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There are two distinct camps when it comes to online shopping, the first is looking for something that you
can't get on the high street and doesn't worry about the cost that much, the other 95% want a bargain. Which is where Half Price Or Less comes in, can you guess what its mission is? Yep, bargains galore on
branded goods, all being sold for at least half the recommended retail price. The site itself is wonderfully simple to use, mainly because it's divided into shops such as toys and books, home and garden, food and
drink etc. Within each shop all the goods on offer are displayed on a virtual shelf, down a virtual aisle, again categorised by type. Shopping is a point and click affair, and the choice is good if limited
mainly to 'last years big thing' as you might expect. A typical example being an Austin Powers doll that retailed at £12.99 on offer here for £2.99. Oh, and postage is a single charge of £2.99 regardless of
size for the UK. If only we had discovered this in time for our Christmas shopping, we'd have saved a fortune!
VERDICT: A
brilliant idea that has been brilliantly executed - and it sure beats queuing in the high street sales as well.
Shopping Auctions
Aucland www.aucland.com
***
Operating in 8 countries around Europe and the Nordic regions, Aucland is no small fry when it comes to online auctions. They have lots of customers, lots of
sellers, and lots of goods to sell - but unfortunately the website design is a little messy so it's easy to get overwhelmed by the options on offer. Using the search
engine is the easiest option we found, but it would have been nice if there were an easy way to window shop. A nice touch is the insurance that covers
purchases up to £125 in the event of problems with a transaction.
VERDICT: If they could sort out the confusing site design this would be a very
hard to resist auction temptation.
Shopping Auctions
eBay UK www.ebay.co.uk
*****
The first and still the best, eBay is now operating in the UK with all the added value that made it such a big hit stateside. So you get automatic transaction
insurance, a well respected - but not foolproof - system of buyer/seller ratings, and without doubt the biggest choice of goods for sale anywhere online. It's so
popular it can be a victim of it's own success, with people trying to sell their own kidneys and the like. But for the main part it's a good, community driven, easy to use online auction.
VERDICT: 16 million registered users, 4.5 million items for sale at any time, quite simply the biggest auction in the world.
Shopping Auctions
QXL www.qxl.com
****
QXL, which is a shortening of 'quick sell', get it?, is a home grown success story that is the only auction house online that can really rival eBay in terms of size
and scope. Probably the easiest of the auction sites to use, navigation being simple and clear despite the sheer size of it all, QXL doesn't disappoint in added
value either. There's buyers insurance, of course, seller/buyer ratings, and the recently added Hugh Scully's World of Antiques where the poached Antiques
Roadshow presenter and his team will value your goods for a small fee before auctioning them if you wish.
VERDICT: An excellent auction that still sits in the shadow of eBay, but
definitely worth a look anyway.
Shopping Books
Alphabetstreet www.alphabetstreet.co.uk
*****
There are online 'Street' sites selling CDs, DVDs and computer games, whilst this particular arm sells the books. With everyone having to compete with the
undisputed champion of Amazon, online bookshops need to provide added value in order to survive. Check out the free electronic books to download, or how
about clips to listen to from audio books for sale? We like the author interviews and the sharp pricing, and the website itself is looking slicker than ever following a subtle makeover.
VERDICT: Competitive discounts, free delivery and easy searching make for a good bookshop.
Shopping Books
Amazon UK www.amazon.co.uk
*****
Amazon have diversified their stock in recent times, and now you can buy
music, films, computer software, toys and even participate in auctions or browse a selection of 'Amazon Z Shops' selling all sorts of stuff. However, their roots
remain firmly seated in books - and thank goodness for that. Because Amazon still rule the roost when it comes to selling books online, with the biggest
selection, the cheapest prices, and the easiest website of all to use. Clever personalised recommendations and a flood of reader reviews are the icing on the already tasty cake.
VERDICT: The market leader, and for good reason. Shame delivery isn't free though.
Shopping Books
Barnes & Noble www.bn.com
****
Before the arrival of Amazon on the scene, Barnes & Noble were the biggest
bookseller in the US, if not the world. The Internet changed all that, and B&N had to change along with it - and so bn.com was born. And to be fair they have
done a pretty good job of it as well, taking Amazon on head first with a huge stock and some fiercely competitive pricing. Added value comes by way of a
section that lets you sell your used textbooks online, a gift wrapping service and a cool section introducing readers to new writers.
VERDICT: Still a little way to go to be as good as Amazon, but B&N are working hard to reclaim the King of Books title.
Shopping Books
BOL www.uk.bol.com
****
Books Online is backed by the international Bertelsmann AG corporation, which
brings buying power - so you get 1.5 million books in stock at heavily discounted prices. Like Amazon, delivery isn't free and like Alphabetstreet, BOL
also now has video interviews with authors in its 'BOL TV' section. We like the 'My BOL' option to change page colour and design, and select the types of
books you are interested in to display when you connect.
VERDICT: A huge selection of books, and some staggeringly cheap bargains to
be found.
Shopping Books
Borders www.borders.com
****
Borders is another US bookshop chain, and this is their website. But it's more than a bookshop online, like Amazon they are striving to build a community as
well as a resource. Some of the things that make Borders stand out for us include the info desk facility where a real live human being will help you find the
right book, even if all you can remember is that it was for kids and had a picture of a dog and a balloon on the front cover! This is a serious level of customer
support, and it is reflected throughout the site.
VERDICT: A good new contender in the online bookshop battle, well worth a
look.
Shopping Books
Out of Print ww.outofprint.com
****
Another of those 'now I know what the Internet is for' websites that offers a service you might have difficulty finding on the average high street. This time it's
a simple one, Out of Print specialise in helping you to locate out of print books, including rare items if you wish. It's not the prettiest of designs, but it is very
functional. What you get is essentially a page of search boxes that link directly to various search facilities for finding old books.
VERDICT: US based, but you won't find an easier way of tracking down old and deleted titles.
Shopping Books
Waterstones www.waterstones.co.uk
****
You might expect that Waterstones, which is one of the UK's biggest high street
bookshop chains now that it has absorbed the Dillons shops, would have one of the slickest online operations to match. There are some nice touches, it has to
be said, like the signed first editions section or the out of print book search facility. The site itself is slick and quick, much improved of late in fact, only let
down by pricing that isn't as competitive as some online booksellers.
VERDICT: A vastly improved shopping experience from Waterstones, now
heartily recommended for book lovers everywhere.
Shopping Books
WH Smith Online www.whsmith.co.uk
***
One of the great surprises of recent years was the success with which high
street dinosaur WH Smith reinvented itself online, and is now right up there as a player in the Internet bookshop market. Regular topical features and author
interviews can be found here, and competitions always abound, you can even earn reward points if you hold a WH Smiths 'clubcard' for online orders. But
rather let down by a lack of customer reviews, and a complicated delivery pricing system based on a percentage of the book price. Smiths seem to be slipping
behind the other online bookshops a little when it comes to presentation and interest though.
VERDICT: Plenty of stock on a colourful if somewhat boring site.
Shopping Cars
Auto Trader Interactive www.autotrader.co.uk
*****
A well established publication for the used car purchaser, Auto Trader has taken its proven formula of photographs as well as descriptions and launched online.
What you get here that you can't on paper is a search facility that will locate all the cars of a specified make, model, mileage and price within a chosen number
of miles of your home. Once the cars are located, you can click on the link for more information or to go to the car dealers website if they have one. There's
even a useful car buyers guide and dealers directory to add value to an already invaluable service.
VERDICT: The first place any serious used car purchaser should look online.
Shopping Cars
CarsAlive www.carsalive.com
****
CarsAlive specialises in finding your perfect used car... from more than 20,000 on its books, housed with around 550 authorised dealers in the UK. The car
search is quick and simple and, in our tests, produced plenty of useful results within our pricerange. Basic information - mileage, colour, transmission type, etc
- are given with each, plus a dealer contact for further details. CarsAlive is also useful for finding dealers in your area, breakdown services, bodyshops, in-car audio, or personalised number plates.
VERDICT: A website that does exactly what it says on the tin. CarsAlive is a good place to start if you're looking for a secondhand motor.
Shopping Cars
Fish4Cars www.fish4cars.co.uk
****
New or used, buying or selling, Fish4Cars might have a silly name but the service is as serious as they come. Want to buy a used car? Search the
database of more than 150,000 used vehicles for sale, specifying make, model, location and price. Want to sell? No problem, a fiver for two weeks of online
advertising isn't bad value. Or you can place ads in local newspapers direct from the website if you prefer the traditional approach as well.
VERDICT: Speedy and sporty, and that's just the website not the cars on offer!
Shopping Cars
JamJar www.jamjar.com
*****
Part of the Direct Line group of companies, JamJar naturally combines an opportunity to save money on buying a new car online with another to insure it
as well. In fact, the website is much more than just a list of cars for sale, there's a magazine, a motoring shop, and even a route finder section here. But the cars
are the main focus, and JamJar doesn't disappoint. You can find a car, see exactly how much money can be saved, value your own for part exchange and
then get a finance quote for the whole deal - all online in just a few minutes.
VERDICT: An excellent and easy way to buy a home grown or imported new car
and save a small fortune.
Shopping Cars
OneSwoop www.oneswoop.com
****
Another company taking advantage of the relative cheapness of new cars in mainland Europe when compared to the UK forecourts. OneSwoop lets you
select a car from its virtual showroom, decide upon the specification level you want, and then compare the European import price against the UK cost. They
reckon you will save at least £2000, although on higher spec cars the savings are often considerably more. OneSwoop even help out with paperwork and
deliver the car into the UK on your behalf. AN excellent new feature is the 'OneSwoop Now' service that promises a new car in 2-3 weeks and still saves you money.
VERDICT:
OneSwoop makes saving money on buying a new car painless.
Shopping Cars
Virgin Cars www.virgincars.com
*****
There aren't many pies in which Richard Branson and his Virgin brand do not
have a finger or two, and the rapidly expanding personal car importing business is no exception. With the help of ex Top Gear presenter and car sales expert
Quentin Wilson, Virgin have produced a slick and impressive service. Select the make, model and any extras you'd like and then Virgin will import the car at
cheaper than UK prices, and include all UK taxes, a full tank of petrol, one years road fund license, delivery to your door, and Virgin roadside assistance.
Regularly special offers now add an extra dimension, and extra savings, to an already superb site.
VERDICT: Beat UK prices, and get valuable after sales service thrown in.
Shopping Clothing
Boo.Com www.boo.com
***
No, we haven't lost our marbles, or mistakenly published a review from a year ago. Boo.Com is back, an all new version courtesy of the clever company that
snapped up the web address when it was sold as part of the liquidation process after the last lot went bust big time. It's still, sadly, a bit slow to load but not as
tedious as before. What has really changed is that it is now a fashion portal crossed with a magazine, dedicated to bringing you all the under the counter,
revolutionary fashion items that are hot on the street. Or something like that - check it out and see.
VERDICT: Risen from the dead, Boo is reborn as a fashion portal.
Shopping Clothing
Designer Discount www.designerdiscount.co.uk
****
Don't you just love straightforward companies with uncomplicated web addresses? We do, and we also love the idea of getting our hands on genuine
designer label fashions at as much as 75% off the recommended retail price. So, as you may have guessed, we really love the Designer Discounts website
for all these reasons and more. Navigation is quick and simple, just click on the designer name you want and the available stock is displayed.
VERDICT: Forget market stall fakes, now you can afford the real thing thanks to Designer Discounts.
Shopping Clothing
Max Cleavage www.maxcleavage.com
*****
Ladies considering breast implants now have a real alternative, the range of
silicone breast enhancers, gel bras and air bras sold by online lingerie specialist MaxCleavage. The choice of bras on offer is refreshingly straightforward without
being too restricted, and the descriptions are as comprehensive as you require. The company sell their wares to supermodels, pop stars and movie starlets
around the world, and now you can join in the fun. Best of all though is that this is a real speedy company, place an order and your bra arrives within a couple of days.
VERDICT:
Breast enhancement without the surgery or cost, with truly wondrous bras.
Shopping Clothing
Next www.next.co.uk
*****
We can't imagine that there is anyone unfamiliar with the name 'Next', having
made a big impression both on the high street and in mail order. Browse from amongst 1300 styles in the online catalogue, featuring the latest fashions for
men, women and children. Next features flexible credit payment schemes, next day delivery and even a free returns service for no risk purchasing. A new
collection is now available, plus a new 'quick shop' feature that lets you enter catalogue numbers for speedy online purchasing.
VERDICT: If you like the Next style, you'll love Next Online.
Shopping
Clothing
Tie Store www.tie-store.com
****
It is hard to get excited about ties, and to be honest we didn't even try. However,
they are still an essential fashion item for lots of working men, and so anything that can make the task of buying them has to be applauded. So put your hands
together for Tie Store, the online tie shop with Fox and Chave silk ties for under a tenner, no minimum order, free next day delivery, free gift boxes and good selection to choose from.
VERDICT: Nice ties, good prices, quick service - and that's as exciting as tie shopping gets, even online.
Shopping Film
BlackStar www.blackstar.co.uk
*****
Blackstar are now one of the biggest online video stores in the UK, quite possibly the biggest in fact. A quality operation with slick site design and an
amazing amount of stock held. The prices are pretty good as well. But things like free delivery, 20% off of pre-orders, and the ability to build a 'watchlist' where
you can specify directors or stars to watch out for new movie releases really add to the value. Best of all is the 'Video Hunt' where Blackstar will track down old
films on video for you, no matter how long it takes.
VERDICT: A huge stock at low prices with superb added value services on offer.
Shopping Film
DVD Box Office www.dvdboxoffice.com
****
Of course, one of the great things about the Internet is that you can now buy your movies from North America and take advantage of great savings as well as
getting hold of the latest titles before they are released in the UK. Providing you have a multi-region DVD player and suitable TV set that can play 'Region 1'
movies, it is all legal and above board. Single DVDs cost below the threshold for import taxes, and DVD Box Office will ship anywhere in the world free of charge.
This Canadian company have recently had a site makeover, and it's now faster than ever to use and bursting with newly released movies to make your mouth water.
VERDICT:
It's what the internet does best, shrinking the world and saving you money.
Shopping Film
DVD Swap ww.dvdswap.co.uk
***
Generally speaking you can't walk into a high street shop and ask to swap your
old DVD movies for something else, well not without getting a kick up the backside and landing on the pavement. Online it's a different story, thanks to the
likes of DVD Swap that lets you do just that. Free to join it's an exchange club for new and used DVDs only, but the catch is in the cost - £5.95 per swap,
swap 5 and the 6th is free. A good idea in principle then, but it's still going to cost you money...
VERDICT: Cheaper than buying new, but with a healthy second hand market
you may do better to sell your old DVDs instead.
Shopping Film
Play 247 www.play247.com
*****
Based in Jersey, Play 247 offers the best of both worlds to the DVD fan by selling both Region 2 UK movies, and imported Region 1 North American
movies, all at excellent prices. What's more you get free delivery in Europe, and in the UK that's by Recorded Delivery so you know they will turn up safely. Our
reviewer buys all his DVDs from Play247, mostly Region 1 titles, and often sees the films before they show at the local cinema! Constantly improving, Play247
has competitions, a comprehensive order history feature, and now sell CDs as well.
VERDICT: Incredible choice of both domestic and imported titles, all at great
prices.
Shopping Flowers
Clare Florist www.clareflorist.co.uk
****
Proudly boasting that they are suppliers of flowers to Edinburgh Castle, the wonders of the Internet mean that you can sample the delights of high class
hand tied bouquets yourself. Place your order by 11am and Clare's will promise delivery, anywhere in the UK, the very next day. A redesigned website is even
easier to use than before, and now has a very professional look indeed. Lots of quick loading thumbnail pictures of the flowers which expand into glorious full size, full colour images with a click.
VERDICT: The perfect place to pick and purchase lovely flowers at reasonable prices for the person in a hurry.
Shopping Flowers
Daisys2Roses www.daisys2roses.com
****
The web is full of good ideas, and when it comes to flowers there is no shortage of them. We were contacted by the boss at Daisys2Roses who told us about
the site and his email carried a slogan of 'half a dozen red roses, anywhere in the UK for a tenner'. Unfortunately we couldn't find that offer, and ordering 6 red
roses came to £11 including standard delivery charges. What we did like though, was the build a bouquet feature that lets you choose the flowers to go
into your bunch, and add them a variety at a time, a bit like building a PC online.
VERDICT: A very interactive florist that makes buying flowers fun.
Shopping Flowers
Expressions www.expressions.co.uk
*****
Flowers and a lot more, in fact you could quite easily spoil someone stupid and empty your wallet at the same time here! How about a nice bunch of flowers, a
balloon, a teddy bear and a box of chocs? Expressions can send the lot, all from the one website. The website has recently been subject to a major revamp,
better graphics, easier navigation, more concise descriptions. Add to this that they have also expanded their range, and you get a rather good service all round.
VERDICT:
Say it with flowers, then shout it loud with loads of extra goodies.
Shopping Flowers
First Flowers Direct www.firstflowers.com
****
Hand picked and hand packed, direct from the Covent Garden flower market,
and shipped anywhere in the world in a polystyrene planter style box. That's the promise from First Flowers Direct. A platinum service offers next day delivery
along with hand tied and wrapped florist arrangements. One of the attractions is that the flowers come direct from Covent Garden market, guaranteed to impress
that special person in your life. Another is the superb 'same day' service if you order before 11am, which could get you out of any number of scrapes!
VERDICT: No nonsense flowers, straight from the market by 1st class post.
Shopping Flowers
Floritel www.floritel.co.uk
***
Short on choice but long on global awareness, Floritel is a fairly unique service
in that it specialises in getting flowers from any country to any other country as quickly as possible. Pick from the list of 180 or so home countries and
destinations, choose flowers from the rather small list, throw in your credit card details and the flowers will arrive within a day or two. If you need this kind of
service it could be a godsend, but for local deliveries you are probably best using your local florist.
VERDICT: A global online florist serving a rather specialist marketplace.
Shopping Flowers
Interflora www.interflora.co.uk
****
Think flowers and the chances are the first name that pops into your head will be Interflora. The express gift selector is perfect if you need flowers in a hurry,
simply select a price range, style, colour and flower preference and the selector does the rest. You are presented with a choice of options, pick the one that you
like and it will be delivered the next day. Not the cheapest florist online though, and additional 'service charges' of £3.20 per bouquet add to the cost. The
addition of a 'personal organiser' feature can remind you of important dates and ensure you don't send the same gifts or message to the same person more than once, year on year.
VERDICT: A well established service that people know and trust.
Shopping Flowers
Teleflorist www.teleflorist.co.uk
****
Claiming the UK's largest network of professional florists, Teleflorist works on a similar basis to Interflora with standard arrangements being prepared and
delivered by local shops. As well as the usual floral choices, the website comes with an exclusive selection of arrangements just for Internet customers, a flower
magazine, and a guarantee that all flowers will be both fresh and delivered on the specified date. Flowers from a special selection attract a 1% donation to the
British Heart Foundation. Nice new touches include the ability to select flowers by zodiac sign, and the introduction of posh gift hampers.
VERDICT: Comprising 2500 professional florists in the UK, Teleflorist has impressive service guarantees.
Shopping Gadgets
21Store www.21store.com
****
21Store is a global retail company, established in 1995 and specialising in
supplying electrical appliances and gadgets to customers in 60 different countries. This worldwide presence means that they can source quality goods at
discount prices, and pass the savings on to the consumer. So whether you are interested in a digital photo album, global positioning satellite device, night vision
glasses or perhaps a high tech calculator, the chances are they can help.
VERDICT: A varied range of products, plenty of bargains, and a very easy to
navigate website.
Shopping Gadgets
Carphone Warehouse www.carphonewarehouse.com
*****
Gadgets don't come much more popular than mobile phones, and mobile phone shops don't come much bigger than The Carphone warehouse. Before you buy
you can check to see what network coverage there is for your postcode, polish up your knowledge of the jargon, find out about the latest technologies, and
select the right combination of cost and coolness for your needs. A log awaited website redesign has finally arrived, and the result is a service that is now very
easy to use as well as being comprehensive and offering pretty good prices as well.
VERDICT: Don't buy a mobile phone before you've visited the ultimate phone
website.
Shopping Gadgets
Firebox www.firebox.com
*****
If 'boys toys' are your thing (even if you are a girl) then Firebox is the place to go shopping. Things that caught our eye recently include the procrastinator,
marketed as a 'waste of time' for just £12.95 - it's a doodling game sort of thing, or how about an alarm clock that lets you record the waking up message
for just £15.95? If you have a little more to spend pop over to the 'expensive stuff' section where you will find such essentials as a snowmobile for a very reasonable, er, £8000.
VERDICT: All the gadgets you could want, just don't tell the bank manager.
Shopping Gadgets
Gadgets UK www.gadgetsuk.com
****
All the usual suspects can be found lurking at Gadgets UK, from lava lamps to
multi-tool pocket knives, a pen that flashes when your mobile phone receives a call, a truth detector machine, or maybe a very annoying plastic singing fish. We
liked the quick product list, a drop down menu with categories such as ashtrays and Playstation stuff which takes you straight to popular options. All in all an
excellent website, but the range of products isn't as great as some of the others featured here.
VERDICT: Good for those quick gadget purchases when you know what you
want.
Shopping Gadgets
I Want One Of Those www.iwantoneofthose.com
*****
I Want One Of Those remains the king of rich kids fancy toys and gadgets, although they do also stock items that everyone can afford of course. But we'll
focus on the big stuff, because it really is a treasure chest of lottery winning fantasy. How about hitting the 'no limits' category link and spending a cool
million quid plus on a rather large boat? Or maybe £150,000 on a Russian L39 fighter jet? Cheaper, but just as fanciful, is the gold plated computer mouse - a snip at £375.
VERDICT:
A fun site that is perfect for finding unusual gifts for special people.
Shopping Gadgets
Unbeatable www.unbeatable.co.uk
*****
If your idea of gadget heaven is a pair of Radio Frequency cordless headphones,
a 'lifestyle' hifi, pocket sized TV sets or giant plasma screens then you've found it in Unbeatable. Backed by 20 years of mail order experience, you can be
assured good service and great prices. So confident of there prices are Unbeatable, that they will beat any cheaper price by 10% of the difference. We
like the 'wish list' feature that lets you drop items into a non shopping basket and keep an eye on the price until you are ready to buy.
VERDICT: Good prices, great gadgets, and a deadly quick website. Perfect!
Shopping Groceries
The Drink Shop www.thedrinkshop.com
*****
Drinks are a vital part of our monthly shop, everything from standard bottles of
red and white plonk, through to nifty nips of single malt, and even those special occasion champagne and party drink treats. But now we no longer have to lug a
second trolley around the supermarket just for booze because TheDrinkShop.com has come to the rescue. A truly huge online off-license,
stocking all the above and more, with deliveries from the desktop to your door. Now that's what we call cool - hic!
VERDICT: Brilliant - a decent off-license online, about time as well.
Shopping Groceries
Iceland www.iceland.co.uk
****
In recent years the one time small frozen food store has grown to take on the big supermarkets in the high street, especially by taking the high ground as far
as genetic foods are concerned. Iceland have also moved the battle online by providing a first rate Internet shopping experience complete with home delivery.
Select from the Iceland range of frozen goods, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Subject to a £40 minimum spend the order is transmitted to your nearest shop
and the goods delivered free by refrigerated van the following day within a chosen 2 hour time slot. You do need to live within a 10 mile radius of a store though.
VERDICT:
Produce free of GM foods makes Iceland a popular online choice.
Shopping Groceries
Sainsbury's www.sainsburys.co.uk
***
A new web address, but much the same service behind it. Which means that
whilst the world of online grocery shopping is starting to become a reality for Sainsbury's fans, it very much depends on where you live at the moment. So
whilst our rurally located reviewer can order OK from Tesco online, Sainsburys is a no go area despite the two supermarkets being situated within a mile of each
other. Check your postcode first to make sure they can deliver in your area, spend a few minutes registering, and then wait a few minutes more whilst the
'shop applet' loads into your browser before you can start shopping.
VERDICT: Rather cumbersome to get started, but all works well enough once
loaded.
Shopping Groceries
Tesco Direct www.tescodirect.com
*****
Still, without doubt, the undisputed heavyweight champion of Internet supermarket shopping, and the world's biggest and busiest online grocery store
as a bonus. With new outlets coming under the scheme month on month it is pretty likely you will be close enough to one to be able to sign up for online
shopping. Once you do you can choose to either shop via your browser over the web, or install the custom software and dial Tesco directly and bypass the Net
altogether. Delivery is five quid no matter what the size of your order, and arrives during an agreed 2 hour time slot the following day. Best of all is the fact that it
all works so well, and without any hassle.
VERDICT: Tesco continue to rule the roost as the UK's leading Internet grocer.
Shopping Highstreet shops
Bigsave.com www.bigsave.com
*****
To be honest, Bigsave could have ended up in the clothing category, gadgets, books, computers or even sports. But we thought that High Street was most
suitable because Bigsave is like an old fashioned department store, but online and without the inflated prices. New to the bargains online, is a section
dedicated to computer software which joins fashion, jewellery, videos, gifts, toys, sports, electronics and more. With over 7000 items at discounted prices, thank goodness for the efficient search engine.
VERDICT: Quick, comprehensive, easy to use and loaded with bargains.
Shopping Highstreet shops
Boots www.boots.co.uk
****
Boots is much more than just a chemist these days, indeed the online version of the shop isn't really a chemist at all. But whilst you can't buy your paracetamol
online just yet, you can shop for baby goods, toiletries and health and beauty ranges. Associated websites, linked from the main Boots site, bring optician
services and photo development to the Internet. If you have a Boots Advantage card, you can use that for your online purchases and pick up points. The
magazine and community feel make this a great shopping experience, watch out for the new 'wellbeing' website being launched soon by Boots as well.
VERDICT: More than a shop, a community and magazine add value to this website.
Shopping Highstreet shops
Comet www.comet.co.uk
****
Another big high street brand hits the Net, this time it's Comet, who are like a
bigger version of Dixons offering all those domestic products alongside the entertainment and electrical goods. Unfortunately the whole shopping
experience just isn't as enjoyable as the competition, the site design is a bit cluttered and not as slick as Dixons. We are happy to report that following our
last review, the warranty hard sell has been toned down though - so full marks to Comet Online for that.
VERDICT: Either buy online or use as a brochure before visiting the high street
shop, the Comet site is good for both.
Shopping Highstreet shops
Debenhams www.debenhams.co.uk
****
Increasingly rare on the high street, Debenhams is an old fashioned department
store moving with the times and going online. Currently there's only a limited range of products on sale, which is a shame. However, the wedding service is
online, enabling you to organise everything from clothing for the bride and groom, through to wedding stationery and even the all important gift list. A subtle, yet
rather slick, makeover on the site means that it's all now even more attractive. Go on, department store shopping without the crowds, you know it makes sense.
VERDICT:
A promising online start from Debenhams, especially useful for those with marriage plans.
Shopping Highstreet shops
Dixons www.dixons.co.uk
*****
Yet another website that's had the decorators in, nothing major just some touching up around the edges but it has freshened up the place and made it
even easier to use. What's more, it seems faster than ever before which is always a welcome change. Thumbnail images are the order of the day, but not
so small that you can't see the goods on offer. Couple these with ample descriptions and easy shopping facilities and one may wonder why you need to put up with the in-store sales patter ever again.
VERDICT: Dixons Online has all the advantages of the high street shop, but
without the crowds or the pushy sales staff trying to sell you an extended warranty.
Shopping
Highstreet shops
Marks and Spencer www.marks-and-spencer.co.uk
*****
Not known for moving with the times, they have only just started taking credit
cards in their shops after all, Marks and Spencer have finally got with the programme and started to sell online. If you've been following the fuss about the
new fashion collections now's your chance to see what it's all about, the autumn collection is here online. No sign of the 'average sized' naked lady from the
adverts though, but never mind that because this website is getting better all the time.There are fashion items for men, women and kids, flowers, gifts and of
course those all important items for the home that M&S are famous for.
VERDICT: It's kind of comforting knowing that Marks and Sparks are online.
Shopping Highstreet shops
QED www.qed-uk.com
****
QED stands for Quality Electricals Direct, a company with a good track record in mail order sales. Although particularly string when it comes to the domestic
goods it offers, washing machines, gas cookers and the like, you'll find a decent selection of all household electricals at good prices here. The only
disappointment is the rather simple web design, reminiscent of a few years ago. It works, but it isn't very attractive and doesn't compare with the offerings from
Dixons or Bigsave for example. However, at the end of the days it's the prices that matter, and those are hard to beat.
VERDICT: A simple site bolstered by big brands at good prices.
Shopping Highstreet shops
Tempo ww.tempo.co.uk
****
Although there aren't as many Tempo stores on the high street as some others, the website certainly makes up for it. Bold and bright, it really draws you into the
shopping environment. Once inside you won't be disappointed either, with thousands of computer and electrical products to browse. An easy to use list
based navigation system takes you to well displayed items. The only let down is that the prices could be more competitive in the online world.
VERDICT: A good effort from one of the smaller players, well worth a look.
Shopping Music
101cd www.101cd.com
****
101cd stands out from the crowd by the sheer volume of CDs available from the
website, according to the latest figures 1.6 million titles or put another way every UK release and lots more on import. This includes Japanese and US records,
box sets, UK 7" singles (yes, they do still exist), minidisc titles, and a wide range of oldies from the Virgin, EMI and Universal 'mid-range' catalogues.
Delivery charges spoil the party, being far too complicated for our liking, but overall prices are reasonable enough.
VERDICT: Plenty of choice, but hellishly confusing delivery charges.
Shopping Music
Audio Street www.audiostreet.com
****
Free UK delivery is always nice to have, and when the prices for chart albums average from £9.99 to £11.99 it's even nicer. This is another of the 'Street'
online shops, and comes into its own with the extras on offer. Here that means a selection of free MP3 tracks to download, a screensaver, and the ability to
listen to clips from most albums. Newly added sections include the re-issues pages, a competitions section and a kicking
VERDICT: Not the cheapest CDs online, but a great choice and packed with
extras.
Shopping Music
CD Now www.cdnow.com
*****
One of the first online music shops, and still one of the best. This US based operator has just about the most comprehensive selection of CDs we have ever
seen. What's more, delivery has got quicker and cheaper now that they have started to use purpose built shipping centre in Europe for UK orders. As well as
those great value for money US prices, there's also an on-site web radio station, the opportunity to listen to RealAudio clips of album tracks. A music news
features is cool, and there's also now the opportunity to earn reward points when you shop.
VERDICT: The ultimate in online music shops offers far more than just cheap
CDs.
Shopping Music
CD Universe www.cduniverse.com
****
A well designed, professional looking website that doesn't disappoint when it comes to content or cost. American prices mean savings can be found,
although you need to calculate the postage and import charges carefully. News, reviews, seemingly endless titles all make for a good site, but the icing on this
cake is the make your own CD compilation feature. Pick your tracks, click a button, pay some money and get a professionally produced CD through the post.
VERDICT: The personalised CD feature is old hat for those with CD-Writers, but it's nice to see on the web all the same.
Shopping Music
MoreMusic www.moremusic.co.uk
**
Another second hand music shop, this one UK based. Unfortunately, this really
is one for the die-hard record collector only, you know they type of people who actually enjoy sorting through long lists of records in the hope of finding one they
haven't already got. The website is fully loaded with content, but that content is list after list after list of records. If that's what you want, go for it, otherwise stick to the mainstream shops.
VERDICT: It seems more suited to a mailing list than a web page, but hardcore record collectors will most likely love it.
Shopping Music
NME www.store.nme.com
*****
The New Musical Express is the survivor in the UK music press, recently announcing that it will absorb Melody maker into its pages. But it also has a
thriving online version, part of which actually sells records. It's a very, very impressive site making good use of advanced design techniques to bring slick
and comprehensive drop down menus to the screen. Finding stuff is easy, buying it no problem. Lots of editorial, lots of insider reviews and recommendations. This has to be the record site of the year.
VERDICT: An absolute stunner of a site - if we could give it six stars we would!
Shopping Music
Second Spin www.secondspin.com
*****
Every music fan knows that for the real bargains you have to buy second hand,
but at least now that doesn't mean spending Saturday mornings looking through dusty boxes of old CDs and Sundays doing the car boot sale circuit. Now you
can buy second hand CDs online, direct from the US, for silly money. We would be genuinely amazed if the prices here don't impress you. What's more the
choice is simply astounding as well. You'll need to check the shipping costs and order in bulk to make the most of it, but Second Spin will happily buy your unwanted music collection to help ease the burden.
VERDICT: A great idea that's well executed, a bargain hunters paradise.
Shopping Music
Tower Records www.towereurope.com
***
Tower has a clean and crisp front end, which makes this easy on the eye and
easier to navigate. Which is good news for the record buying public online, as is the choice of artists available here. Loads of musical genres are listed, and all
the chart stuff is here of course. The main problem we have is that this is very much a US site in disguise, and not a very good disguise at that. Prices are in
dollars with pounds in brackets, sometimes, and dates are US style. For a site that claims to be Tower UK it's not really good enough!
VERDICT: A nice site that could be improved by making up its mind if it were UK or US in nature.
Shopping PC peripherals
Dabs Direct www.dabs.com
****
A huge stock of peripherals for your PC or Mac, and more than 200,000 customers viewing nearly 10 million pages each month, with 50,000 products to
choose from. Browsing can be a little more complicated than it needs to be, either using a search engine to locate the product or clicking through text lists of
product categories. A recent site overhaul has left Dabs looking meaner an cleaner, and a software download scheme has also been established. The 'shop
in shops' idea is neat though, enabling you to go directly to sub-sites that are brand led.
VERDICT: A comprehensive stock at reasonable prices, and free delivery!
Shopping PC peripherals
Insight Direct www.insight.com
****
Our reviewer does his supermarket shopping at the Sainsburys directly opposite Insights Worksop warehouse HQ, but still buys from the website. Which must
mean that it's easy to use, and offers good value for money. Pop up menus make getting around and finding the right item easier than ever, stock levels as
shown are accurate more often than not, and the choice of goods is overwhelming. The only downside is the lack of free delivery on sales under £150.
VERDICT: Good stocks, well presented, and checkout those weekly 'blowout' bargains!
Shopping PC peripherals
Jungle www.jungle.com
*****
There was a rumble in the jungle when this website first started up, with all sorts
of problems over delivery of goods. However, all this seems to be behind them now, having been purchased recently by the GUS home shopping group. More
than just PC peripherals here, including music, games, films, phones and computer hardware. Whatever you buy the prices are competitive and the whole site easy to use and great fun.
VERDICT: A very easy to use website that is pleasant on the eye and the pocket.
Shopping PC peripherals
Simply www.simply.co.uk
*****
Simply couldn't resist the temptation to redesign the site at last, after many years of the same tried and tested approach. Luckily it remains one of the
easiest to use websites of this type we have come across. It's lightning fast, using a link tree approach to navigation, and products are easy peasy to locate.
Prices are amongst the lowest online, and delivery is quick when goods are in stock. Product descriptions are now available in pop up windows, our only real complaint previously is now solved.
VERDICT: If you know what you want, and are looking for the best prices, then Simply fits the bill.
Shopping PC peripherals
Technomatic www.technomatic.co.uk
*****
Technomatic and Microwarehouse are one and the same, sharing what is essentially the same website but with slightly different branding. This quirkiness
apart, you'll find a very well presented online shop that is bursting with good prices and free UK delivery. We'd not have thought they could improve on an
already excellent site, but they have. It is now faster and slicker, with consistently low prices across the store. Technomatic have good product
descriptions, full colour images, updating stock levels and a neat 'call me' button that gets a sales person to call you back if you need help with anything.
VERDICT:
A very professional online shop, good prices and good stock don't disappoint.
Shopping Price comparison
2020 Shops www.2020shops.com
*****
Setting itself up as the online shoppers friend is almost asking for a fall, but 2020 Shops lives up to the promise and then some. Page after page of well
written, honest, and informative reviews of online shops with the key word there being informative. However, for us the best feature is the quick search facility.
Type in a keyword such as 'soap, and 2020 suggests the best place to buy it online, based on their research covering customer service, pricing and ease of use.
VERDICT:
Slick and quick, truly the shoppers friend as it promises.
Shopping Price comparison
BookBrain www.bookbrain.co.uk
*****
BookBrain don't sell books, they give away valuable information about where you
can buy them online for the best prices instead. Simply type in the title you are after, click on the link, and a list of results pops up. These tell you where you
can buy the book and at what price. The nice thing is that the true price is reflected, including delivery, and the results are listed cheapest first. BookBrain
now compares 14 shops, and has launched a service to access by a WAP mobile phone as well.
VERDICT: Invaluable tool for any online book buyer.
Shopping Price comparison
Come Shopping www.come-shopping.com
****
It may sound suspiciously like ballroom dancing on the telly, but thankfully it's much more exciting than that! A comprehensive UK online shopping mall, short
on gimmicks but packed with fast loading, easy to find, quality shopping outlets. A good category led list leads you into the site, and from there on everything is
a click or two away. You can tell it's a new service though, lots of 'coming soon' stickers appear as you work your way around.
VERDICT: Almost a five star site, and once the mall is fully subscribed we suspect it may become one.
Shopping Price comparison
DealTime www.dealtime.co.uk
*****
Buying online has never been easier, nor cheaper, thanks to services such as
this one. Whether you are looking for flowers or a new TV set, DealTime helps track down the cheapest deal in a few minutes, and will even let you specify the
type of online shop, auction or classifieds you want to search from. It does involve a lot of link clicking to eventually get where you want to be, but it is more
than worth the effort involved because the savings can be enormous.
VERDICT: Powerful yet easy to use, sounds good to us.
Shopping Price comparison
DVD Update www.dvdupdate.com
****
Buying DVDs can be a very complicated business, especially when it comes to knowing if you are getting the best deal or not. With so many online stores
running so many different special offers and schemes, it is a task best left to a computer. Enter DVD Update which will find the very best prices on either
Region 1 or Region 2 DVDs at the click of a button or two. A newly added chat forum brings an extra dimension to an already versatile and useful website.
VERDICT: Don't buy a DVD online without checking DVD Update to ensure you are getting the best possible deal first.
Shopping Price comparison
Kelkoo uk.kelkoo.com
*****
A silly name, well it is when compared to ShopGenie which is what it used to be called. However, we will forgive them that because the service actually works so
well. There are options to satisfy the most obsessive button presser: select goods by category, use the shop finder to uncover shops anywhere in the world
that deliver to any specified country, search by keyword, the choice is yours. The bargains of the day section is enough to ensure we keep coming back every 24 hours to see if we are missing anything.
VERDICT: Comprehensive, fast, easy to use and very effective.
Shopping Price comparison
mySimon www.mysimon.com
*****
If you are looking to do your purchasing online in the USA, and often it's not a bad idea as you can get some different products at great prices, then the odd
sounding mySimon service is hard to ignore. Amongst the first of the price comparison sites to get noticed, and still amongst the best. With millions of
products at thousands of stores, mySimon really does bring the entire online shopping scene into your browser. Just type what you want into the search box
and a minute or so later you'll have all the options before you. Oh, and there's even an in-store radio station to listen to whilst you shop.
VERDICT: This US site has something for everyone, and that includes you.
Shopping
Price comparison
ShopSmart www.shopsmart.com
*****
ShopSmart is firmly focussed on the UK, with a selection of more than 2000
secure UK online shops used to compare prices. Select from predefined categories and best seller lists such as music, video, fashion, computing, food
and drink and so on. Read the in-depth reviews before looking for a price, or head straight for the search interface. You will be offered the choice of reading
more about the goods or getting the comparison straight away. Like many others, a WAP phone service has also been added recently so you can compare prices on the move.
VERDICT:
One of the fastest comparison sites we have found, with lots of extra features.
Shopping Shopping centres
I Want To Shop www.iwanttoshop.com
****
A staggering 8000 shops in total can be found at this website with the coolest name in online shopping, after all, we do want to shop, don't we? Either use the
search facility to narrow down your choice, or click the 'UK Shops' button on your way in to shop close to home. A colourful site featuring loads of tools to
help you get the best from your visit, such as a currency converter, bargain finder and price comparison service.
VERDICT: Quite possibly the largest shopping centre online or off!
Shopping Shopping centres
Internet Shopping ww.internetshopping.com
***
Cool name and a cool looking website, with a great home page that really makes you want to enter this virtual mall come niche retailer portal. Click on a
square and a pop up window with a menu appears, click on a subject there and you are taken to the respective pages. Inside the mall is less neat than the
entrance though, in fact it's a little messy to be honest. But the range of goods on sale is OK although they err on the side of expensive.
VERDICT: A neat idea, but not one for the bargain hunter.
Shopping Shopping centres
InterSaver www.intersaver.co.uk
****
InterSaver isn't a shopping centre as such, more an online buyers co-operative of
the sort typified by LetsBuyIt.com. It works on the basis of bulk buying makes purchases cheaper, so InterSaver can go get goods straight from the
manufacturer, cutting out the middleman and saving you money in the process. The sample prices certainly look competitive to say the least, and the choice is
impressive with departments covering most shopping needs.
VERDICT: One of the best looking and easiest to use of the bulk buying
co-operative schemes.
Shopping Shopping centres
Shoppers Universe www.shoppersuniverse.co.uk
*****
40,000 products mark ShoppersUniverse apart from most online retailers, but it
all makes sense when you realise it is brought to you by GUS Home Shopping, the same people behind many of the famous name mail order fashion
catalogues. Now with more stores than ever, and a new 'gift finder' service as well. Another nice touch are the links to other recommended shopping sites not
owned by GUS, which shows an understanding of Internet culture which we like a lot.
VERDICT: Plenty of products featured in logical shops, and backed by a big
name in retail.
Shopping Shopping centres
Shops On The Net www.shopsonthenet.com
*****
Loads of shopping categories to click on, and plenty of quick loading eye candy to keep you interested whilst you browse. This is one big Internet shopping mall,
with over 18,000 sites listed on their pages. We like the well flagged hot offers, hot products and enticing competitions almost as much as we liked browsing for
things to buy. Well crafted editorial and reviews help make your online shopping an informed choice, and an icon ratings/services system makes understanding what's on offer easy enough.
VERDICT: It's comprehensive, cool and easy to use. The perfect online shopping mall.
Shopping Shopping centres
The Virtual Mall www.thevirtualmall.co.uk
*****
Designed to mimic a real shopping centre, you are welcomed into the store with a floor plan. Pick a floor to see the shops that are situated there, again using a
floor plan layout. Bargains are, naturally, to be found in the basement, whilst the fourth floor is mysteriously 'staff only' and requires a password to enter. The
Virtual Mall is packed full with big name shops, brands such as TopShop, WH Smith, Debenhams, Richer Sounds and Woolworths. We still like this simple
but effective idea, it works well and offers great choice in one place, like a real shopping mall would.
VERDICT: A centre packed with big and small shops alike, and complete with a
great sense of fun.
Shopping Toys
The Early Learning Centre www.elc.co.uk
*****
Most high street shopping malls can boast an Early Learning Centre outlet, and now the web can as well. Geared towards the younger child, the toys on offer
are mostly educational as well as fun - so parents can be as happy as their kids with the toys purchased. A huge selection, with easy to use menus and search
facilities, all amply described and illustrated with both thumbnail and larger images. Toy shopping has never been this easy, even the kids themselves love surfing at this site.
VERDICT: A fun approach to educational toys, and a real online success story.
Shopping Toys
eToys www.etoys.co.uk
*****
The big name in online toy shopping in the US, and now available to UK
shoppers as well, eToys lives up to its huge potential. Claiming to be the biggest online toy shop in the world with over 7000 product lines, browsing is done by
brand, character or category. We like the ability to browse by recommended age the best though, as it makes life so much easier. The addition of a baby store,
similar to the way Toys r Us have a Babies r Us department, is a nice touch as well.
VERDICT: A vast range of toys accompanied by interesting methods of finding
them.
Shopping Toys
Shop4Toys www.shop4toys.co.uk
*****
This is very much a character led toy shop, and no kid is going to argue with that. Whether your family favourites are Noddy, Postman Pat, Sooty or the chart
topping teeny bopper Bob the Builder, you'll find something to suit here. More than 1500 products are available, and most are official merchandise rather than
some cheap imitation of dubious quality. Yep, prices are higher, but at least you know what you are buying into.
VERDICT: If your kids are hooked on TV and movie characters, then Shop4Toys
has all you could want.
Shopping Toys
Toys R Us www.toysrus.co.uk
****
Extremely colourful, quick to load, and quicker to use. A toy finder lets you get straight to the gift if you know what you want, otherwise you can browse at your
leisure. A store locator helps you find your nearest real world branch if the online shop doesn't have what you are looking for. Unfortunately, this could well be the
case as inexplicably not all the real world stock is carried online. Delivery is charged at £2.50 per order, all within 72 hours.
[verdict] It's sham
VERDICT:
It's a shame the whole stock isn't carried by the website, but otherwise a top notch toy shop
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