双语有声阅读:Getting the Most From Online Shopping 大家

Getting the Most From Online Shopping 大家e起来上网购物

Even the most enthusiastic shopper has a bad day sometimes: You can't find what you want, every second person in the crowd seems intent on bumping into you, and your legs are aching from hip¹ to toe. It's at times like these when the much-touted convenience of shopping over the Internet sounds like a better alternative.

Like bargain hunters in the real world, however, on-line shoppers need to be aware of the pitfalls² in order to enjoy the benefits of e-commerce. For most, the main concern is the invisibility of whoever is on the other end of the transaction. Those walking into the cyber market armed only with a credit card and an active imagination need to follow a few guidelines.

The golden rule in purchasing anything over the Internet is to find out who you are dealing³ with. The first step is to make sure the company is legal and has clearly stated sales and security policies, which should be easy to access on its Web site.

Buyers should also pay close attention to the terms and conditions of sale, such as whether there are any hidden extras in the form of delivery costs. Of course, it is essential that the firm can guarantee the security of personal information and credit card numbers. Otherwise, you may end up being charged more than you bargained for.

Not all on-line shopping is done in virtual stores. Internet auctions⁵ function in much the same way as regular auctions, though with a longer time limit. Information about items for sale is posted on an auction⁴ site and anyone can make a bid within the stipulated⁶ time. The successful bidder⁷ is informed by e-mail. Then, payment and delivery, which are carried out by prearranged methods, follow.

There are two kinds of auction sites: business-to-person and person-to-person. In the former, it is the Web site that has possession of the goods on sale and accepts payment for them, whereas a person-to-person auction site merely provides a means by which sellers can sell their goods directly to customers.

As with other forms of Internet shopping, credit cards are usually the safest and most convenient way to pay, but in a person-to-person deal, the seller may be unwilling⁸ to accept them, insisting instead on a cashier's check or money order before sending the merchandise. In that case, some sites recommend an escrow service that will handle the transaction independently for a fee of around 5 percent of the cost of the item.

Practically anything can be bought on-line and, provided the appropriate caution is exercised, Internet shopping can be a rewarding alternative to trudging⁹ through the stores. So sit back, log on, and save the workout for the gym.

即使是最狂热的购物王也有出师不利的日子：你找不到想买的东西，每个在你身后的人都好像故意要撞你，而你的双腿从臀部痛到脚趾。这些时候，以便利颇受赞誉的网上购物听来是个更好的选择。

但是就像在现实世界买廉价商品一样，网上购物者也需留意：在享受电子商务的方便的同时，也要承担风险。通常最令人担忧的是无法看见在另一端进行交易的对象。在线购物的人仅仅带着信用卡，其余都得凭想像，因此有些事必须注意。

了解交易的对象是上网购物的金科玉律。首先要确定对方是合法的公司，其销售方式有详尽描述，并有保险政策，而且进入这种网站应该相当容易。

买方也应该仔细留意交易的条款及条件，譬如是否要负担帐面外额外的运送费。当然，最重要的是该公司必须保证能对消费者的个人资料和信用卡号码保密。否则，到头来你被收取的费用可能会大出意料。

并非所有的网上交易都是通过虚拟商店来完成的。网络上的拍卖运作方式大体与一般的拍卖无异，但有更长的拍卖期限。交易物品的信息会登在举办拍卖的网站，每个人都可以在规定期限内竞标。中标者会以电子邮件得到通知，再依事先约定的方式付款、取货。

举办拍卖的网站有两种：商品对人的交易及人对人的交易。前者，网站拥有待价而沽的物品并收取拍卖所得；后者则只提供卖方直接销售物品给顾客的途径。

对其他形式的网上购物来说，信用卡是最安全且最方便的付款方式，但在人对人的交易中，卖方可能不愿接受这种付款方式，而是要求买方先付清货款或支票才交货。因此，某些网站会建议使用一种“委托契约”（由第三方独立处理交易）的模式，另加收约货品价格百分之五的费用。

几乎所有商品都能在线购得，只要处理得当，网上购物会是除了在商家间奔波之外另一项令人满意的选择。所以，安靠椅背，开机上线吧！要锻链身体，还是去健身房报到吧
 

1 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

2 pitfalls   

（捕猎野兽用的）陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 )； 意想不到的困难，易犯的错误

参考例句：

• the potential pitfalls of buying a house 购买房屋可能遇到的圈套
• Several pitfalls remain in the way of an agreement. 在达成协议的进程中还有几个隐藏的困难。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

5 auctions   

n.拍卖，拍卖方式( auction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They picked up most of the furniture at auctions in country towns. 他们大部分的家具都是在乡村镇上的拍卖处买的。 来自辞典例句
• Our dealers didn't want these cars, so we had to dump them at auctions. 我们的承销商都不要这些车子，因此我们只好贱价拍卖。 来自辞典例句

6 stipulated   

vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的

参考例句：

• A delivery date is stipulated in the contract. 合同中规定了交货日期。
• Yes, I think that's what we stipulated. 对呀，我想那是我们所订定的。 来自辞典例句

7 bidder   

n.(拍卖时的)出价人，报价人，投标人

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder.电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。
• The bidder withdrew his bid after submission of his bid.投标者在投标之后撤销了投标书。

8 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

9 trudging   

vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• There was a stream of refugees trudging up the valley towards the border. 一队难民步履艰难地爬上山谷向着边境走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Two mules well laden with packs were trudging along. 两头骡子驮着沉重的背包，吃力地往前走。 来自辞典例句