Friday, January 29, 2010

The Benefits of Canadian Online Shopping

There are lots of reasons to buy on-line, the convenience is unrivaled and often you can better prices than in local stores to be found. However, if you live in Canada, one might think that there are not only the same type of operations for Canadians, as it is for Americans.

The truth is that it offers more than just shipping in the United States and is a real turn off if you live in Canada and shipping is higher. Not to mention, there are a lot of points systems and opportunities for 'Residing in the United States, most of which are not available to Canadians. However, this does not mean is that shopping online, if you happen to live north of the border. . . In fact, there are some important advantages.

Buy Local

When shopping on the Internet, you have access to stores around the world. It must always, transportation, of course, but really do not have access to almost everything you can imagine. When you buy within the country, but you have to support your own Economy and this can be a great way to show your appreciation for Canadian businesses and products. Many small businesses operate only online and only ship in Canada, to overseas and American sites only, you've lost a lot of options.

Less shipping

If the order in the country, you have to pay customs fees or too cheap shipping. Everything is much cheaper, and this is a big advantage, especially if you want to buy something larger, like furniture. Try table for children from England to Canada Shipping determined. . . is not cheap!

There you will also find postage by some programs and companies, which usually only within the country.

Canadian Rewards Program

Most Canadians do not really about the programs that Americans pay packets and what discounts for buying through them. However, if you join a Canadian online shopping program, you will receive all the benefits themselves purchasing across the country.

Some of the benefits, premiums for Canadians find programs include:

- Savings and discounts, often up to 25-50% for the products you buy anyway.
- Free Shipping or heavily discounted.
- Money-back deals, where you can get your money and buy credit.
- Points and rewards. Basically, you earn points for shopping through the portal and can then spend those points to get free products.
- Online Coupons refundable and temporarily offline.
- Gift with purchase.
- 2 for 1 offers.
- Payment, where you buy now, pay later.

Course, depends on using rewards program. . . everyone has a different offer. It is worth taking a look at some of the prizes for Canadians, and then choose the best for your online shopping needs. There is also a matter of personal taste, some people prefer to get instant discounts, otherjust wait for their refund.

Malls Online

This is one of the best ways for online shopping. Through a Canadian virtual center or rewards program, you can see dozens or even hundreds of transactions at once for the products you need. It is often the option price / performance in a variety of shops is available for every need and you can search, get results from a variety of suppliers.

The advantages of doing your online shopping experience makes the trouble to seek options for Canadians Shopping online. You can get the shipping and discounts for shopping in their own country and enjoy shopping online, the same advantages that a lot of Americans in the United States.

Celebrity Engagement Rings - Are You a Slave to Celebrity Trends?

Whether we like to admit it or not, the current trend for "bigger is better", particularly when it refers to the diamond engagement rings worn by celebrities, is having an impact on what we are buying.

According to Celeste Ohrens, from New York Diamond Traders, "In the six months following J.Lo's engagement to Ben Affleck, we sold more pink diamonds than we'd sold in the previous six years!"

And despite the fact that THAT engagement ring has been replaced with another equally stunning jewel, copies of J.Lo's six-carat pink diamond are still selling well at many Internet jewelers.

When Marilyn Monroe breathlessly purred "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" (as if we didn't already know!), I have no doubt women everywhere secretly coveted the baubles Ms Monroe wore, but such flamboyant displays of excess would have offended the sensibilities of any self-respecting 1950s homemaker.

Not so nowadays. We've come to expect the ultimate in quality and quantity, and if that equates to wearing a 3-carat diamond ring similar to that worn by our favorite celebrity, more power to us!

Whether celebrities are seen as the arbiters or slaves to all that is considered stylish, the engagement rings gracing the left hand of such stars as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Madonna and Ashley Judd attest to the fact that their choice of ring design is influencing (or is influenced by) current trends.

Jewelers like David Feinstein from Feinstein & Co, Boston, say "The hottest look in engagement rings at the moment is the revival of antique cut diamonds and we are trying desperately to meet demand", making Catherine Zeta-Jones's antique-style 10-carat marquise-cut diamond ring, Madonna's 3-stone Edwardian-style ring and Ashley Judd's antique pave-set diamond ring hot favorites when it comes to replication.

The size of the diamond is also influencing current styles, and according to the Diamond Information Center, the traditional one carat solitaire diamond engagement ring has now grown to three and four carats.

One only had to witness the jaw dropping display of jewels at this year's Oscars - some $40 million worth - to reinforce the notion that in the minds of most celebrities "bigger is better". Never mind that their cherished booty had to be returned to the vaults from whence they came next morning.

But our ever-increasing fascination with all things "bling" begs the question "What about the poor sucker who has to PAY for this excess?" The traditional measurement for any would-be suitor to determine how much he should be willing to part with for the engagement ring was arbitrarily set at three months's salary, which is fine if he's earning a healthy six-figure salary. But try telling Joe Schmo, whose monthly budget doesn't extend much beyond the local Thai take-out, that he's up for what could be many thousands of dollars, and you'll see his face (not to mention his wallet) crumble.

Which brings me to my final point. The value of your engagement ring is not simply measured in monetary terms. nor is it measured by whether your best friend's diamond is bigger, or whiter, or more extravagant. And it's certainly not measured by whether it looks just like J.Lo's most recent accessory (and I mean the ring, not the husband!)

Your engagement ring is a measure of the value of your relationship and what it means to both of you, now and in the future. It's a symbol of all that the two of you share, whether you're wearing a 2-carat rock or a dime-store copy.

Just remember, your local jeweler is probably a whiz at re-modelling, so you can always upgrade later!




Alex Miller has been involved in the jewelry industry for more years than she cares to remember! She lists her passions as "diamonds, diamonds and more diamonds" and has turned her passion into an informative website. You can find more great articles about diamonds, engagement rings, bridal jewelry, honeymoons and more at http://www.Engagement-Rings-Guide.com. The place to go BEFORE you shop for jewelry online.