Tips for Buying Gift Baskets Online

Here are some tips to help you when you are looking for and buying gift baskets online.

Brainstorm beforehand, get an idea what type of gift basket you are looking for. Be it a luxurious spa gift basket, gourmet chocolate gift basket for that someone special someone, a corporate gift basket, business gift basket for a business associate or a unique wine country gift basket for a housewarming gift. Have an idea what you are looking for. This will keep you from getting all flustered when you see the 100’s of choices that are available.
Usually the website will have the gift baskets broken down by category, gourmet item types, occasions, themes, and even price category to assist you in narrowing down the selection. Make sure that the gift basket company has a good selection for you to choose from.
Check and compare the guarantee offered. A good and reputable gift basket company will offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. They want you for a customer for life. In order for that to happen you must be happy with the product and the service so offering you a 100% satisfaction guarantee will be the best warranty you can get. Read their information and guarantee statement so that you are familiar with what they offer.
In the summer months, be careful of the ingredients you choose. Chocolate cans melt on those hot days, so on some products there are shipping restrictions to “overnight only” or some products are not available at all in the summer months.
Since we are talking about shipping, let’s go over this area. There is no free lunch, shipping costs money. You want to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Always, when comparing prices, compare the whole cost: product, shipping, and packaging. Some companies advertise or show free shipping. These companies simply sell the product for more to cover the shipping or sell an inferior product that costs less for the same price and then say they include shipping.

Then there is the old trick of selling the product at a very good price and then adding a large shipping and packaging price for much higher total price. Look for a company that has a fair price for the basket, shipping and packaging. You will be paying for the shipping and packaging one way or another.

Be comfortable with the shipping terms. If you need it there tomorrow you will have to order early and pay overnight charges. If you have a few days, the shipping will be much less. Again, depending on perishable items, time of year, and when you need it delivered, all will affect the price. It is always best if you can order on Monday or Tuesday so that it will be delivered by Friday. Remember that delivery is usually not available on Saturday, Sunday or holidays. Even if it is available, it will always cost more. You should be able to order your gift basket to arrive on a specific date.

Find an online store that has been around for awhile and that is reputable. One way is to look at the store information and see how long they have been in business. Next check the website for the Better Business Bureau, BBB, seal for internet retailer accreditation. Check and see if there are or have been any complaints filed. This is a great tool for a gift basket purchaser.
Always be sure that you are ordering from a secure site. A secure site uses a form of encryption when transmitting data, such as credit card information, across the internet. This way only you and the merchant can see this information. A secure website should have a symbol of an unbroken lock and key on the site or SSL which means Secure Sockets Layer, which is a cryptographic system that uses two keys to encrypt data.
Last but not least, customer service. Be sure that they have a toll free telephone number beginning with 800, 866, or 888 for you to call if necessary. Sometimes it is just gratifying to talk to a person if necessary or if you have questions about anything. Be sure that the telephone number is prominently displayed. This shows that they are customer service savvy and want you happy.