I do
a large portion of my holiday shopping (or any shopping, for that matter)
online. Not only is it more convenient because I live about an hour away from
the closest city, but I often find precisely what I need for a lot less.
But
there are, of course, some trade-offs in online shopping that isn’t as optimal as shopping in a physical store. I’ve
learned to deal with this medium so make it not just convenient but cost
effective. Many of these tips I’ve learned mostly by trial and error, and
wasted my share of money along the way.
So,
if you’re new to shopping online (or even a veteran like me), here’s some
wisdom that will hopefully help you avoid some of the pitfalls of shopping
online.
Shop
Cautiously to Avoid Returns
Paying
for shipping to get the purchase to your home, and then returning it eliminates
the cost efficiency of your purchase. Depending on which company you’re
shopping with, you may have to pay full shipping price for returns.
In
addition to the initial shipping price, this is an extra expense you won’t get
back. So not only did you fail to get the item you wanted — you paid for
it. So push the buy button cautiously when shopping online.
Not
only are returns costly, it’s easy to forget you need to return an item and
miss the window of opportunity to get a refund. I’ve purchased items I couldn’t
use but didn’t return in time, and chose to donate them. This is a
big mistake that can cost a lot of money.
The
easiest way to avoid returns is to shop online only with retailers you’ve
visited in person
and are familiar with their styles and fits, especially with clothes.
Electronics should also be rarely purchased online unless they’re from a
reputable retailer, since they’re more easily damaged in delivery and more
likely to have quality issues.
Always
Use Discount Codes and Coupons
Use
emails discount codes and percentage off coupons for all your purchases; they
really do save you money.
I
despise having an inbox full of junk email just like you probably do, but I’ve
learned to deal with the tediousness of sorting and deleting because in the
middle of twenty useless offers, there’s usually a coupon or savings code I’ll
actually use.
Entering
coupon codes online is an extremely easy process and just afew seconds of online searching can yield major savings. And if you’re a
frequent customer, you’ll be more likely to get bonus percentage off offers and
other secret coupon codes.
Shop
Online Clearance Sales
Online
shopping clearance sales are often much nicer than stores, have a wide variety
to choose from, and deep discounts that abound.
Online
retail stores have to change out their seasonal merchandise just like
brick-and-mortar stores. The plus side to this is that, unlike store clearance
racks which are often crowded, unorganized, hard to shop, and full of dirty or
damaged apparel, online clearance inventory is super organized and sure to
be fresh.
The
first place I shop in stores is the clearance aisle, and that’s also the first
link I click when shopping online.
Comparison
Shop for the Best Value
Many
retailers sell the exact same products, so if you want to find the best value,
be sure to comparison shop. You might be familiar with comparison shopping with
grocery stores, but did you know you can also do this very easily online?
Simply
searching for a specific item online will render many links of various
retailers who carry the same or similar products. Sites such as Amazon.com,
Zappos.com, 6pm.com, Overstock.com, and others feature links to multiple retailers
of the same products.
Shopping online can be very rewarding because it saves time and money — if
you’re willing to do your homework, order cautiously, and take advantage of
emailed coupon deals.
Source: - http://moneyning.com/shopping-smart/4-simple-rules-to-get-the-best-deals-when-shopping-onlin/
