Best Holiday Shopping from Home—Bargain Gifts: Great Deals on the ...

Heading out to the crowded malls and having to stand in line to purchase holiday gifts can stress out anyone. With the advent of online stores, TV shopping networks and fun items from “As Seen on TV” infomercials, there's no reason to get in the car and drive to the mall. Before plunking down hard-earned money on anything, know the regular, brick-and-mortar retail prices to ensure getting the best deals.

Online Home Shopping

Almost everything can be purchased on the internet. Knowing the recipients’ interests and tastes could very well make internet shopping the preferred method of finding the perfect gift. Collect a list of shopping websites. Many items purchased online can be personalized for free or for a small fee.

Before sending a credit card number, check to make sure the site has secure online shopping. Follow some basic steps to keep online shopping safe.

Confirm seller’s physical address and phone number. Read the fine print. Know the full cost of the item, including taxes, shipping and handling. Pay by credit card, not debit card. Check refund policies and guaranteed delivery dates. Save all records of transactions on the internet. Shopping the TV Network Retailers

Bargains abound as the TV shopping networks compete for Christmas and other holiday shoppers. One of the most appealing aspects of this type of retailer is being able to see the product in use or worn on models. Most of these companies have liberal return policies, but ask the sales representative to read the conditions and guarantees before making the final purchase.

A large variety of items can be purchased from TV network retailers.

Home décor Cookware Crafts Bedding Food Apparel Footwear Handbags Electronics Sporting Goods Coins Collectibles Jewelry

The TV network retailers have websites, so check and see if the items on air are available for ordering on the internet. Hunt for bargains on the “sale” page. Eliminating the call center person will also decrease the risk of an item number or credit card information being misunderstood. The other advantage is being able to print out the confirmation page after the order is placed.

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New film 'American Collectors' features a Portland man and his jail memorabilia

08.11.09

An obsession. Pack rat fever. Collectomania. An uncontrollable addiction.

It's funny how often collecting is described as some kind of illness.

Sometimes it's the collectors themselves who use pseudo medical terms. In the documentary "American Collectors," which has its Portland premiere at 6 p.m. Monday in the Portland Art Museum's Whitsell Auditorium, a man who admits he owns more than 100 tractors calls it "more-a-philia."

Portlander Chuck Palmer uses a more romantic term: "Collecting is my passion," he says. "It just gets your blood pumping."

People can be passionate collectors of the most unlikely items. Plastic bags. X-rays. Fish posters. (Clean) air sickness bags. Vintage calculators. Prosthetic eyeballs. Store mannequins.

Chuck, one of the collectors featured in "American Collectors," is passionate about "stuff from jails and prisons," he says.

Just about everything except the prisoners.

Chuck lost interest in the people behind

Source: OregonLive.com

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New film 'American Collectors' features a Portland man and his jail memorabilia OregonLive.com - Nov 08, 2009 New film 'American Collectors' features a Portland man and his jail memorabilia"It's not proper decor for a home, really," he says, laughing. He does have a few posters of prison movies in his home. "Those are on the walls because my