10 Tips for Smart Shopping Online: Save Money and Stay Safe
Are you shopping online this holiday season? You are not alone. According to the National Retail Federation?s 2007 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $816.69 on holiday-related shopping. Of that amount, about 30% of that is expected to come from online spending. But how do you know you are really getting the best deal and the best product?
1. Check out shopping comparison sites for a quick comparison of prices. Basically, these sites are search engines for gathering prices of products from a variety of merchants. Enter the product?s model number if available, and be as specific as you can about its features. This way you can be sure you are comparing the same product. Examples include PriceGrabber.com, MySimon.com, and Shopping.com. Also, RoboShopper.com will do a meta-search of several comparison sites.
2. There are general discount sites, such as Overstock, where you can find deals on almost anything. They get excess merchandise from other retailers and sell the merchandise to you at bargain prices.
3. Check coupon sites for current codes that can be used for your purchases. These codes can be by merchant or by product, so be sure to search for both. These coupon sites lead you to retailers, rather than selling you the merchandise directly. You can find relevant coupons by searching on Google for the merchant/product name AND (coupon OR promo*) AND code.
4. Try auction sites, such as eBay, for great deals on used (or sometimes new) items. Just be sure to read the description carefully and ask any questions of the seller before you buy. Also, check out the seller?s feedback.
5. Be sure to factor in shipping & handling fees when comparing prices. Some sites low-ball on the published price to attract more buyers, but tack on excessive fees.
6. Buy from a site that does not charge sales tax in your state, if possible. Online shopping is tax-free if a merchant does not do business in your state, so be sure to factor that into your price comparisons.
7. Check the site?s return policy before buying. Beware of limited return policies, or ?restocking fees.? Also note who will be responsible for return shipping.
8. If you are shopping at a site for the first time, be sure to check out the merchant?s reputation. You can do this on Google by typing: ?merchant name? AND (review OR feedback). To see if a company has any complaints listed against it, go to www.bbb.org.
9. Know what you are buying. Read the product?s description carefully to be sure you are getting what you expect. You can find reviews of all types of products by doing a Google search for: ?your product? AND (reviews OR feedback). If you have any questions, be sure to contact customer support before you buy.
10. When checking out with a credit card, be sure that the site address starts with ?https://? or ?shttp://?. This indicates it is a secure site and your information should be transmitted safely.
For more tips on making and saving money, visit http://www.momswallet.com.
All About Acne - Causes + Treatments + Recommended Best Products
Make Your Career in Fashion through Fashion Design School
Auto Insurance Online for Convenience and Savings
Discover Streaming Video and what it means for you
How to protect and defend against Identitity Theft hassle and cost
The basics of protecting your PC from Adware, Spyware & Malware
Cut relocation cost and stress with Upsticks Relocation Wizard
Boarding School Resources Guide
Online Rebate Shopping sites, Cash back Rebate & Coupons Shopping
Top Acne Treatments - Survey report reveals best Acne products
DVD reviews and resources - movies, TV, music and sport to please all tastes
Careers and Recruitment Guide
Alzheimers Disease - Symptoms, Stages and Treatment
Get tax accountant advice and help with deduction questions
A Career in Physiotherapy - Background and Specialist Physio Applications
Introduction to Domain Name Investment - Expired Domain Recycling & New Name Registration
Teen Weight Loss: lasting solutions to teen obesity
Tell the world with Free Classified Ads
Bargain domain registrations with free privacy. Hosting advice.
Related Articles:
Teaching Your Children with Coupons
Coupons can be a great tool in educating your child about saving money, being frugal, and shopping smart. Who doesn't want their children to grow up knowing how to save easily on every purchase? With coupon clipping you'll show them money saving skills they can use throughout their life!Teaching your child with coupons can start at an early age.
What You Should Know About Your Online Coupons
There are many coupon bargains to be found through Internet businesses that specialize in offering customers unique ways to save money, that are both fun and financially rewarding. Through online coupon usage customers can save money on everyday household items such as diapers, baby food, and even drug store remedies that typically cost quite a bit of money.
Travel Bargains Through Coupons
As vacationers travel across the United States by automobiles the are continually on the lookout for travel bargains. Most travel discounts that come along will pertain to lodging, but observant travelers might notice other discount offers if they preview coupons printed in newspapers, magazines and through websites found through the internet. With wireless internet connections, travelers can find travel bargains through coupon codes that will save them enough money to take another trip.
Coupon Queens and How We Do It!
We've all seen the Coupon Queens on various television shows and been amazed at how little they paid for a ton of grocery items. Sometimes you may even wonder how on earth she can care for her family when it seems she bought thirty packages of pasta and nothing to go with it.
Pleasure And Convenience Through Shopping Online
Whether you are interested in finding the perfect gift for that special someone, or you are simply tired of driving between three different shopping malls in order to find the right size in shoes or shirts, it is time for you to log on to your computer and discover the online shopping revolution! Shopping online has become quite prevalent, and with a little bit of thought, you will soon realise why. Better selection, more convenience and an excellent method for comparison shopping, all contribute to making online shopping a superior experience.
BobbysBest.com Introduces Halloween Costume Coupon Section
Halloween is supposed to be frighteningly good fun, but more often than not the scariest part becomes the amount of money you spend on tricks, treats and costumes. BobbysBest.com has compiled a list of online Halloween costume deals, coupons and discounts that will keep all your family's little ghouls and ghosts looking their spookiest for a lot less.
Partnership of Online Shopping Cart Maker and Web Host Creates Powerful eCommerce System
Open Source shopping cart makers Chain Reaction Ecommerce and web hosting providers SiteGround announce a partnership to combine powerful web store software with secure and reliable site hosting to create an integrated eCommerce system.
Online Shopping For Women
If you are like me, you are one of those people who doesn't like plodding up and down the high street and then back again looking for that special item but wanting to find the best price. You know don't you that as soon as you have bought it, you will walk around the corner and see it cheaper in another shop.
Easy Online Shopping Access to Edna M. Kunkel's Dgital and Mixed Media Art
ElectriKolor, a brand of art created by Edna M. Kunkel, opened a virtual gift shop in the online Etsy venue. This shop offers a craft show atmosphere, where you can focus on the art of an individual artist or scan through unique pieces created by a broad network of 40,000 registered sellers. The Etsy online community of independent artists and artisans offers easy access to unique gift suggestions for any holiday and a means to contact local, regional, and worldwide artists.
Christmas Gifts Online Shopping Tip: Uncover Hidden Deals at eBay with This Free Tool (that hardly anyone knows)
At www.HotDealFinder.net you can use the Free eBay Misspelling Tool to find hidden deals at eBay for your xmas gifts online shopping needs. Very few people know about this tool.