When it comes to online shopping, how can I save money? I like the convenience of having my purchases shipped to my door, but I don’t want to pay through the nose for the service. The answer is reading all of the below helpful hints to help you save on your online purchases.
Before buying from a new online retailer, do some research on them. Check online reviews from other customers to see how it handles items like customer service, shipping, and its overall buying experience. You can also check the BBB to see if it has any disputes and whether those disputes were resolved professionally. Try contacting the company via email and phone number, if it’s posted to ask questions about its business before you buy anything.
When you enjoy the convenience of frequent online shopping, it’s very important to keep changing the passwords you use for each account. Every couple of weeks or so, make up a new password for your bank and the shopping sites directly. Use abstract words, combined with numbers and other odd characters for the strongest passwords.
If you are going to be doing some shopping online, make sure you understand the liability for each credit card you use online. Many credit cards have automatic fraud prevention built in while others offer it for a minimal fee. You do not want to get stuck with purchases made on your card if the number is stolen.
Make sure that you’re entering your payment details on a secure site. Look for “https://” in the URL of the site that you’re trying to buy something from. If you don’t see that or no sign of any website security, then it’s probably a good idea not to trust those people with your account information.
Before going to a particular website to shop, be sure to look for coupon codes. Websites like www.retailmenot.com offer codes you can enter when you are about to checkout. Some of these coupon codes will take money off your whole purchase while others will give you discounted or free shipping.
You should think about signing up for Amazon Prime if you are a frequent Amazon shopper. You can purchase a year’s membership for just under $80. Every item that is already in stock will be shipped to you in 2 days, or if you need an item faster you can get a reduced rate for shipping. You also get access to their online streaming library, which is similar to Hulu or Netflix. That is another way to save money.
Try to make online purchases only with companies you are already familiar with. Chances are, a store you go to on a regular basis probably has a safe website. But, if you go to a website you know nothing about, you are putting your personal information, like your credit card info, at risk.
Many websites can offer you the ability to view competing websites prices on the identical item which can save you money in the long run. Many websites will “pricematch” an identical item if you can show them where it is offered at a lower price at a different website. Learn which websites offer to pricematch and use it to your advantage to make the most of the savings.
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.
Learn about the store’s return policy. Sometimes when you order online there is a possibility that you will want to return or exchange an item. If that is something that may happen, find out what the store’s policies are so you do not end up being disappointed with an item you don’t want.
Sign up for the newsletters at your favorites online retailers. If you shop often at a particular website, signing up for a newsletter may give you deals that aren’t offer to the general public. They can help you get first choice of new items and specials on limited items and closeouts, which can mean considerable savings to you.
You may think it’s smart to use the same password across all your shopping websites. It is best to use a different password for each account for security reasons. So that you can keep track of them, store passwords in a safe document.
Trust your instincts when it comes to deals that seem too good to be true online. Shopping over the Internet is much different than your local brick-and-mortar store in that you can’t just go in and speak to the manager. Once you’ve submitted your credit card or bank information, you can’t take it back, so read all the fine print before buying.
If you do not feel comfortable using a debit card or credit card to make online purchases, you could always use Paypal. When you use Paypal, the only information being sent to the vendor is your email address; they will take you money right out of your Paypal account. Check a site for this payment option before using them.
When you buy from an online merchant, try to combine your purchases together into one shipment. Shipping costs can be high if you are just buying one or two items, sometimes as high as the price of the item. If you buy many things during the same shopping session, the shipping cost is more cost effective.
Now you know how to be able to shop online, have your items shipped directly to you, and yet not have to spend extra for the convenience. That means you have become a smart online shopper! Keep hunting for deals and buying what you need, all thanks to this article.
