Living In USA

One of the largest retail operations in the United States is selling by mail through catalogues and through the Internet. Catalogues will arrive in your mail on a regular basis, and you can purchase anything from gourmet food to fur coats by mail, phone, or via the Internet. Growth in this sector has occurred for several reasons. People have less time for shopping — especially in two-career families — and retailers can reach a greater number of people. Most important is that shopping by mail is convenient, especially for the elderly or others who cannot move around easily. The disadvantage, of course, is that you cannot try on clothes or examine the products. Most companies who sell this way are very reputable and readily accept returns if you are not satisfied with the merchandise. Don't be surprised if you receive catalogues from companies you have never purchased from; many catalogue companies make extra money by selling their mailing list to other firms.

Auction sites on the Internet, such as eBay, are a popular form of shopping for both new and used goods. You may be amazed at the variety of goods being sold by auction, and if you take some time to educate yourself about market value, you can get some good deals. You can check to see what items similar to the one you want have recently sold for and check the feedback other buyers have given to various sellers. Amazon.com is an enormous Internet retail site. You can buy books, clothing, toys and games, DVDs, and much more. As always, buyer beware.

In recent years, a number of televisions shows — and even entire 24-hour channels — have sprung up, aimed at the television viewer. These shows feature items at supposedly discounted prices, though you may frequently be able to find comparable prices in local stores. They display a variety of merchandise from clothing, jewelry, clocks, luggage, and toys to small kitchen gadgets, hardware, and exercise equipment.

To order from one of these TV vendors, you select the item you want, phone in your order, paying by either credit card, money order, or check, and wait for your selection to be shipped to you.

A word of caution: many people impulsively order items from these shows that they neither want nor need — and cannot afford. It is all too easy to get carried away by TV salespeople urging you to call in immediately to take advantage of this "limited-time" offer. Take care to avoid this situation. Also, quality varies tremendously among these products.