Before visiting stores or web sites this holiday shopping season, consumers should visit the free ConsumerReports.org® (CRO) "Holiday Giving Guide" to get expert buying advice, shopping tips and easy access to safe online shopping. The "Holiday Giving Guide" is a free section and will be available at ConsumerReports.org through the holiday shopping season.

The special online section offers expert information on everything related to buying electronics products including detailed advice on how to buy plasma and LCD TVs; getting started with digital photography; DVD players; CD players, recorders and mini music systems; camcorders; PCs; and more. The Holiday Giving Guide also offers tips on other popular holiday gifts including advice on how to choose toys; video and computer games; bargain bikes; gifts for the yard or workshop; snow blowers; and food processors, mixers and knives.

ConsumerReports.org's recently expanded "Shop Online" feature allows subscribers to bridge the gap between the research process and the actual purchase. One click from selected CRO Ratings pages on consumer electronics leads to a gateway page that links to Yahoo!, which provides a customized version of its shopping service where consumers can buy the rated products. To provide CRO subscribers with a safer online shopping experience, Yahoo! has customized its shopping service for CRO subscribers by sorting retailers by price, lowest to highest; eliminating used or refurbished products from retailers' listings; and by providing links to only those retailers who are qualified for inclusion in Yahoo Shopping's Buyer Protection Plan, which safeguards consumers against fraudulent online sellers.

In keeping with Consumer Reports' historical commitment to independent, unbiased service to its readers, neither CRO nor its nonprofit parent, Consumers Union, derives any revenue from this arrangement with Yahoo! or from the purchases that occur via the Shop Online feature.

"Some of the most popular products for holiday gift-giving are also the ones that change the most frequently," said ConsumerReports.org Associate Editor Helen Popkin. "This is the season when many people do the bulk of their purchasing each year, and with the information we've brought together in the Holiday Giving Guide for ConsumerReports.org, everyone can get through the holiday season with the confidence of having the unbiased facts they need before choosing a product or brand."

Along with shopping advice for specific products, CRO's Holiday Giving Guide also includes general online shopping tips, advice on returning gifts, and a Health and Travel section:

Online Shopping

Buying gifts from your computer helps you avoid many traditional holiday hassles-but it has its own pitfalls.

When making holiday purchases online, CRO advises readers to note the estimated delivery time for standard shipping; many sites and catalogs offer express shipping for an additional charge. It's also important to know a site's return policy before buying-CRO recommends a minimum of 45 days for the recipient to make the switch. Some sites include postage-paid envelopes or labels for easy returns; others let recipients return items to a brick-and-mortar store. Don't forget to ask about free or low-cost gift cards and wrapping, which many online retailers also offer.

The Holiday Giving Guide also includes specific recommendations for holiday retail sites in several popular categories, including clothing, housewares and small appliances, electronics, toys, books, music, and movies. And if you just can't decide, consider gift certificates, which come in every size and color-but make sure they're valid for at least six months, to give your recipient time to shop.

Visitors to the guide also have access to CRO's indispensable e-Ratings on a variety of categories such as baby gear and travel. CRO first introduced the e-Ratings system, which reviews Web sites for credibility, usability and content, in November 1999 to help consumers navigate the emerging Web marketplace efficiently, effectively and with confidence.

Returning Gifts

You'd prefer not to have to, but we all know it happens. So what are the ground rules? Do you really need that sales slip? How long can you wait?

According to the Holiday Giving Guide, yes, it is important to hang onto that sales slip. But with it, you can often succeed in returning goods even if you don't play strictly by the rest of the rules. Remain polite, and don't assume that the first "no" you hear is the final word, since people in the same store sometimes provide contradictory information about return policies.

To maximize the chance of a successful return for you or your gift recipient, it's best to request a gift receipt at the time of purchase; to check before the purchase whether an item is marked "as is" or "final sale;" and to avoid cutting off any tags or discarding any packaging as long as there's any chance an item will have to go back.

Many companies have a stated return policy ranging from seven to 90 days, while others set no deadline at all. Apparel merchants, department and discount stores and catalogs tend to offer the longest grace periods, while electronics and appliance chains have the shortest return periods, along with tough rules on opened packages and restocking fees. However, with persistence and politeness, it's often possible to make a return even after the deadline. Some online and mail-order companies will even pay the shipping costs associated with a return, since they know buyers can't examine merchandise until after they've bought it.