Everyone gets a real kick out of getting a bargain. It’s like a full-body pick-me-up when you know you saved a ton of money. If you want to have this great feeling more often, you need to start shopping smarter. This article has all the techniques you need to learn.
A great tip to remember when you’re thinking about online shopping is to make sure the site is legit. You don’t want to be giving your credit card information away to someone who could potentially scam you. Always look at the site to tell if it’s professional and safe to use.
A good online shopping tip to remember is to leave feedback after buying from a source you’ve never bought from before. This will help both of you because you’ll remember whether or not you’ve had a good experience from them, and they will also gain a reputation as a seller.
Call the online company before you make a purchase. If you have some kind of problem with your purchase, you want to be able to know that you can reach customer service easily. That’s why it’s a good idea to call before you give them your credit card information. If you can’t get anyone on the phone, steer clear.
Read customer testimonials before you buy anything. People are more than happy to complain about bad service online, so look for sites and testimonials that are terrible so that you know what you’re getting into. You should take bad reviews with a grain of salt, but if you see many, you know there is a problem.
Beware of the shipping charges when you make a purchase online. Even though the product may have a good price, sometimes high shipping costs make the purchase not such a good deal. Calculate your total out-of-pocket costs for your purchase before you submit your order to avoid paying more than what you had planned.
Before you go to the big box store, check online for discount and auction sites that can save you money. Many times you can find better deals online at places like Amazon and eBay than traditional retailers. There aren’t a whole lot of “cons” to counterbalance the great big “prop” of saving money. Having said this, it’s important to thoroughly read the return policies before making a purchase online. They differ between the retailers.
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.
A lot of sites specialize in comparison shopping. These sites do not directly sell products but provide shoppers with a detailed list of different stores offering an item as well as the prices. You should use this tool to do some comparison shopping before deciding where to purchase the product you need.
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.
Take care when setting up passwords. Avoid phrases and words that someone else might figure out. Credit card numbers and other information can be easily accessed via online shopping accounts. Don’t allow thieves to easily steal from you. Make sure your passwords have a healthy mix of numbers, letters and symbols.
If you are considering a large purchase from an unfamiliar website, start with a “practice purchase.” If possible, find a low-cost item on the site to buy. Make sure that the transaction goes well and you are satisfied with their service and product. If they pass this test, you should feel comfortable making your larger purchase.
There are a lot of phishing scams that look just like online stores. These scammers usually operated by sending emails to promote a good deal to customers along with a link to their fake online store. Your credit card information will be stolen once you purchase an item from the fake site. Be careful when following links from emails.
Along with making sure your browser says “https,” you should also check for a lock by the web address. This is not easy to do with mobile phones. Also, when mobile shopping, you have to understand that there is less of a chance you’re shopping over a secure Internet connection.
When shopping, never give out your SSN. Watch out for sites that demand this information in order for you to buy. It is not required to make purchases at any online store. Should you enter it, you could have your identity stolen.
Learning these techniques was only part one of your journey. Part two is putting them to use, of course. Go online and start doing your shopping with the knowledge you need to do it more cheaply. Soon enough, you’ll find that major bargain and get that awesome feeling of accomplishment again!