you lurk? No way!!!! Grin...


12 posted on 11/21/2005 6:05:56 PM PST by GummyIII (If you have the ability, it's your responsibility." Marine Sgt. John Place, Silver Star recipient)
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To: GummyIII

Thank You for today's thread!


13 posted on 11/21/2005 6:06:38 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
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To: LUV W; AZamericonnie

Thanks, ladies!


14 posted on 11/21/2005 6:06:52 PM PST by GummyIII (If you have the ability, it's your responsibility." Marine Sgt. John Place, Silver Star recipient)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub


15 posted on 11/21/2005 6:06:57 PM PST by Soaring Feather
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

You are welcome, Mr. Tonkin, sir!


16 posted on 11/21/2005 6:07:11 PM PST by GummyIII (If you have the ability, it's your responsibility." Marine Sgt. John Place, Silver Star recipient)
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To: GummyIII

Way to go Gummy!! Thanks for the thread.


17 posted on 11/21/2005 6:07:37 PM PST by Soaring Feather
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To: AZamericonnie

((((Connie)))))...how are you doing this beautiful fall evening? Stayin' busy?

Thanks once again for your Tribute....can't say it enough how I am always encouraged by seeing it here!


18 posted on 11/21/2005 6:07:52 PM PST by luvie (Our will is strong, our nation is united, and we will settle for nothing less than victory. GWB11-11)
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To: bentfeather

Most welcome, Ms. Feather!!


19 posted on 11/21/2005 6:08:13 PM PST by GummyIII (If you have the ability, it's your responsibility." Marine Sgt. John Place, Silver Star recipient)
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To: Laurita; CMS; The Sailor; txradioguy; Jet Jaguar; Defender2; OneLoyalAmerican; bkwells; ...




FYI : Look in upper right corner of "My Comments" page.
Set it for "Brief" instead of Full.
You only will get title of thread and who pinged you.
No graphics will load.

20 posted on 11/21/2005 6:08:46 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
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