A Beginner Guide to Online Shopping for Seniors In Australia

As a senior in Australia, you’ve spent your childhood, teens and even your young life, walking into big department stores for shopping. But things have changed a lot. Now, the young generation, millennials and even seniors shop online from the comfort of their homes, often searching for an Amazon discount code to get the best deals.

But as a senior, if you haven’t shopped online, it can be scary and very overwhelming, just like the departmental stores; online shopping websites are full of product listings, which can overwhelm you.

But here's some wonderful news: online shopping can give you that same thrill, but from the comfort of your favourite armchair. Yes, and you don’t need to tell kids at your home to bring you the stuff you want or go yourself. And the best part is you don't need to be a tech wizard to master it.

If you're reading this, you've already taken the biggest step. You're here, online, and that means you're ready for online shopping. In this guide, I’ll be walking you through everything you need to know to start ordering your first order online now.

I’ll tell you about the stores to get started, especially Amazon and share some Amazon discount code you can use today to get amazing discounts on your online shopping in Australia.

Why Online Shopping Is Actually Perfect for You

Think because there’ll be no more heavy bags to carry. No more searching for parking spots. No more rushing before the shops close. Online shopping is more about freedom than convenience. It's shopping on your terms, at your pace, wearing your most comfortable slippers.

I know what you might be thinking: "But I like to see and touch things before I buy them." That's completely normal! And don’t worry, online shops now show products from every angle.

They have zoom features that let you see details better than you might in a store. And customer reviews? They're like having hundreds of friends telling you exactly what they bought and whether they loved it. You might find that kind of facility in your local store. 

The First Steps To Start Online Shopping

You don't need to jump into the deep end; you can just start simple. Maybe begin with something small and low-risk, like a book you've been wanting to read or a kitchen gadget you saw on TV.

The first thing you need is an email address. If you already have one, brilliant! You're halfway there. If not, ask a family member to help you set one up. It's like a postal address, but for the internet.

Next, choose a trusted website to start with. Amazon Australia is perfect for beginners because it's like a huge department store online. Everything is organised into clear sections, and they have excellent customer service if you need help.

Plus, they deliver right to your door, often with free shipping if you spend over a certain amount, and if you use the latest Amazon promo code, you’ll get more discounts than your local store is giving you on your favourite stuff.

Create Your First Online Account

This might sound scary, but it's actually easier than filling out a form at the doctor's office. Online accounts are like bank accounts; you need one to keep your money. The same concept is here, you need an account to start shopping and do it again and again without filling out information.

When you visit a shopping website like Amazon, look for a button that says "Sign In" or "Create Account." Click it, and you'll see spaces to fill in your name, email, and create a password

Here's my golden tip, though: write your password down in a notebook that you keep somewhere safe, or if you’re using the Chrome browser, your password will be automatically saved.

Finding What You Want

Online shops have a search bar, which is a substitute for calling an assistant in a physical store; the only difference here is that it’s so fast.

The search bar is usually at the top of the page. Type what you're looking for, just like you'd tell a shop assistant. Looking for reading glasses? Type "reading glasses." Want a new mystery novel? Type "mystery books." It's that simple.

The results might seem overwhelming at first. Hundreds of options! But here's the secret: you can filter them. Look for options on the side that say things like "Price," "Brand," or "Customer Rating." Click on "4 stars and above" to see only the products other people really liked.

Understanding Product Pages

When you click on something you like, you'll see its product page. This is where the magic happens. You'll see photos, a description, the price, and those wonderful customer reviews I mentioned above.

Take your time here. Click on different photos. Read what other people say. Look for reviews from people who mention they're seniors or have similar needs to yours.

If fifty people say a shirt runs small, believe them! This wisdom from other shoppers is pure gold because they’ve actually ordered and experienced it, and reviews on Amazon of Australia are verified by shoppers, along with pictures and even videos, so you can trust and buy something you’d be satisfied with.

The Shopping Cart: Your Virtual Basket

Just like in a real shop, you have a basket (sometimes called a cart online). When you see something you want, click "Add to Cart." The beautiful thing? You can leave items in your cart for days while you think about them. There’s no pressure and no rush.

Want to remove something? Easy! Go to your cart and click "Remove" or "Delete." Changed your mind about the quantity? You can update that too. It's all in your control.

Comparing Shops And Finding The Best Deals

Now, here's where online shopping is best. You get the freedom to easily compare prices without walking from shop to shop. While Amazon Australia often has competitive prices and reliable delivery, you might wonder about other options you've heard about.

There's an interesting competitive battle happening in the Australian online shopping world. We’ve published an analytic Amazon Shein Temu market share Australia article so you can read and gain further knowledge in online shopping.

Either way, each has its place, but for beginners, especially seniors, Amazon's established reputation and customer service make it the safest starting point, and you can also safely learn to apply an Amazon coupon code and then find coupons for other stores as well, so you’ll become an expert online shopper.

Those other sites like Shein and Temu can offer very low prices, but sometimes the quality matches the price, if you know what I mean.

Payment And How To Keep Your Money Safe

This is probably your biggest concern, and rightly so! The good news is that paying online can be safer than handing your credit card to a stranger in a shop.

Look for a little padlock symbol in your browser's address bar at the top.

This means the site is secure. Stick to well-known websites at first. Amazon, for instance, has been around for decades and gives services worldwide and has top-notch security.

You can use a credit card (which often has better fraud protection than debit cards), or you can use PayPal, which acts like a middleman, keeping your card details private.

Some people even buy prepaid cards specifically for online shopping, putting only the amount they want to spend on the card.

The Exciting Part of Delivery

After you place your order, you'll get an email confirmation. Keep this email! It's your receipt and has a tracking number. This number is like a GPS for your package. You can see exactly where it is and when it will arrive.

Most online shops will email you when your package ships and again when it's delivered. If you're ordering from Amazon Australia, they often send a photo of where they left your package.

Returns: When Things Don't Work Out

Here's something wonderful about online shopping: returns are often easier than in physical stores. No queues, no driving back to the shop and most retailers, including Amazon, have simple return policies.

If something doesn't fit or isn't what you expected, you usually have 30 days to send it back. They'll email you a return label to print (or you can often drop it off at a post office where they'll print it for you). Pack it up, stick on the label, and drop it off.

But remember that almost all of the online stores in the world have a policy that you must send the item back in the same condition that it was delivered to you, even not been opened.

After the process, your refund will usually come within a week and don’t worry, even if you use an Amazon discount code for product purchases, you’re always eligible for return, except for some final sale items, so you or some sellers might have a different policy, so read the policy carefully before ordering.

Conclusion: Take your first step now

You've read this far, which tells me you're ready. You're not too old for this. You're not too set in your ways. You're exactly the right age to enjoy the convenience and freedom that online shopping offers.

Start today

Open Amazon Australia or another trusted site. Just browse. Get comfortable. Add something to your cart, even if you don't buy it yet. Each click will build your confidence.

Remember, every expert online shopper was once exactly where you are now, and we all started using phones for the first time in our lives before we got used to it. We took our first tentative step, then another, and another. And now? They can't imagine life without the convenience of online shopping.

You've got this. And the best part is that you're not alone. Customer service is just a phone call away, and your family members can help. And this guide will always be here when you need a reminder.

Remember, if you already know many online stores and need discounts on them in Australia, you can visit Revounts best discount code pages for these stores and find coupons so you’ll get the best bargains online.