If you're like me, you're A+ blood type. But even if you're not like me, the fact that you're reading this article means you're interested in technology. If you caught the title, your reading this may even indicate you're interested in online shopping. Or giraffes. So let's talk about them.

Online shopping is a topic that intimidates some. Some others could care less about it, or are already experienced with it. This article is for the first group, those who are interested in it but for whatever reason have little experience with it.

First of all, what's the big deal? Why would anyone even want to shop online? Here are a few reasons:

    It's fast: If you're good, you can place an order for something in under 2 minutes. No hassle dealing with a phone rep trying to get you to buy additional items, just click a button and you're done.

    It's hassle-free: No traffic, no crowds. Just you and a computer in the comfort of your own home.

    Lower cost: It's often cheaper to purchase online than it is to buy retail.

For those who think pessimistically, here's a list of drawbacks to shopping online. However, I've added notes for how to work around the drawbacks.

    Safety - You don't know who you're buying from. This isn't like going to the mall and grabbing a giraffe-skin coat right off the rack. You could purchase (and I have multiple times) from homerun companies on the other side of the country that you'll never hear anything about and won't hear from again. There's a certain amount of trust involved. Luckily, we also have safeguards. TIP 1: Always use a credit card (not a debit card, and never checks or money orders unless there's no other option). Almost all credit card companies will refund all money if you get ripped off. Check with your card company to be sure, but they shouldn't hold you liable for any loss from online shopping or card number theft. TIP 2: Go to www.bizrate.com. This is a company that keeps ratings (generated by consumers like us) of online businesses. If the company you're interested in happens to be listed, you can see how other purchasers have faired.

    Look but don't touch - You can't see the product in detail. If you're browsing and trying to find a well-fitting pair of pants, or want to see if the color of the table will match your living room, looking at the item online may not be the first step you should take. TIP 3: Know exactly what you need. Try to have a part number, ISBN number, or detailed product description. TIP 4: Narrow down what you're looking for. For example, searching www.google.com for "stuffed giraffe" returned 15 times more links than "giant plush stuffed giraffe", a difference of more than 20,000 sites!

    Shipping Costs. If you order online, you may get lucky and find a special on free shipping. If not, you've got to pay shipping. TIP 5: To save on shipping, order multiple items from the same place. Online purchasing is popular enough that there are department-store equivalents online. www.amazon.com is a good one to try: Putting "giraffe" in their search tool returned thousands of items, from giraffe books to giraffe earrings to giraffe-stamped drawer knobs.

With those tips, you're almost set. Finally, I want to put up a few flags you should be aware of when shopping online:

    ETA: Your online store should be able to give you an estimate of your package's arrival time. During the holidays, some will be able to guarantee things like "Orders placed before December 20th will arrive before Christmas." Look for this if delivery time is important to you. If you need to, you can usually expedite the order.

    Security: Security in online transactions is as important as the slide whistle to 1980s cartoons. Buying items from a "secure site" is a good practice: As you make purchases, you should be able to see the websites talk about using their "secure server" or "encrypted site". This is an indicator your information will be transmitted as securely as possible.

    Privacy: Many sites will force you to register with them in order to allow you to purchase. This allows them to keep track of you and potentially send you promotional mailings and phone calls. If there's a way to buy your item and not register, do it. If you must register, you should be able to check a box or two somewhere that says "Don't contact me!". (Don't fake any information like phone number or email address, since companies will also use that information for credit card validation and to send you receipts.)

    Returns: So you order your giraffe and it arrives broken. Most reputable stores have good return and refund policies, but you should always check. Make sure the stores have reasonable policies so you won't be stuck with a giraffe limping around your house for the next 25 years.

That's a quick summary of the Things You Should Know when you shop online. Keep in mind this article does not discuss Advanced Things You Should Know, like buying airline tickets, hotel rooms, or using eBay. Those alone would take a couple more articles, but please let me know if you'd like to see them!

To my many giraffe-centric readers, you're welcome for the tips.