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The Gap |
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Old Navy |
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Eddie Bauer |
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Lands' End |
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Victoria's Secret |
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| SITE: |
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gap.com |
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oldnavy.com |
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eddiebauer.com |
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landsend.com |
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victoriassecret.com |
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| PRODUCTS: |
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Online outpost of mall-based retailer |
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Web branch of popular chain |
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An apparel, home store and outlet Web site rolled into one |
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A smart clothing Web site |
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Lingerie capital of the Internet |
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| BEST FOR: |
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| PLUS: |
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Tons of great sale items and promotions, such as free shipping on regular-priced pants; excellent presentation of merchandise. |
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Free return shipping on exchanges (but not returns). |
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Offers such tips as how to buy a down comforter. Now offering free standard delivery on orders of $100 or more. Can create wish lists to e-mail to friends. |
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Discounts on overstocked merchandise; shopping advice based on personal preferences; virtual models can suggest how outfit combinations will look. |
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An equal-opportunity site-beautiful bras for women, beautiful women in bras for men. |
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| MINUS: |
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Is there a need to shop online when a Gap is on every third street corner? |
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Limited time for making exchanges or refunds. |
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At times all the information can be daunting-like drowning in a big pool of active wear. |
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This many options makes the site virtual mayhem. |
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Is your husband willing to spend $15 million on a ruby-studded, fiery-red bra with matching panties? We didn't think so. |
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| ORDER BY: |
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Ground shipping takes seven business days. |
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Ground shipping takes seven business days. |
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6 p.m. EST on Dec. 21 for "Express Plus" shipping. |
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Dec. 20 (everything shipped via two-day UPS). |
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None listed. |
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| BOTTOM LINE: |
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Love the store, love the site: neat, simple and helpful. Has all sizes and endless styles (slim fit, loose fit, boot cut and more). Also
has jean jackets, denim blazers. Easy access to GapMaternity,
GapKids and babyGap.
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One-stop shopping for the whole family at a fun, colorful site. Clothes are inexpensive but well made. Site offers a great "Bargain Basement," including decent jeans for $14.99. Another great deal: crewneck sweaters for $20 each. |
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Great site, full of stuff, with a new design that
lets users move easily between clothing, gear, home and outlet sites. With Instant Outfitting, you can pick your favorite from a slew of outfits, then try out colors and sizes.
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Takes shopping to a whole new dimension. Check out the overstock merchandise section. Save up to 70 percent off original catalogue
prices. New listings posted Wednesdays and Saturdays.
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When you get past the babes, there are a staggering number of bras: the Click Miracle Bra, strapless convertible, even the Natural Miracle Bra with liquid-filled cups. Tons of other undies to boot. |
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| SUMMARY: |
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Some people just don't get that rush when faced with racks and racks of brand-spanking-new clothes, a well-worn credit card and hideous fluorescent lighting in the dressing room. But this online shopping thing is the best of both worlds: the luxury of browsing without some cranky sales associate breathing down your neck.
Most shopping sites want to make sure that anyone, even computer novices, can find her way to the "buy now" button. So the best sites are simple: pretty and uncomplicated.
These sites are definitely ideal for long-distance gift giving. All you have to do is pay. Most sites offer gift suggestions, holiday cards, wrapping paper and will ship it right to the other person's home. You can buy 20 of the same cashmere sweaters and ship them to 20 different addresses.
Some other great shopping sites-Nordstrom.com, Ninewest.com, JCrew.com and Spiegel.com-offer easy browsing and great merchandise. But with online shopping you do lose that instant gratification-most clothes arrive in three to five business days.
Also, if possible, it's probably better to buy from sites you're familiar with. This cuts down on being upset when the size 12 fits like a size 10. And remember: Do not buy something and have it arrive the day you hope to wear it for that holiday party. You are setting yourself up for a huge disappointment or an emergency trip to Filene's Basement if it doesn't arrive or doesn't fit. That's why my motto is: Buy at least three items at a time. One is bound to fit.
- Janelle Erlichman
Other Category Comparison Charts:
Dep't Stores |
Beauty |
Books |
Clothing |
Computers |
Electronics |
Food |
Movies |
Music |
Toys
Online Holiday Shopping Stories:
Return to the Lead story, or read about:
Decking the Halls With a Mouse;
Avoiding Pitfalls;
Shopbots;
Foreign Purchases;
Online Greetings;
Customizing Gifts;
Comparison Shopping
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