With more Web sites than anyone can count, new ones popping up each minute, and search engines that produce hundreds of thousands of results, online shopping can be overwhelming. Enter "Thepurplebook": the most comprehensive guide to only the best of the best online shopping. Each Web site featured in the book has been tested based on top notch product selection and excellent consumer service, and features items from budget to deluxe and everything in between. More well-known, major sites as well as lesser-known, best-kept secrets are featured in the book, and each site listing is complete with smart reviews, insider tips and hints, and merchandise indexes. Organized by subject, categories include Entertainment, Gadgets & Electronics, Sports & Outdoors, Weddings, Pets, Seniors, Health & Beauty, Home & Garden, and more. Whether you want to find the perfect anniversary gift, book a vacation, remodel your kitchen, or personalize your home entertainment center, "Thepurplebook" will streamline your online shopping experience and allow you to choose among only the most superior products.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
HILLARY MENDELSOHN lives in California.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
To e-shop or not to e-shop? That is the question.,
By Luan Gaines "luansos" (Dana Point, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: thepurplebook(R), 2006 edition : the definitive guide to exceptional online shopping (Purple Book: The Definitive Guide to Exceptional Online Shopping) (Paperback)
I have long been an enthusiastic online shopper and find this a viable way of saving time- with one caveat: the shipping is the deal breaker. Avoiding out-of-state sales tax is a bonus which is usually offset by reasonable shipping costs. However, there had been an alarming trend, especially in the wake of rising gas costs, to fatten the shipping rates into an often prohibitive charge. One of the things this online shopping manual provides is a guide to shipping coasts and other customer-friendly aspects of various sites. Revised and updated yearly, The Purple Book provides web sites for a variety of needs, assembled according to category, using universal symbols and section icons to show what specific products are offered on each site.
The concept is brilliant, as is the color, but I wanted more information on why these particular sites are included, other than that they meet certain criteria, price, selection, security, customer service contact, etc. I was curious whether these sites paid to be included or are actually the result of random sampling, from "search engines, message boards and recommendations". That issue aside, I chose random URL's from the book, using the author's review to assess the quality of the site. Of these selections, the reviews were accurate and specific, even a bit wry. The universal symbols aren't particularly helpful, some of them obvious, but most important, they do indicate reasonability of price point and shipping costs. A purple star connotes an endorsement by The Purple Book; since the reviews editorialize, I would like to see the text go one step further, with a one to five star rating. Browsing the categories and frequently familiar web sites, I decided to search for printer ink cartridges, using The Purple Book as my resource, without much success. With a search this specific, I was forced back into Googleland to get the results I needed. However, for those new to online shopping and overwhelmed by the staggering number of shopping sites, this book is an invaluable aid. Of course, this collection of sources is only as good as the accuracy of information and the ease of use it provides. There are many incipient online shoppers (read "Baby Boomers") who can benefit from this source collection and the easy manner it portrays the online shopping experience. Given the enormous number of sites available, and growing, it is helpful to have a guide that sorts the wheat from the chaff. Luan Gaines/ 2005.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource,
By
This review is from: thepurplebook(R), 2006 edition : the definitive guide to exceptional online shopping (Purple Book: The Definitive Guide to Exceptional Online Shopping) (Paperback)
I picked up the book last week and found sound great sites I didn't know about - was able to get some holiday shopping done early for once. Great for those hard to find gifts, as well as everyday items. Very user friendy, highly recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
On-line Shopping,
By Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: thepurplebook(R), 2006 edition : the definitive guide to exceptional online shopping (Purple Book: The Definitive Guide to Exceptional Online Shopping) (Paperback)
This is a good rendition on the various websites in existence for a variety
of goods and services on the internet. The volume is well organized. It is easy to read and the price is reasonable. An update of the volume would be in order for the 2007-2008 period; otherwise, the current book will suffice. This book would be helpful for identifying websites specific to the current needs of the customer. A beauty of the work is that it is easy to locate product classifications with a minimum of effort. The acquisition would be helpful for anyone who shops frequently on the internet.
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