shopping

01/08/2021 By Jason Bean Leave a Comment

5 Smart Tips for Safe Online Shopping in 2021

Online shopping is fast becoming the new norm. Thanks to the freedom, convenience, and ease it offers, you're probably thinking of doing it yourself. However, one of the biggest concerns most online shoppers have is security which is why we recommend to only access trusted shopping sites such as https://www.shoppok.com/bikes-for-sale-cg/hutch-bmx-sp. How secure are your financial details on shopping websites?

Here are a few tips that can help you stay safe in 2021.

1. Start with trusted sites

There are millions of online retail sites today. Most of them are legitimate, but some contain links to spam and malicious content. You, therefore, need to be extra careful when searching for a shopping website.

First, start with the popular and well-known sites like Amazon.com or Ebay.com. You're less likely to be scammed on these sites since you've probably used them before. You can also try your favorite retail stores if they're online, but ensure you know the right web addresses.

Be on the lookout for the popular domain misspelling scams, for instance, a hacker may use Amazon.net instead of Amazon.com. These tricks have been successful for years because they're not conspicuous at first glance.

2. Look for HTTPS URL and a padlock icon

Before sharing your credit union information on an online shopping site, here are the two rules you should follow: Ensure the site’s URL starts with HTTPS, and confirm that a locked padlock icon appears slightly left of the URL bar. (Click here for a full list of privacy tips while shopping online)

The (S) in HTTPS stands for secure and shows that the shopping website has integrated a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. The locked padlock (sometimes green) indicates that your connection to the website is secure.

Avoid sharing any information on sites with just HTTP and without the padlock.

3. Don’t shop over public wi-fi

We’ve heard stories about public wi-fi hotspots and cybercriminals countless times. By now, you should know that while shopping using public Wi-Fi seems convenient, it leaves your data in the hands of hackers.

Personal information such as your credit card details, bank details, phone number, and your emails are but a few of the data a hacker can manipulate from the vulnerabilities of unsecure Wi-Fi.

So, instead of exposing yourself to that much risk, always use your data to complete your online shopping transactions. And if you really have to use Wi-Fi, a simple VPN download will go a long way to improving your security.

But still, if you can avoid insecure public Wi-Fi, do yourself a favor and do it.

4. Keep your software up-to-date

Updating your software is the #1 online security measure every security expert recommends. Whether you're shopping on your phone, laptop, or tablet, ensure that the operating system is up-to-date with the latest updates.

Updating your software fixes any vulnerabilities that cybercriminals may exploit to send malware into your system.

5. Avoid ‘too good to be true’ offers

In any e-commerce store, if any product pricing appears to be too good to be true, it probably is. Don't trust any seller offering such an offer. This is usually a trap by some sellers to collect your credit card information among other data, so they can sell it. In other cases, the product might be of very poor quality. And if you need cargo shorts, make sure to check out different options from sites like https://www.unionbay.com/collections/cargo-shorts-for-men.

Conclusion

When shopping online, getting scammed isn’t just a far-fetched idea. It happens to millions of people every day. You should therefore be careful with how you go about the process if you want to avoid it. With the tips above, we’re confident that you’ll always be one step ahead of the criminals.

Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash

Nine Reasons to Convince You to Help Choose Your Own Engagement Ring

In an ideal and traditional world, your partner would propose to you by getting down on one knee and popping the question with an engagement ring that blows you away – one that you’d have chosen for yourself any day, and shows off just how well he knows you inside out. But, whilst many guys are far better at picking out a stunning engagement ring than we give them credit for, there’s a growing trend of women who are picking out an engagement ring for themselves, or at least jewelry shopping with their partner for one together.

If you are considering picking your own engagement ring or at least playing a part in making the decision, then you’re not alone. And, it makes a lot of sense – after all, if you’re going to be wearing a piece of jewelry around your finger for the rest of your life, then it’s better to have one that you know you’ll like, rather than hoping that your partner will get it right. Although it may not have the same element of surprise as a proposal planned exclusively by your partner, there’s no reason to believe that having a say in your ring isn’t romantic. Here are just some of the main reasons why more and more women are choosing their own engagement rings:

Reason #1. Get What You Like:

Most of the time, guys don’t let us down when it comes to choosing an engagement ring. And, at the end of the day, if you’re in love with somebody then you probably won’t really care whether they get you a ring that’s not your usual type – you’ll love it anyway, simply because of what it symbolizes. However, since it’s such a significant – and expensive – piece of jewelry, picking out the ring yourself or going along with your partner to jewelry shops like Windsor Jewelers and pointing him in the right direction when shopping for one will make sure that you get the engagement ring that you’ve always dreamed of, whether you’re hoping for a traditional diamond ring, a stand-out alternative stone, or have been longingly looking at beautiful oval shaped engagement rings.

Reason #2. Save Money:

It may not be the most romantic of reasons to go for when it comes to choosing your own engagement ring, but looking together can certainly help you to save money, which can then be put towards having an even better wedding site like these Dallas wedding venues as well as better wedding dresses and suits from sites like https://www.weddingtropics.com/product-category/mens-linen-pants/. You can also save money to go towards a luxury honeymoon for the two of you to enjoy after tying the knot. Even if you can always trust your partner to find a great bargain, sharing the decision gives you the chance to find further engagement ring deals or check out jewelers that your partner may have not considered on his own.

In addition, with more and more couples today who champion equality for all especially in relationship settings, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of women are putting some money towards their engagement ring themselves. After all, the idea of the man footing the bill is a fairly old one which applied in the days when men worked and women stayed at home, meaning that they were unable to contribute to the cost. In many modern relationships today, this is certainly not the case.

Reason #3. Strengthen Your Bond:

When it comes to getting stronger and closer as a couple, there are little more exciting and romantic activities that you can do than shopping for diamond engagement rings together! Taking part in this incredibly romantic shopping trip can become the beginning of your wedding planning, and it’s a great way to bond as a couple and draw each other even closer as you take this huge next step in your relationship together.

A trip to your favorite jewelers can quickly become a wonderful date idea; you could even finish up by doing something special together, such as going to eat at the restaurant where you had your first date, or going to see your favorite movie, as a celebration of your relationship and how far the two of you have come.

Reason #4. Less Stress:

The last thing that you want is for your partner to be under any stress! When you love somebody, the idea of them worrying and being anxious about something can quickly cause you to become frustrated and upset. However, this is often what happens when many guys take an engagement ring shopping trip, especially if they’ve never purchased jewelry before and have no idea where to start.

Today, the pressure is on for guys to get a perfect ring with the biggest rock; even if you’ve told him you’ll be happy with any type of engagement ring, the societal pressure can quickly get to him. By involving yourself in the decision, you can be sure that it’ll be a much less stressful experience for your partner, who’ll be able to easily come to you and ask your opinions on rings that he’s considering choosing for you, rather than having to worry about keeping the secret whilst at the same time stressing about getting the ring right. Instead, picking out a ring together can be fun and special for the two of you.

Reason #5. Make Your First Big Decision:

At this point, you may have already made some big decisions together as a couple – by the time that they’re ready to tie the knot, many couples today have already reached big milestones in their relationships such as moving in together, making big joint purchases, and even starting a family. However, even if you’re quite advanced in terms of where your relationship is at, purchasing an engagement ring together can be one of the first big decisions that you make together as a couple who’s about to be married, which makes it an even more special and momentous occasion.

Reason #6. Still Have Your Surprise Proposal:

Even though there are many couples today picking out an engagement ring together rather than relying on the guy to do all the hard work himself, it still hasn’t put a stop to surprise proposals! There’s no reason why you can’t still have your surprise proposal, even if you know exactly what ring you’re going to be getting.

For example, you could tell your partner that you’d rather he propose first, then you can go ring shopping together to celebrate. Instead of giving you a ring when he asks you to be his wife, he could give you another special gift, such as a bunch of roses, another smaller jewelry item, a delicious cupcake, or plane tickets to somewhere exotic – it’s entirely up to him! Or, if you’re already both decided on the fact that you’re going to get married someday, then why not pick the ring beforehand, and let him know that you’re ready whenever he is? If you have no idea when he’s about to propose, then you’ll still get your surprise.

Reason #7. Discover Different Ring Styles:

Have you always wanted to have a really unusual engagement ring, but have no idea how to communicate this information to your partner? Then, picking the ring together could be the perfect idea for you. When you’re picking the ring together, it allows you to talk openly and honestly about the type of rings that you are interested in, rather than having to drop hints and hope for the best.

There’s no reason why couples who are planning to get married shouldn’t be able to talk openly about their engagement rings, after all, it’s a very expensive purchase so it’s important to talk it through! Let’s face it, if you were buying a car, or picking a vacation to the same value as your ring, then you’d probably want to both have a say. As you discuss, you can discover a range of alternative ring styles, from vintage family heirlooms to glittering sapphire and emerald rings, or colored diamonds.

Reason #8. Get a Custom-Made Ring:

There are plenty of great reasons to get a custom-made ring – firstly, it’s completely unique to you and designed with you alone in mind, and secondly, you can be sure that you’ll never bump into anybody else who just happens to have the same ring as you – this is yours, and yours alone! However, having a custom engagement ring made can be a little tricky when the wearer isn’t around. When you pick out your engagement ring as a couple, it’s much easier to have one custom-made to your exact preferences and requirements. Have a look at the stunning custom ruby rings from Ringleaders.

Reason #9. Get the Size Right!

Last but certainly not least, getting the size right is always an important factor of picking the perfect engagement ring. But, your ring size isn’t probably something that you’ve ever had to discuss with your partner before; because of this many guys realize that they have absolutely no idea what size to choose when shopping on their own. Plus, even if he uses one of your rings for size, there’s always the risk that he’ll pick one that doesn’t fit, or one you wear on a different finger.

Did you have a personal reason for helping to pick your own engagement ring? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

01/29/2014 By Jason Bean 5 Comments

Have Kroger App Developers Ever Gone Shopping?

One of the newest apps I've downloaded for my phone is the Kroger mobile app. It's got some nice features, many of those that you'd expect from an app from a grocery store. What I'm wondering though is if the people who have developed the app (or more accurately perhaps, the higher-ups that commissioned the app to be built) ever gone grocery shopping themselves?

Our local Kroger store has recently undergone a huge upgrade, face-lift and expansion. I love all the changes! The only challenge is that they've moved just about everything around from where it used to be located and I spend far more time than I should looking for stuff when I'm on a normal shopping trip. For me a "normal" shopping trip is one where you've got a list with a number of items instead of just running in for a few items you need quickly.

The last time I was at the store my wife had sent me a list of things she needed via text. For this trip the list consisted of maybe 20 items. I found myself going back and forth across the store as I worked down through the list. I tried mentally to scan the list when I first looked at it so I could pick up items in some what of an organized fashion as I worked through the different departments. The additional challenge to this trip was working through my list and still being unfamiliar with the new layout of our store. Then it hit me.

Kroger has a mobile app. The mobile app allows me to put in my Kroger Plus card so I can track my fuel rewards. My wife and both use the Kroger Plus card so all of the points add up together. Remind me sometime to write about how we maximize our fuel point savings.

Why wouldn't the Kroger app allow my wife to install the app on her phone, build a list of things she needs and then that list be available on my own Kroger app? Now, that wouldn't be too tough by itself, but here's where the real Kroger magic could come into play. Now, what if Kroger could take that list and organize it in a way that I could walk into the store and work my way from one end to another in the most efficient way possible picking up all the items on my list as I go? The other obvious logic to me would be to pick up the frozen foods last so that they wouldn't be melting as I work through the rest of my list.

I think I should also be able to create a shopping list via the full website on my laptop. I'd imagine getting the weekly ad and viewing it online and then being able to build my shopping list from the online circular. As I think even more, what if the printed version of the weekly ad had QR codes for each item that I could scan and build my shopping list without having to type anything in. Or, maybe being able to scan UPC code on products I know I'm out of at home and add those to my list as I go throughout the week.

Is that too much to ask? It seems to me like it would be a fairly simple logic to produce? Hopefully someone from Kroger will read this and look at adding these features into their next version of the app.