Shopping online is very convenient. The ability to buy nearly anything at anytime and place makes this industry boom. But, there are some things online shoppers have to know. Keep reading for helpful advice on saving money online.
Take your time browsing through multiple online stores in order to compare their products. Unless you really have your heart set on a particular brand, be open to different possibilities. Pick out one that has the features you’re wanting and compare the prices, as well. Visit your favorite online stores often since new products become available on a regular basis.
To protect yourself use a credit card when shopping online. The federal government has passed laws to protect consumers in the event of fraud. The amount the consumer is responsible for is a mere $50.00 as compared to debit cards where the entire balance can be withdrawn by internet hackers.
Be wary of any emails you receive, even if they appear to be from a retailer you trust. Never click on a link that directs you to a site other than the one you shopped on. If you do, you may become vulnerable to a scam. Rather than clicking on an email hyperlink, just go up to your browser and type in the web site you want to go to. It is much safer that way.
Make sure you understand who is responsible if an item gets damaged during shipment when shopping online. Some retailers will be responsible for this, while others put it on the shipping company. Make sure you know who to contact and who is responsible if items are damages or need to be returned.
Many companies offer promotional codes that can get you free shipping or a certain percentage off your total, but you may have to do some searching to find these codes! Do a search for the name of the company plus ‘promotion code’ to see what you can find – you could wind up saving a few bucks with one simple click!
When you’re shopping online, check out discount sites and online auctions before you turn to retailers’ own online stores. Sites like Amazon and eBay tend to have much better deals than traditional retailers. That can be major savings, and there are little to no downsides. Having said this, it’s important to thoroughly read the return policies before making a purchase online. They differ between the retailers.
Be aware of shipping order laws for online merchants. The company is supposed to send your order within the time frame listed in its ad. By law, they have 30 days to send you your order or give you an option to cancel your order. If you do not receive your order within this time frame, call the company to let them know.
If you have a favorite online retailer that you usually purchase from, then you should subscribe to them. Registering will help you save time when shopping and can also get you the best deals. When you create an account, you can subscribe to emails that will alert you to deals before people who are not registered. Having an account can also help you keep track of your orders and returns much better than not having one.
Searching is the key to saving money with online shopping. Do a search for whatever it is you want to buy. You can use a traditional search engine like Google, or a shopping-specific engine like Shopping.com so you can more easily see who has the item in stock and what their price is.
Every time you shop online, give your purchases a thorough review before you click “buy”. Depending on how the page is set up, getting the exact color, size and style you want can be confusing! Go over everything in your shopping cart carefully and make sure you are buying exactly what you think you are buying.
One way to save money is through points programs. For example, Swagbucks.com and MyPoints.com offer members the ability to earn points with their purchases. They also offer coupons for certain brands. When you redeem your points, you can get merchandise or gift cards, saving you even more money down the road.
You may think it’s smart to use the same password across all your shopping websites. But, to be more secure, it’s best to use different, more complex passwords. Keep all your passwords inside a journal if you have a hard time remembering them.
Do not just look at the average customer rating when buying an item. Always read through some reviews. You might find that a reviewer rated an item low for a reason that is not a big deal to you. If many reviewers are complaining about the same thing, it is likely a defect in many of the items.
Even if you choose to buy from a brick and mortar store, take the time to shop online first so that you can see what is available and what prices are standard. You can also read buyer’s reviews that can help you determine exactly which items you may want to avoid. A little research can pay off in saving and satisfaction.
Speed up your shopping with bookmarks. Create a bookmark folder that contains links to your favorite shopping sites. If you are shopping for an item online, you can waste a lot of time searching through sites till you find the right product at the right price. With a list of preferred sites, you can start there and save a lot of time.
You should be a smarter online shopper after going over this article. With good advice and a little practice, you’ll be able to use the Internet to find the deals you want, day or night. Make sure to share your new found knowledge with your friends and enjoy your next shopping trip.