Saving money with online shopping may seem impossible. There is so much information online to read, how can you know what is true and what is false? This article provides expert opinion on how to keep your online shopping bills to a minimum, so make sure you read it today.
Never try to shop directly from a link someone sent you in an email, unless it’s a widely known and respected site, like Amazon.com. Too many consumers get tricked into scams via hyperlinks in questionable emails. Visit the URL of the site mentioned in the mail, instead of clicking the link itself.
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.
If you’re making an online purchase, don’t hesitate to contact customer service if you have a question. By contacting customer service before you make your order, you’ll find out how helpful customer service is and how quickly they respond. This is useful information to have in the event that something goes wrong after you’ve made your purchase.
If you purchase from Amazon frequently, think about Amazon Prime. It is only $79 a year, and it will usually pay for itself quickly. Some of the benefits include a discount on same-day or overnight shopping, as well as free 2-shipping on items in stock. And there’s an excellent streaming movie library too. That only continues to compound your savings!
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.
It is best to shop online with a credit card. Most credit cards come with a protection plan in case your information is stolen. Your bank will probably give you your money if you purchased a bad product with a credit card while you will entirely depend on the seller to get your money back if you used a debit card.
Do a quick web search for promo keys and discounts prior to making any online purchases. Often, there are discount keys out there that you may not be aware of! This could save you 10% to 20%, or offer you things like free shipping or a discount on a secondary item.
Peruse your chosen product page carefully before purchasing. Use the product specifications, especially size and color, to make sure you will receive what you expect. Be mindful that the image you see on the product description may not be a true representation of what you are buying.
If you have purchases that are not urgent to make online, wait until the holidays. Most retailers offer special savings on holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day and President’s Day. On top of great holiday deals and specials, many businesses also offer free shipping as an extra incentive.
Make sure that you use a secure internet connection when shopping online. If you will be shopping online, secure your internet connection by using a wi-fi password. If you use an unsecured wi-fi, people, who you may not want to have your personal information, can get your information without your knowledge.
Look for online coupon aggregators, which compile hundreds of coupons and promo codes. You can find coupons for manufacturers and retailers alike, all of which can save you great amounts of money. You need to remember to use the coupon site when you’re checking out or you may not get the deal.
Don’t give out a business or personal email if you make online purchases. Over time, these accounts may become full of spam emails. Make a separate email address for your online shopping and set it up to forward messages to your real email address. This helps you keep your inbox cleaned out, but of course you still get messages concerning your purchases.
Always search various websites to compare the price of a particular item before you purchase it. When doing this do not forget to consider the shipping costs as part of the overall cost of the item. Since there are so many options available you should be sure to use them.
Whenever possible, shop from your home computer rather than your smartphone. It is easier to get redirected to a scam site on your mobile phone, in part because URL addresses are not as lengthy. In addition, if you shop while you are out and about, you are using a public Wi-Fi connection. This makes it easier for hackers to get access to your credit card information, so you should avoid it if at all possible.
Is the site you want to buy from a trusted retailer? This is especially important because you will be entering personal information into their website. If you do not trust the site, it is possible that your identity may be vulnerable. This problem may cost you a lot of money and time.
It isn’t impossible to save a ton thanks to shopping on the Internet, but only if you know what you’re doing. The tips you’ve read here are an excellent start, but don’t stop here. There are many other tips available on sites like this, so keep reading and learn all you can.
