Oh, you’ve got your local mall down cold. You know where to find the best inventories and the can’t-beat prices. You know who is going to treat you like a star. And you definitely know to steer clear of the sketchy place that’s had the going out of business! prices slashed! signs up for years.

In the online mall, though, finding exactly what you want can feel like searching for a needle in a virtual haystack. Finding exactly what you want at a bargain price with the aid of a friendly customer-service rep at a site that’s completely secure? Help!

Well, don’t turn in your mouse just yet. You can shop efficiently, safely, and economically online with the know-how you’ll find on the following pages, where Real Simple deconstructs the website of a fictitious e-tailer. So put on your bunny slippers and fire up the laptop: You’re going shopping.

Here, how to navigate:

A Home Page

A Checkout Page