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In the world of electronics and computer on-line purchasing, a few web sites swim above the rest. They offer exception prices, attentive customer service, do not charge sales tax and—most importantly—do not weight your order down with bloated shipping charges. For me those include Amazon.com, NewEgg.com, Provantage.com and the subject of this review, Buy.com.

I don't remember when I heard about Buy.com, or from whom. I do know that when I want something electronic, they usually have it in stock and ready to ship for free or at a rate that I find easy to swallow. The company boasts that it has "over 2 million products to over 7 million customers" and is the "Internet Superstore." While I can believe the first claim base on past buying experience, I am sure Amazon.com would take exception to the second claim. Regardless, it rare that I have come to Buy.com looking for that special purchase and come away empty handed.

The Web Site

The first thing that strikes me about the Buy.com web site is the soft colors and rounded fonts they use throughout. The effect—for me anyway—is somewhat soothing; the site is easy on the eyes, and is therefore inviting. Arrayed along the top of the site arranged in two rows of clickable links are the categories of products Buy.com offers. These include:

Books
Magazines
Toys
Music
Music Downloads
DVDs
Games
Sports
Bags
Today’s Deals
Computers
Software
Home Networking
Digital Cameras
Electronics
Cellular
Clearance
More Stores

Arrayed along the left hand side of the site is the ubiquitous search box, and a rather involved "Browse By Category" menu box. In the center of the site is usually a very large colorful ad for whatever is on sale for the moment. Under this are highlighted products from the myriad of categories offered by Buy.com, while along the right hand side of the site is another menu box, labeled "Most Popular" in which the most popular items in several different categories are hightlighted for your viewing pleasure.

Ordering

Before placing your first order with Buy.com, you must of course, create an account (your user ID is an email address) in which the customary information can be entered and saved. You can save a multitude of addresses and credit cards and choose between then when if comes time to checkout and pay for your purchase(s). There are a number of items on Buy.com that qualify for free (ground) shipping, and this special designation is noted by a small yellow delivery truck icon with the words Qualifies for FREE SHIPPING next to it.

Not all products are so anointed, and I have yet to figure out how Buy.com determines what items are anointed for free shipping honors. And then there are products that are eligible for free shipping. These items are marked by a small brown delivery truck icon with the words Eligible for FREE SHIPPING next to it. These items can be shipped free via ground under the following conditions per Buy.com:

(a) For the Game store, place over $75 (before tax and shipping charges) of eligible products in your shopping basket. See the fine print below for additional details and restrictions.

(b) For the Computer, Software, Electronics, Digital Camera, Home Networking, Book, Music, DVD, and Video stores, place over $25 (before tax and shipping charges) of eligible products in your shopping basket. See the fine print below for additional details and restrictions.

Methods of Payment

Buy.com of course accepts all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express (yes American Express), Discover, and Diners Club. Bank wire transfers are also accepted, but like most sites Buy.com charges a service fee of $25. The site also accepts checks and money orders on most orders, the exception being cellular purchases. Bear in mind of course that your order will not begin to be processed until the check or money order reaches Buy.com customer service.

A word or two about Sales Tax from the folks at Buy.com: Buy.com charges sales tax for orders shipped to California, Maryland and Massachusetts. Sales tax is automatically computed on both product(s) and shipping costs. To see the total sales tax charged on your order, click on checkout underneath your basket listings. We will gladly credit sales tax for government institutions. Just fax us a copy of your Resale Certificate or Government tax-exemption form with an address matching that of your order's to 949-389-2837. Please include a copy of your receipt or your order number.

Shipping Charges

As I stated above, Buy.com will ship a number of products free of charge. Those items not shipped free of charge, are subject to four levels of shipping: Budget (ground), Standard, Two-Day, and One-Day airborne; UPS or Federal Express. Complete shipping details are available through the web site. When I have been charged shipping the rate have always be reasonable.

Return Policy

In the two years since I have been ordering from Buy.com, I have only had to return an item once and the experience was painless. After using a product for a week and determining that it would not work for me, I decided to return it. I called for an RMA number, and received one no questions asked; shipped the item backed and had my credit card credited by the end of the week. Buy.com covers most products with a 30 day return policy but, there are some products are only available for a 14 day return.

My Experiences

Buy.com is now one of the main on-line merchandisers I shop from. And if need it within days, I go to Buy.com first, because they have a warehouse not too far from where I live and ground shipping for me is two days maximum after I place my order. Pricing and selection at Buy.com are very competitive with the likes of Mwave.com, Amazon.com, and Newegg.com.

I am happy to report that I have never had a mishap while shopping at Buy.com. My items are always shipped within a few days of ordering, and as I stated above, always arrived no later then two days after shipment. My items have always been packed securely and professionally, and nothing has arrived broken, cracked, frayed, or bent.

Conclusion

Unbeatable selection, competitive pricing, outstanding customer service, free shipping on a large selection of items, and the proximity of one of the companies warehouses close to where I live, keep me coming back to Buy.com. With excellent channels of distribution and great customer friendly environment Buy.com is here to stay and I, for one, will continue to include it in my small cadre of on-line merchants.