Shopping online from the convenience of your own home is one of the miracles bestowed upon us by the internet. We can easily buy anything from our weekly groceries to our automobiles with just the click of a mouse. However, with the ease of online shopping come some risks–identity theft, false advertising, and scams to name a few. Keep reading to learn how to reap the rewards of online shopping while protecting yourself and scoring great deals.
Before going shopping at any online retailer, do a quick search for promotional codes. Many of the big retailers often have promotions running that are not advertised on their home page. Doing a quick search for these codes will allow you to insert the code at checkout to save money.
When you shop online, you need to get the best price. The competition is fierce and retailers compete ruthlessly based on price, to your benefit. As you compare your options from different retailers, avoid perusing sites that you feel you cannot trust. Even if the price looks good, it will not matter if you do not wish to order from a site.
Be careful where you submit your credit card information. When you are shopping online, always use secure sites. These are sites that have taken steps to protect your valuable information. A secured website will begin with HTTPS instead of the standard HTTP. There will also be a locked icon, either in your address or status bar, depending on which browser you use.
When shopping online, always try to keep in mind the price of shipping. Many sites offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount. In the event that you do have to pay shipping, make sure that it is going to fit into your budget after you’ve added everything to your cart. Having a full cart only to find out you cannot afford the shipping is never a fun experience.
Use online shopping aggregation sites to help narrow your search. Google is great, but you could also end up with results that are not stores, which is a distraction at this point. You’ll be taken directly to commercial sites that are selling the things you want to buy if you search through shopping-focused sites such as ShopStyle.com.
Do not just go to one online merchant to buy a product. Do some price comparison with other retailers. Compare the product costs along with shipping prices and their return policy. When you have this information, you can rest assure that you will purchase from a retailer whom you can count on.
You can save a lot while shopping online if you order all the products you need at once. Most online stores will ship your items together and only charge you once for shipping. Some stores will even offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount. It is sometimes more interesting to purchase an additional item instead of paying for shipping.
Keep your boxes for what you buy online for 30 days after purchasing any item. This includes the shipping boxes they came in. If something goes wrong in the initial purchase period (for most items 14 to 30 days), you may need to ship the item back in its original packaging. It’s nice then too to have the original shipping box as well since you know it will fit.
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.
Online stores often give coupon codes in exchange for newsletter registrations. It does not take long to become a fan of their Facebook page or sign up for their newsletter. Plus, you’ll probably get good deals.
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.
Make sure that you only provide the bare necessities when shopping online. Usually all that is required is your name, address and credit card number. Occasionally there will be additional areas for you to add personal information and phone numbers. If these areas are not required, do not fill them out. They can sell this information to marketing companies and you will be inundated with spam mail and marketing phone calls.
Subscribe to the newsletter published by your favorite online merchant. If you are a frequent shopper, subscribing to a retailer’s newsletter can give you access to the inside scoop on products and deals that the general public doesn’t know about yet. This helps you get in on new offerings early and save money at the same time.
If you’re reluctant to shop with your credit card information, try using prepaid credit cards. These cards can be used anywhere that a regular credit card can be used. You simply have to register the card before you start using it. That way, you don’t have to worry that anything will happen to your bank account or credit card.
A lot of people know that it’s preferable if a URL has “https” in it when they’re shopping online. You may not realize that it’s important to secure your Internet connection too. Are you connected through a secure wireless connection, or is your connection a public connection?
As you are well aware, shopping online from your home computer or mobile device is highly convenient. You don’t have the hassle of dealing with traffic or lines at the store. However, certain risks come with online shopping. You now know how to avoid these risks and fully enjoy the online shopping experience.