The explosive growth of the Internet makes it easier than ever to shop for an amazing assortment of products from around the world. However, it can be hard to know just where to look to find the best deals. For some money-saving tips for your next online shopping trip, keep reading.
Do not spend too much money on shipping. Shipping charges can really add up. Many sites offer free shipping, free shipping once you spend a certain amount, or have a coupon code that allows you to get free shipping. Instead of paying your hard earned money on shipping, look for a store that ships for free.
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 you are searching for a place to buy an item and none of the results seem to be from familiar retailers, you should be hesitant about entering your information. Try to find site security from Cybertrust or Verisign so you’re sure that the site is legit.
When buying clothing or shoes online, always check on the site’s return policy. Since judging size can be difficult by sheer guesstimation alone, you want to make sure you can return or exchange the item if it doesn’t fit. Otherwise, use a tape-measure and chart to determine your exact size for the country of origin you are purchasing from.
When ordering a product from an online store, make sure the URL of the page starts with HTTPS instead of HTTP. This is a sign that the page is secure and that you can submit your payment information without having to worry. If you do not notice this HTTPS, go through a different store.
If you are a big fan of shopping online, make Tuesday your day to look for bargains. It’s an industry fact that most sites post new merchandise and offer discounts on this day of the week. Although you might be inclined to spend on Fridays or Mondays according to your budget, Tuesday should be the cheapest.
If you make a purchase and you are directed to a confirmation page that fails to load, never hit the button that refreshes the page. if you do this, you run this risk of being billed multiple times. If you must confirm your purchase, contact the company or check your credit card statement.
If you are purchasing a common item, search between several websites to find the best price. This is much easier than price shopping at physical stores, since the information is only a click away. After doing this several times, you should start to notice trends in which wites offer the best deals..
Sign up on online communities that focus on finding bargains online. Forum members post their best bargain finds and daily deals for other members to enjoy. This is a great way to stay posted on the bargains that pop up everyday. You just never know if something that you want goes on sale.
Look for an address and phone number for any retailer before you pull out your credit card and make a purchase with them. There are many people that will take your information and use it fraudulently, so you have to be very careful. Even if everything else looks legitimate, avoid any sites that don’t have contact information.
Think over the purchases you’re making online prior to deciding to click the button to buy something, regardless of what website you might be visiting. Getting exactly the right color, style and size can be tricky depending on what the website looks like. Look through your cart thoroughly and be sure what you’re purchasing is exactly what you need.
Beware of phishing scams. No online retailer will send an email requesting you to send them any personal information in an email. If you receive an email like this, contact your credit card company using the number on the back of your credit card. This will ensure that the email is legit.
The price you are given for an online purchase is usually not the exact price you will end up paying. For instance, taxes, fees, and shipping costs are not added on until the very end of the checkout process. Look at what the final cost will be before you decide whether or not to purchase something.
Shopping for wedding or baby gifts is much easier now that the recipients can register online and you can browse their selections, see what has already been purchased and pick out something that suits your budget and their needs. You can also choose to have the item delivered directly to them which saves time and money.
Read the reviews left by other customers. You will likely run into some sites that pay for their reviews, so pay attention to what you are reading not just the star ratings given. You will be able to learn a lot about the quality of the product as well as the site by reading the reviews.
Be a savvy online shopper by looking for online stores that offer designer overstock samples. Many of these retailers sell samples of real designer items at very affordable prices to meet online shopping demands. Some designers have even created these collections just to target these shoppers. Do some research on these sites and keep an eye out for words like “collection” and “special collection designed for…,” as they are generally made just for these sites.
As you can see, there are some easy ways to save a ton of money the next time that you do some online shopping. With the advice you have just read, you can save hundreds of dollars. Keep these tips in mind the next time you log on to do some shopping.
