Tips for Navigating Hartford County’s Premier Shopping Mall

Tips for Navigating Hartford County’s Premier Shopping Mall

The 1.3 million-square-foot Westfarms Mall in Farmington, Connecticut, is more than just Hartford County residents’ largest local shopping center, it’s a shopping destination featuring some of the most upscale retailers to be found anywhere between New York City and Boston.

Westfarms is regularly open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Holiday, department store and restaurant hours may vary.

Even if, like me, you have a sixth sense for shopping malls, navigating the Westfarms Mall can be a tricky proposition. Here are seven insider tips to help you conquer this retail Mecca and make the most of your shopping time.

1. Parking: Westfarms Mall offers plenty of parking, but some of the available spaces may be such a hike from an entrance that you’ll lose valuable shopping time... and energy! The Macy's (formerly Filene's) end of the mall seems to be the most difficult area in which to find available parking, particularly when Macy's is having a special sale. Even if Macy's is the store you plan to visit, you may find that you'll save time by parking at the other end of the mall and walking rather than wasting precious shopping moments driving up and down hoping for an opening. I've always had the best luck finding a parking spot under the parking deck in the back west corner of the mall near the entrance to Nordstrom's shoe department. This parking area has the added advantage of being protected from the elements, so your car will stay cooler in the summer and free of snow and ice in the winter.

2. The Least Crowded Ladies' Room: Here's a secret for women shoppers... the Ladies' Room in the Macy's Men's store is one of the most spacious and uncrowded facilities in the mall. At Westfarms, Macy's men's and home furnishings departments are located in a separate area from the rest of the anchor store. You'll find this Macy's "annex" on two floors in the center of the mall, and the Ladies' room is to the right inside the upstairs entrance from the mall, back against the wall in the young men's area. I've always found it clean, but some readers have written to report otherwise. To me, heading for the women's room in the men's store still beats waiting in line when the mall is busy.

3. The Family that Goes Together: And while we’re on the all important topic of restroom facilities, parents will be delighted to hear that Nordstrom boasts a "Family Restroom" in addition to its luxurious men’s and ladies’ rooms. All are located on the first floor against the back wall in the men’s department.

4. Dining: Westfarms doesn’t have a food court. It’s part of the mall’s calculated efforts to discourage congregating "mall rats" and to appeal to affluent shoppers. But there are still a few places to catch a quick bite to eat. My favorite is the sandwich shop, Au Bon Pain, located off the rear hallway near the Macy's end of the mall. You'll also find quick eats at Burger King, Master Wok, Sbarro, Subway and Ranch 1.

5. Rainforest Reservations: If you have time to sit down and dine at Westfarms, the Rainforest Café with its waterfalls and "wild" décor is by far the most popular spot. Rainforest Café is located on the lower level near Macy's, and you don't want to wait until you're hungry to head there, as you may find the lines to be ferocious. Call ahead to make a reservation, 860-521-2002, or stop by to make a reservation before you begin your shopping. Other sit-down dining options at Westfarms include California Pizza Kitchen, Nordstrom Café, Pizzeria Uno and Ruby Tuesday.

6. Services: With all of the shopping to be done, you may forget that there are a number of additional services you can take advantage of at the Westfarms mall that may help you to cross several things off your "to do" list with just one trip. For example, you can get your nails done, get a hair cut, have your shoes shined or repaired, get your film developed, get your eyes examined, and even do your banking at Farmington Savings Bank or Sovereign Bank.

7. The Perfect Fit: I don't know anyone in the central Connecticut area that wouldn't be delighted with a Westfarms mall-wide gift card, so if you're struggling for gift ideas or don't have time to shop, head for the customer service desk in the mall's center court. Be forewarned, though: Westfarms charges a $2.50 service fee for each mall gift card. While you're at customer service, you'll also be able to pick up complimentary shopping bags, rent a wheelchair or stroller and buy postage stamps.

More Shopping Tips

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Shopper Tips

Here are some tips from our clients!

Get Ready- Read the survey before beginning your shop! – Go online, read and print out the survey. This will ensure you get all the information you need to fill out the form when you get home. NOTE: We do not have a shopper login process. The login on the homepage is for clients. Please email us if you need somthing!

Check your email - We get new instructions all the time or may have a question about your shop. Make sure you check your email every day especially right after your shop.

Remember Employee Names - If the employee is wearing a nametag, be sure to get their name. If no nametag, include a description in your assessment. The description should include the sex, approximate age and height, race, hair color and length, etc. Do not mention weight as that could hurt someone's feelings.

Be Discreet – The reports are useless if the employees suspect that you are the shopper. Obviously, do not take the form or take notes while you are in the location. Leave the parking lot and go several blocks and then pull in somewhere and write take notes for your online report.

Check Spelling - Spell correctly (use spell check when in doubt).

Get Assessments Done On Time - Submit the day after your visit within the timeframes for your assignment. Timeliness is very important.

Report Delays – If for some reason you are not able to complete the form on time, call or email us immediately.

Be Objective and Report the Facts – Do not editorialize. For example, if the temperature of the facility is too cold – simply state that. Do not say, “It was so cold that I thought that I would freeze to death.”

Be Neat and Thorough – Owners/managers see your reports - be neat and thorough.

Use Lots of Comments – Comments are the meat of the report so the more the better. Be sure to completely fill in the comments sections and fully explain each “no.”

Include Positive Feedback – Positive comments are as important as negative ones. If an employee deserves a pat on the back be sure to mention it. We all like to hear when we do a good job.

Save Receipts - Even if your specific instructions do not say so, always hang on to your receipts for 60 days for save for your taxes.

Online Shopping Tips: E-Commerce and You

Online Shopping Tips: E-Commerce and You

With just a click of the mouse, shoppers can buy nearly any product online - from groceries to cars, from insurance policies to home loans. The world of electronic commerce, also known as e-commerce, enables consumers to shop at thousands of online stores and pay for their purchases without leaving the comfort of home. For many, the Internet has taken the place of Saturday afternoon window shopping at the mall.

These consumers expect merchants to not only make their products available on the Web but to make payments a simple and secure process. However, the same things can go wrong shopping in cyberspace as in the real world. Sometimes it is simply a case of a computer glitch or poor customer service. Other times, shoppers are cheated by clever scam artists.

A survey by AC Nielsen found that the top security concerns of America’s online shoppers were:

• Not receiving the items purchased, or receiving items different from what was described.
• Email addresses being sold to third parties.
• Fears about personal or financial information being stolen.
• Email scans known as "phishing" or "spoofing" in which consumers receive messages from dishonest sources disguised as messages from trusted retailers or financial institutions.

Just as shoppers should take measures to protect themselves in brick-and-mortar stores—such as protecting their PIN numbers when checking out and not leaving purses unattended—online shoppers also need to take sensible precautions. This guide offers advice on how to make your online shopping experiences enjoyable and safe.

Shop at Secure Web Sites

Shop at Secure Web Sites

How can you tell if a web site is secure? It uses encryption technology to transfer information from your computer to the online merchant's computer. Encryption scrambles the information you send, such as your credit card number, in order to prevent computer hackers from obtaining it en route. The only people who can unscramble the code are those with legitimate access privileges.

You can tell when you are dealing with a secure web site in several ways.

• First, if you look at the top of your screen where the web site address is displayed, you should see https://. The "s" that is displayed after "http" indicates that web site is secure. Often, you do not see the "s" until you actually move to the order page on the web site.

• Another way to determine if a web site is secure is to look for a closed padlock displayed at the bottom of your screen. If that lock is open, you should assume it is not a secure site.

• The third symbol that indicates you are on a secure site is an unbroken key.

Of course, transmitting your data over secure channels is of little value to you if the merchant stores the data unscrambled. You should try to find out if the merchant stores the data in encrypted form. If a hacker is able to intrude, it cannot obtain your credit data and other personal information. Be sure to read the merchant's privacy and security policies to learn how it safeguards your personal data on its computers. (See tip 3 below.)

Research the Web Site before You Order

Do business with companies you already know. If the company is unfamiliar, do your homework before buying their products. If you decide to buy something from an unknown company, start out with an inexpensive order to learn if the company is trustworthy.

Reliable companies should advertise their physical business address and at least one phone number, either customer service or an order line. Call the phone number and ask questions to determine if the business is legitimate. Even if you call after hours, many companies have a "live" answering service, especially if they don't want to miss orders. Ask how the merchant handles returned merchandise and complaints. Find out if it offers full refunds or only store credits.

You can also research a company in Internet yellow pages, through the Better Business Bureau (see listing below), or a government consumer protection agency like the district attorney's office or the Attorney General. Perhaps friends or family members who live in the city listed can verify the validity of the company. Remember, anyone can create a web site.

Read the Web Site's Privacy and Security Policies

Read the Web Site's Privacy and Security Policies

Every reputable e-commerce web site offers information about how it processes your order. It is usually listed in the section entitled “Privacy Policy.” You can find out if the merchant intends to share your information with a third party or affiliate company. Do they require these companies to refrain from marketing to their customers? If not, you can expect to receive “spam” (unsolicited e-mail) and even mail or phone solicitations from these companies.

You can also learn what type of information is gathered by the web site, and how it is — or is not — shared with others. The online merchant’s data security practices are also often explained in the Privacy Policy, or perhaps a separate Security Policy.

Look for online merchants who are members of a seal-of-approval program that sets voluntary guidelines for privacy-related practices, such as TRUSTe (www.truste.org), Verisign (www.verisign.com), or BBBonline (www.bbbonline.org).

However, be aware that a strong privacy policy and membership in a web-seal program don’t guarantee that the web merchant will protect your privacy for all time. Policies can change. The company can file for bankruptcy and sell its customer data base. The web merchant might be purchased by another company with a weaker privacy policy. And the company’s data can be subpoenaed for law enforcement investigations or civil cases. You have little control over the use of your customer data in such matters.

Given all of these uncertainties, you will want to think about the sensitivity of the data that is being compiled about you when you shop online. We cannot prescribe the best approach to take. Each consumer has a different interpretation of what is considered “sensitive.”

What's Safest: Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Cash, or Checks?

What's Safest: Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Cash, or Checks?

The safest way to shop on the Internet is with a credit card. In the event something goes wrong, you are protected under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act. You have the right to dispute charges on your credit card, and you can withhold payments during a creditor investigation. When it has been determined that your credit was used without authorization, you are only responsible for the first $50 in charges. You are rarely asked to pay this charge. We recommend that you obtain one credit card that you use only for online payments to make it easier to detect wrongful credit charges.

E-commerce shopping by check leaves you vulnerable to bank fraud. And sending a cashier's check or money order doesn't give you any protection if you have problems with the purchase.

Make sure your credit card is a true credit card and not a debit card, a check card, or an ATM card. As with checks, a debit card exposes your bank account to thieves. Your checking account could be wiped out in minutes. Further, debit and ATM cards are not protected by federal law to the extent that credit cards are.

Never Give Out Your Social Security Number

Never Give Out Your Social Security Number

Providing your Social Security number is not a requirement for placing an order at an e-commerce web site. There is no need for the merchant to ask for it. Giving out your Social Security number could lead to having your identity stolen. (See PRC Fact Sheet 17, "Coping with Identity Theft," www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17-it.htm.)

Disclose Only the Bare Facts When You Order

Disclose Only the Bare Facts When You Order

When placing an order, there is certain information that you must provide to the web merchant such as your name and address. Often, a merchant will try to obtain more information about you. They may ask questions about your leisure lifestyle or annual income. This information is used to target you for marketing purposes. It can lead to "spam" or even direct mail and telephone solicitations.

Don't answer any question you feel is not required to process your order. Often, the web site will mark which questions need to be answered with an asterisk (*). Should a company require information you are not comfortable sharing, leave the site and find a different company for the product you seek.

Keep Your Password Private

Keep Your Password Private

Most reputable e-commerce web sites require the shopper to log-in before placing or viewing an order. The shopper is usually required to provide a username and a password. Never reveal your password to anyone. When selecting a password, do not use commonly known information, such as your birthdate, mother's maiden name, or numbers from your driver's license or Social Security number. Do not reuse the same password for other sites. The best password has at least eight characters and includes numbers and letters.

Check the Web Site Address

Check the Web Site Address

Above the web site at the top of your screen is a rectangular window that contains the web site address (also called the URL, or Uniform Resource Locator). By checking that address, you can make sure that you are dealing with the correct company.

Don’t click on any link embedded within a potentially suspicious email. Instead, start a new Internet session from the beginning by typing in the link’s URL into the address bar and pressing “Enter” to be sure you’re directed to a legitimate web site.

Identity thieves send massive numbers of emails to Internet users that ask them to update the account information for their banks, credit cards, online payment service, or popular shopping sites. The email may state that your account information has expired, been compromised or lost and that you need to immediately resend it to the company.

Some emails sent as part of such “phishing” expeditions often contain links to official-looking web pages. Other times the emails ask the consumer to download and submit an electronic form. As many as five percent of recipients respond to them, becoming victims of financial loss, identity theft, and other crimes.

Remember, legitimate businesses don’t ask for sensitive information via email. Don’t respond to any request for financial information that comes to you in an email. Again, don’t click on any link embedded within a suspicious email, and always call the retailer or financial institution to verify your account status before divulging any information.

Always Print Copies of Your Orders

Always Print Copies of Your Orders

After placing an order online, you should receive a confirmation page that reviews your entire order. It should include the costs of the order, your customer information, product information, and the confirmation number.

We recommend you print out at least one copy of the web page(s) describing the item you ordered as well as the page showing company name, postal address, phone number, and legal terms, including return policy. Keep it for your own records for at least the period covered by the return/warranty policy.

Often you will also receive a confirmation message that is e-mailed to you by the merchant. Be sure to save and/or print this message as well as any other e-mail correspondence with the company.

Shop with Companies Located in the Unites States

Shop with Companies Located in the Unites States

When you shop within the U.S., you are protected by state and federal consumer laws. You might not get the same protection if you place an order with a company located in another country.

Pay Attention to Shipping Facts

Pay Attention to Shipping Facts

Under the law, a company must ship your order within the time stated in its ad. If no time frame is stated, the merchant must ship the product in 30 days or give you an "Option Notice." This gives you an opportunity to cancel the order and receive a prompt refund, or agree to the delay.

Here are key shipping questions to ask:

• Does the site tell you if there are geographic or other restrictions for delivery?

• Are there choices for shipping?

• Who pays the shipping cost?

• What does the site say about shipping insurance?

• What are the shipping and handling fees, and are they reasonable?

Learn the Merchant's Cancellation, Return and Complaint-Handling Policies

Learn the Merchant's Cancellation, Return and Complaint-Handling Policies

Even under the best of circumstances, shoppers sometimes need to return merchandise. Check the web site for cancellation and return policies.

• Who pays for shipping?

• Is there a time limit or other restrictions to the return or cancellation?

• Is there a restocking charge if you need to cancel or return the order?

• Do you get a store credit, or will the company fully refund your charges to your credit card? If the merchant only offers store credits, find out the time restriction for using this credit.

Don't expect less customer service just because a company operates over the Internet. This is especially important if you are buying something that may need to be cleaned or serviced on occasion.

• Does the merchant post a phone number and/or e-mail address for complaints?

• How long has the company been in business?

• Will they still be around when you need them?

• Is there an easy, local way for you to get repairs or service?

• Is there a warranty on the product, and who honors that guarantee?

• What are the limits, and under what circumstances can you exercise your warranty rights?

Use Shopper's Intuition

Look at the site with a critical eye. And heed the old adage, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."

• Are there extraordinary claims that you question?

• Do the company's prices seem unusually low?

• Does it look like the merchant is an amateur?

• Are there a lot of spelling or grammar errors?

• Does the company's phone go unanswered.

• The use of a post office box might not send up a red flag, but a merchant who does not also provide the company's physical address might be cause for concern.

If any of these questions trigger a warning bell in your head, you will be wise to find another online merchant.

Be Wary of Identity Theft

Be Wary of Identity Theft

As e-commerce becomes more common, there will be more cases of identity theft committed over the Internet. Imposters are likely to obtain their victims' identifying information using low-tech means like dumpster diving, mail theft, or workplace access to SSNs. But they are increasingly using the web to apply for new credit cards and to purchase goods and services in their victims' names.

The same advice for avoiding low-tech identity theft applies to shopping on the Internet. Many are mentioned in the above tips. Most important: Be aware of who you are buying from. And use true credit cards for purchases, not debit cards.

We recommend that you check your credit card bills carefully for several months after purchasing on the Internet. Look for purchases you did not make. If you find some, immediately contact the credit card company and file a dispute claim.

Order your credit reports at least once a year and check for accounts that have been opened without your permission. (See PRC Fact Sheet 17a , "Identity Theft: What to Do if It Happens to You," www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm.)

Consider Using Single-use Card Numbers

Consider Using Single-use Card Numbers

Consumers using some brands of credit cards can get “virtual credit cards,” or single-use card numbers, that can be used at an online store. The randomly generated substitute 16-digit number can also be used to buy goods and services over the phone and through the mail but can’t be used for in-store purchases that require a traditional plastic card.

With this free service, you never need to give out your real credit card number online. Among the card companies offering it are Citibank and the Discover card.

Be Cautious with “Electronic Signatures”

Be Cautious with “Electronic Signatures”

A recent federal law enables shoppers to verify online purchases with merchants using an “electronic signature.” Usually, this process is nothing more than clicking on a box that says you accept the terms of the order.

The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, also known as the E-Sign Act, is a complex law. It states that electronic signatures and electronic records used in interstate and foreign commerce will not be denied validity just because they are in electronic form. Further, the law says that online purchases do not need to be accompanied by the more traditional handwritten signature on a paper document.

Consumer advocates opposed the law because it lacks important safeguard against fraud. For example, the law does not require online merchants to comply with such standards as message integrity (security and accuracy in transmission), privacy of customer data, and authentication of sender.

The faults of the E-Sign Act require you to shop cautiously on the Internet. The tips offered in this guide will help you make sure the online companies you choose are secure and honest.

Additional Resources

Additional Resources

Listed below are web sites that provide additional information about shopping online.

www.bbb.org and www.bbbonline.org	The Better Business Bureau certifies web merchants with a privacy seal of approval. You can research merchants through the BBB and also report e-commerce fraud problems at these sites.
www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline	Created by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide shopping tips for buying online prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs on the web.
www.fraud.org	The National Fraud Information Center, a program of the National Consumers League, m aintains information about online scams and lets you file complaints online.
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/glblalrt.htm	The Federal Trade Commission's online shopping advice.
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/auctions.htm	The Federal Trade Commission's tips on Internet auctions.
www.ic3.gov	The FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center allows you to report suspected cases of Internet and e-commerce fraud.
www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com	Federal law enforcement and industry task force helps prevent consumers from becoming victims of an Internet fraud schemes.
www.onguardonline.gov	FTC, other federal agencies, and the technology industry offer advice on identity theft, phishing, spyware, spam, online shopping and more.
www.safeshopping.org	Online shopping tips provided by the American Bar Association.
www.shopthenet.org	The Direct Marketing Association's site of member merchants who comply with the federal "Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule" that requires, for example, deliveries in 30 days.
www.wiredsafety.org	Provides assistance, information and education to Internet users including identity and credential theft, online fraud and hacking.