“Shopping Savings Advice & Tips On How To Spend Less & Get More”
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Coupons & Savings (continued)
2. Coupons can also be purchased off of eBay.com and other sites for numerous products. Sometimes the savings can be great.
3. MSN.com and Yahoo.com also offer bargain pricing on many products, as does DealNews.com and TechDeals.net. Look around on the Internet for deal sites. There is no shortage.
4. Many online retailers also specialize only in discounted items. A couple of favorite sites are Overstock.com and SmartBargains.com.
5. There are also “savings clubs” that will provide discounts and cash back rebates for shopping online at numerous online retailers. One such club is TheBrandsClub.com, although there are many others that can be found on the Internet.
6. There are also services that will help you take advantage of that 30-
7. There are also sites on the Internet where you can buy and sell gift cards at a discount. In other words, you might be able to buy a gift card for Lowe’s, Sears or hundreds of other stores for less than it’s face value. Savings can be in the neighborhood of about 10%. So if you are planning on shopping at a particular store in any case, real savings can be achieved. Or, if you have a gift card for a store you do not want to shop at, you can sell it at a discount and get cash. One such site offering to sell and buy discounted gift cards is SwapaGift.com.
Online Shopping Security & Satisfaction
Many people are concerned that shopping on the Internet is fraught with peril and financial risk. In today’s world, shopping on the Internet is no more risky than shopping by catalog over the phone. As long as you know that you are dealing with a trusted retailer, there is minimum chance for any major problems. But consider the following to be careful.
1. Make sure the retailer is a trusted source. Anyone can set up shop online
under virtually any name. While most online retailers do deliver what they promise
in a timely manner, some do not, and recourse is difficult or next to impossible
for the average person. So, make sure the retailer has a good reputation. And,
if the price is “too good to be true” versus other prices on the Internet, make sure
you check out the retailer very thoroughly. Most of the time you can get reviews
for retailers on the Internet. Just type in their name with the word “reviews’ or
“problems.” Also, look at the retailer’s web site for address and phone information,
and give them a call on their 800-
2. Be sure you know what you are buying. Since you cannot see the item in person,
pay particular attention to the product’s description. Be on the lookout for terms
like refurbished or close-
3. Make sure you know when the order is to be shipped and when you should receive the order. Many retailers will send you an email when the item is shipped, and may even send you shipping information so you can track the delivery with the shipper. The FTC requires retailers to ship when promised, or within thirty days after the order date if no promise is made.
4. Make sure you print a copy of all receipts and order information including descriptions of the product, in case you have a problem. And make sure to keep all emails received from the retailer about your order.
5. Always use a credit card for purchases over the Internet. If a problem occurs, in many instances under the Fair Credit Billing Act you have the right to dispute any charges to your credit card, and withhold payment while the problem is being investigated. Make sure to check your credit card statements and notify your credit card company if there are any problems. In any case, if your credit card is used fraudulently, you are only responsible for up to $50 in losses.
6. Do not send any financial information or other personal information like passwords,
social security numbers, etc. to the online retailer by email or instant messaging,
which is not a secure method of transmission. They should not ask for this type
of information in any case. Only send required information through their web site.
Required information will usually be name, address, phone number, credit card number,
credit card expiration date, and perhaps the credit card’s three-
7. Review the online retailer’s privacy policy to determine what rights they have to use any information you have sent to them. This policy should be posted on their web site. If it’s not, or you disagree with their policy, consider buying from another retailer. And if you do not want to receive future offers from this retailer or possibly from other retailers, make sure you check or uncheck (as the case may be) the appropriate boxes on the web site to indicate your preferences.
Good Luck Shopping The Web
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