Online shopping comes with perks, problems

Spoiler alert: If you order holiday gifts online, they may come in packages with pictures of the items inside. Meaning, your child or spouse will get an unexpected peek at what will be wrapped later.

Shopping online is one way to beat the South Florida brick-and-mortar crowds and save a little cash, but beware: With the perks come problems.

My family learned this the hard way last holiday season. We ordered an artists’ easel formy daughter which arrived in a box with a large image of the easel plastered on the box. I didn’t realize this until I arrived home after picking my daughter up from school. “Is that for me?” she screamed as she hugged the box responsible for spoiling the surprise.

Things gotworse: My son’s main gift — a Razor RipRider 360 tricycle — arrived several weeks before Christmas, but the package was missing one rear wheel. We frantically and repeatedly called Toys R Us, the online retailerwe purchased the trike from, and Razor, for help. In the end, we received apologies and a discount but no third wheel— not until after the holiday.

Being prepared for theworst— or at least covering your bases — when ordering holiday gifts online can help consumers avoid a host of headaches, said Joe Palko, chief marketing officer for 3dCart Shopping Cart Software. TheTamarac-based e-commerce company provides software andWeb page hosting services for 15,000 merchants nationwide.

“A lot can go wrong when you order online,” Palko said. “I’ve seen all the problems.”

For instance, Palko recommends contacting online merchants before ordering to enquire about whether shipped packages will be wrapped or otherwise covered.

“In some cases you can type in notes at the online checkout to say something like ‘This is a gift, I don’twantmy son to know,’ ’’ Palko said, adding that retailers often call customers who do so to arrange a suitable delivery method.

Keep a close eye on the shipping tracking numbers and delivery schedules so you can plan to behomewhen a package arrives and avoid the curious eyes of a child. For example, if you order a portable DVD player from BrandsMart USA, your Website order inquiry will list anordernumberwhich can be used to check delivery status.

Palko said one of the biggest disappointments for online shoppers is having packages arrive late. To dodge this problem, he recommends choosing online retailers which publish upto-date regular and holiday shipping schedules on theirwebsites.

As an example, the Toys R Us site reveals that items sent via standard shipping can take three to eight business days. The toy retailer, like many others, offers faster shipping options in exchange for extra fees.

For instance, to ship a $25 Sesame Street Let’s Rock Elmo doll, it costs $9.30 for standard shipping, compared to an extra $30.89 for expedited (arrives in three business days) or $48.89 for express (arrives in two business days) shipping.

To avoid the extra costs while still making sure your package will arrive by the holidays, Palko suggests placing online orders by Dec.10this year. “After that, you may have to look into air instead of ground shipping options if you absolutely must have the item on time.” Extra holiday tips: To ensureproperly surprising family members, consider shipping gifts to a FedEx or UPS office for pickup later or to a friend’s home.

Check return policies of online retailer before ordering. Somemerchants will only accept returns if you pay the shipping charges.