In this article: Let the Web work for you Use wish lists to help you shop It's the holidays, they'll wrap it for you

f you're among the nearly 9 million shoppers expected online this holiday season, here's good news. E-tailers, convinced this season will make or break them, are handing out perks galore: free shipping (beauty site Eve.com), dollars off for first-time buyers (ToySmart.com) and "110% satisfaction" guarantees (Garden.com). Lots of new visuals, such as models you can make look just like you (if you're a woman), then dress to your specifications --LandsEnd.com -- and 3-D product shots -- SharperImage.com -- make the sensory experience more satisfying, too.

I recently road-tested dozens of sites. Here are my suggestions.

Let the Web work. At Respond.com, a reverse shopping site, you register, pick a category and send out a message about what you want to buy ("I need a room in Vegas for New Year's"; "I want Springsteen memorabilia"). Your request is read by some of the 20,000 merchants; if they can help, they respond. Only if you reply do you reveal your identity. It works best for items that are seriously tough to find.

I also like sites marketed as shopping aggregators; they lower prices on specific items incrementally as more people agree to buy. Of the two in the market (Mercata.com and www.accompany.com), I prefer the latter. The lowest price I could find on the Web for a Game Boy Color was $59.99 until I went to Accompany. There, the price was $56.95 and falling; if 21 people signed on, it would drop to $49.95.

Finally, "shopbots" shop the Web for you and give you the lay of the land. Dealpilot.com, for one, not only gives you a wide choice of prices, but also incorporates shipping and taxes.

Use wish lists. Many sites (EddieBauer.com, Della.com, etoys.com and more) have registries. You sign up for items you'd like to receive, then some aunt who doesn't know your taste can log on and buy something you'd actually wear. No, it's not particularly romantic, but it eliminates that rush to the store to return merchandise before the prices change. (An alternative: Gift certificates from giftcertificates.com come with beautiful cards or can be e-mailed within hours.)

Remember, these are the holidays, so you'll want gift wrap. Some sites make it easier than others. Etoys lets you wrap each item as you buy (you can see blowups of the paper choices) and attach a message. That's much better than sending a box of unlabeled gifts to a family with multiple kids, hoping the recipients can tell who gets what. Only half of all sites even offer gift wrap, and only half of those are good about attaching notes, so be careful. Also, keep an eye on return policies: Many Web retailers that have physical stores will let you buy at their online sites and return to their brick-and-mortar ones.

Finally, delivery: When will the merchandise actually ship? No use paying for next-day delivery if the goods won't leave the warehouse for two days. Make sure you have an accurate estimate.