| When you shop online, you can get some great | | | | retailers. If you are shopping outside of these |
| deals, because the vastness of the World Wide Web | | | | targeted markets, you may find that some retailers |
| increases competition among retailers. If you do not | | | | will not ship to your location. American retailers are |
| like the price at one retailer, you simply click over to | | | | particularly guilty of this, and many do not offer any |
| another. Soon you will find the item you need or | | | | international shipping at all, even to these other major |
| want at a truly bargain price. | | | | markets. |
| When you find the perfect item at the best possible | | | | Before you begin shopping on a particular website, |
| price, you add it to your cart, pull out your credit | | | | check to see whether or not they offer international |
| card, and start to make your purchase, pleased with | | | | shipping. Most online retailers will have a page outlining |
| the low price. Suddenly, you see that shipping charge. | | | | their shipping policies. If they do not appear to offer |
| Little did you know, the retailer you were shopping is | | | | international shipping, ask before you start trying to |
| not located in your country. You are forced to pay | | | | make a purchase. |
| excessively high international shipping charges. | | | | Shipping Is Non-Refundable |
| Suddenly your "great bargain" is not so great. | | | | On most websites, shipping is non-refundable. If you |
| The Cost of International Shipping | | | | are not happy with your item and paid a lot of |
| International shipping costs more because it costs the | | | | money to have it shipped internationally, you might |
| retailer more to send you the item. Any time an item | | | | be able to get your money back for the purchase |
| crosses borders, the shipping costs gets inflated. | | | | price, but you will have lost the money you spent on |
| Even if you are shipping from the United States to | | | | shipping. Make sure you are confident on the quality |
| Canada, which is not really a large distance, you will | | | | of the item before you buy. |
| pay more. Always look at the shipping charge before | | | | Make Sure a Deal Is Still a Deal |
| you pay. | | | | If you know you are going to have to pay |
| Inflated Charges | | | | international rates for shipping on the item you are |
| Some retailers will charge inflated shipping charges, | | | | purchasing, make sure that you are still getting a |
| simply because they know you will expect to pay | | | | good deal. Sometimes the cost of shipping will eat up |
| more for international shipping. Research the shipping | | | | any potential savings you might be receiving on the |
| cost on your own before you pay. While you can | | | | item's purchase price. If the shipping rates are too |
| expect to pay some sort of handling fee to cover | | | | high, consider paying a little more for the purchase |
| time and mailing supplies, if the cost for international | | | | price at a retailer with local shipping rates. You might |
| shipping is way higher than it appears to be if you | | | | end up saving more money. Remember, when |
| were to ship the item, consider looking for a better | | | | shopping online, whether shopping locally or |
| deal at another retailer. | | | | internationally, the shipping rate must be figured into |
| Not All Retailers Offer It | | | | the purchase price as you make your decision about |
| Online retailers target specific countries. Australia, the | | | | whether or not to buy an item. |
| U.K, the U.S., and Canada are all targeted by online | | | | |