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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.
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