Legions of goods have made their way into the online marketplace, and incontinence products are no exception. Once you've compared pricing and determined the brand and fit of adult incontinence product that suits your needs, you might not need to make that trip to the local grocery or drugstore. The virtual marketplace offers certain advantages such as discreet packaging and convenience—but shopping online doesn't always mean you're getting a deal. Before placing your order, make sure you look for hidden costs as well as the perks.

Shipping Can Cost a Pretty Penny
In the business of incontinence care products, shipping is the ultimate equalizer. It's expensive to send a 25-pound package of diapers from one end of the country to the other, so, when shopping online, read the retailer's shipping policy closely. Once you've found a few Web sites that carry the products you're looking for, look at the shipping policy before looking at the products—it's an excellent indicator of the customer service experience you can expect from the provider.

Free Shipping isn't Always Free
It's common for online retailers to offer free shipping. If you come across this offer, be sure to read the fine print. Is there a minimum amount you must purchase before shipping is free? Sometimes retailers advertise free shipping, but the policy only covers zip codes within a certain geographical area. Some retailers will only ship to the surrounding area for free, while charging customers across the country a significant fee.

Before You Buy
Shipping should be reasonably priced and offer convenient options. Make sure you're getting a good deal before you buy. Consider the retailer's shipping policies:

• Does the retailer offer discreet packaging (i.e., no labels or mentions of package's contents)? If so, is it free?
• Will the company deliver to PO boxes, nursing homes and/or apartment complexes?
• Can you select the carrier that will ship your package? Can you select the service (e.g., overnight, two-day, priority, etc.)?
• If you're buying from a Canadian or overseas supplier, what are the charges for customs and international freight?
• Are the total shipping charges presented before you check out and/or create an account with the online store?
• Considering shipping costs, is the product cheaper than buying it at your local supermarket?

The bottom line: read the store's shipping policy thoroughly before committing to any purchase. It's not fun to get to the end of a lengthy checkout process only to realize that the "free" shipping is going to cost you $30 more than you thought it would!