Save Money When You’re Shopping Online
* Look for coupon codes. Always take a moment to search for a code before you place an order online. I tend to use retailmenot.com because it’s a neat, uncluttered site. Just type in the name of the site you’re using to see what coupons and discounts are available. If you’re trying to decide where to buy an item (for example, you know you want to send your mom the new James Patterson book but haven’t picked what bookstore to use), use sites like retailmenot.com to compare available coupons. I’ve also been browsing the lists of new coupons at slickdeals.net both to look for discounts on items that are already on my Christmas shopping list and to spark gift ideas.
* Comparison shop. You can’t know how good a deal is without some basis for comparison, says Karen Hoxmeier of the site MyBargainBuddy.com, which features extensive listings of coupons and other deals. Use the Web to comparison shop online and to familiarize yourself with prices before you head to a bricks-and-mortar store. A good starting point is google.com/products.
But the best price shouldn’t be your only consideration when choosing an online retailer. A good deal gets less alluring when you discover a site has a poor reputation for customer service. Especially if you’re considering a site you haven’t used before, check around online to learn more about its reputation. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see whether there are complaints against the retailer, says Erin Jones, senior vice president for communications with the Better Business Bureau of Austin. Another quick way to check out a Web retailer: Type the name of the site into the “search” box at consumer advocacy Web site The Consumerist to find accounts of other shoppers’ experiences with the site.
* Get informed through e-mail and blogs. One way to find out about deals is by signing up for e-mail newsletters or frequent-buyer programs from stores you frequent, Hoxmeier says. You can get coupon codes to use online, access to special discounts by clicking on a link in the e-mail or printable coupons to use in bricks-and-mortar stores. It’s also worth a try to scan blogs about the product you’re shopping for. Earlier this month, for example, the beauty products review site Megs Makeup alerted its readers to deep discounts (30 percent and 75 percent) at the Web sites for Urban Decay and Hard Candy makeup.
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