| If you're one of the many company purchasers that | | | | expensive store that may just be where they can |
| spends hours trawling through books to try to find the | | | | make the most money. |
| best deals for your organisation, then it's probably time | | | | - Security |
| you looked at how the Internet could help you save | | | | Although many TV shows, magazines and other |
| lots of time and effort and get you a really good deal. | | | | media outlets seem to point this out at every avenue, |
| But it's also full of danger as you can never be sure | | | | people still don't realise the simplest things about |
| that the company you are buying from has a great | | | | security on sites. To check a site is secure, you simply |
| track record, will deliver the right items or will even be | | | | look for the padlock in the 'address bar' of your |
| in business when you come to call them for an update. | | | | browser. Now, this just means that someone snooping |
| Unfortunately the prevalence of fraud sites has put | | | | on your data won't be able to intercept it - it doesn't |
| many people off and so they are going without the | | | | mean the company itself isn't dodgy, so don't be lulled |
| best deals and this leads to companies going back to | | | | into a false sense of security. |
| tried and tested 'preferred supplier lists' which means | | | | Very often, the only part of the site that will be |
| they are essentially restricting their chances of getting | | | | secured is the checkout page - this is fine as security |
| good deals. | | | | encryption can take a lot of server resources. |
| So, how can you ensure you get a great price and | | | | To check the status of the security certificate, be sure |
| also superb service? How can you manage both | | | | to double click on it. You'll get all the data necessary to |
| issues and keep the bosses happy without having to | | | | put your mind at rest. Luckily, most modern web |
| look at dodgy sites or risk the company credit card? | | | | browsers will tell you if there are any problems. |
| Well the office supplies marketplace is actually | | | | - Local delivery |
| changing quite drastically and there are many | | | | At first this may sound odd, but it's actually very |
| companies now willing to offer a lot more in exchange | | | | important. There are massive ranges of office |
| for your money. The most important being great | | | | equipment available and the buyer for any particular |
| service and delivery. Very often we go down the | | | | company cannot be expected to know everything |
| route of looking at Internet prices without considering | | | | about everything! So, you will want to know that the |
| that getting a good deal isn't always just about price. | | | | company you are buying from actually understands |
| What happens, for example, when there is a problem | | | | the products they are selling. |
| with the item you just purchased? This is usually when | | | | In the past this was easy. You simply bought from a |
| most people hit a problem - regardless of the laws in | | | | specialist company, but now office supplies companies |
| place that are meant to help the consumer, very often | | | | exist that have ranges of 50,000 products or more - |
| it can be a trauma even trying to get a replacement. | | | | can you really expect them to understand your needs |
| To stay safe on the Internet, then, it is actually quite | | | | and their solutions? |
| easy and here are a few tips that will enable you to | | | | What's more, they will very likely simply send your |
| make sure you are buying from a company that isn't | | | | goods using a courier service that knows absolutely |
| going to simply disappear when you need to chase | | | | nothing about you or the product you've just bought. Is |
| them up with a problem. | | | | that really what you're after? |
| - Recommendation | | | | A local company will be able to help because they will |
| It may sound obvious, but there are many people who | | | | know you. Also, if they've been in business for a while, |
| are willing to recommend suppliers, even more so on | | | | they will also know the products. |
| the Internet. However, beware that they're not getting | | | | In summary, it shouldn't actually be a chore to find the |
| a 'cut'. Many companies offer affiliate money, | | | | correct product at the right price with the best service. |
| essentially an electronic 'back-hander' when others | | | | Just bear in mind that you probably don't need or want |
| recommend them. If someone recommends a | | | | the absolute cheapest because sometimes best to |
| company to you that you may use for expensive | | | | pay a little more for that extra special service that |
| purchases, be sure that they're not sending you to an | | | | other companies are able to give. |