When the time comes to make a significant purchase, whether it be a new television, video game, pair of shoes or a new appliance, most shoppers do a bit of homework before swiping the credit card.

Before the days of the Internet, doing your “shopping homework” consisted of hitting three or four major retailers to find the best price for the product. Nowadays, the Internet has evolved into a phenomenal resource for finding the perfect gift for your loved ones or yourself.

Products are not only much easier to obtain online but can be purchased at significantly discounted rates. Here are some suggestions for shopping online that are sure to find you the best deal without spending hours surfing the net.

When making major purchases, know the product before you buy it. While you can often find the best deals online, when buying an expensive item such as a plasma television or digital camera, check out product reviews before you make your purchase.

Consider dropping by your local Best Buy or Circuit City to have a sales associate talk you through your options. You will find some of the best product information from a sales associate; however the best deals when it comes time to make the actual purchase can most often be found online.

Use online coupon sites to uncover additional savings from your favorite merchants. Online coupon sites are a fabulous addition to online shopping. These sites offer coupon deals that you may not find in the store or even on the Web site of a particular merchant. For example, CouponCabin.com is updated throughout the day and provides deals from more than 900 online merchants.

Use shopping comparison sites when you have a final product in mind and want to search multiple merchants. Once a specific item has been identified and you want to know which retailer offers the best price, a shopping comparison site is the way to go.

These sites find the lowest price on a particular product by searching hundreds of online merchants. A new Web site, CheapUncle.com, merges comparison shopping and online couponing, giving consumers the best possible price overall.

You can still save money even after an online purchase is final. Most of the major online retailers have a customer protection policy. This policy enables you to ask for a refund of the price difference if the price drops soon after your purchase an item. Some online merchants will even beat a competitor’s price if you find a better deal soon after your purchase.

If you’re still stumped on what to get for your family, friend or significant other, let them decide with a gift card. Gift cards are a convenient option and now Web sites like Cardways.com allow shoppers the ability to upload photos and add a personal message on the gift card, making it a little more personal and less generic.