For many years, the Internet has been used for many reasons, such as for research and communication purposes. But, nowadays, one of the most common uses for the Internet is to shop. Whether you have already begun to shop online or you are interested in doing so, the following tips will be of help.
Sign-up for any identity theft protection your credit card company offers, especially if you shop online often. No matter how safe you are or how diligently you believe you can protect your information, it’s never one hundred percent guaranteed. Take full advantage of automatic ID protection and know you will have back-up, should the worst occur.
When getting things shipped to your home that you bought online, know your consumer rights regarding time tables and condition of products. You have a right to receive items according to the terms stated when you ordered them and reasonable expectations of goods being undamaged. Check with the BBB for exact specifics and get what’s coming to you fairly!
Make it a habit to register for price alerts. This goes even for purchases that you’ve recently made. Price alerts will let you know when a product has dropped to a price you like. And if you’ve recently purchased at full price, you can ask for a price adjustment to meet the new deal.
If a website is not secure, do not make a purchase. Simply look up at the web address when you are shopping. If you notice an “https” instead of an “http,” you can feel confident enough to insert your credit card information. However, if there is no “s” in the address, move on to a different site to be on the safe side.
There is certain information that should never be asked for during a shopping transaction, so be careful of what you share. While it is normal to provide name, address and payment information, you should not deal with any retailer that asks you for your bank routing number or your social security number.
Shopping online doesn’t always mean buying directly from the manufacturer. In fact, you can purchase from sites like Target, Walmart and Amazon which have everything you need under one roof. This can save you money on shipping costs as all items are coming from a single retailer, plus it makes shopping easy.
Coupons.com is a great first stop before shopping. You may be able to find coupons, both from the store itself or direct from the manufacturer. Just be sure you don’t forget to look them up prior to shopping.
Don’t spend any money before you find out if there are coupon codes available. You can find active coupon codes at websites such as Retail Me Not. Should you not find your code, search by the site name and “coupon code” to narrow it down. You might just discover one in the end.
Buying items from the store involves more than the cost of the item – with the high cost of gas these days, the expense associated with driving to and from the store, not to mention wear and tear on your car, may exceed the cost of the item you want to purchase! Online shopping is, for many people, a far cheaper form of shopping.
While Amazon may be charging $29.99 for an item, that doesn’t mean that you should choose eBay if the item is listed for $9.99. Why? It’s all about shipping costs! Amazon may offer free Super Saver shipping, meaning you only pay $29.99 and not a cent more. eBay sellers usually charge for shipping, and that can make the item more expensive there. Always factor in shipping costs when comparing prices.
When you shop online, the best deals are often at the end of each season. Just like regular stores, online merchants need to get their overstocked seasonal items off the shelves to make way for new products. Thus the prices will be reduced drastically.
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.
Check to see if you’re entitled to any special benefits. For example, if you are a AAA member, you get some online discounts that others don’t. That is sometimes the case for other organizations as well. Check with them online to see if they have online discounts that you are eligible for.
In conclusion, people have always used the Internet to look things up or to speak with friends. Shopping has become a more popular reason to go online. By using the tips above, you will get the most out of online shopping, whether it’s something you have done many times before or something you are going to do for the first time.
