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| 10 Online Shopping Tips (MSN Money) |
Submitted by:
Tip Hero 07/22/2009 11:00 PM
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With all of the conveniences that online shopping offers, it's easy to make it the main place to go to make most of your purchases. But before you mouse over to make your next purchase, we suggest reading through these 10 tips (actually "big secrets of online retailers") from MSN Money:
1. A Down Economy = Better Deals
"There's a silver lining for consumers in this rough economy: more-plentiful and better deals ... keep an eye on shopping-related headlines as each quarter approaches. The darker the forecast, experts say, the better for shoppers."
2. Beware of 'Free shipping' Hidden Costs
"Shipping isn't cheap, and the cost is usually covered elsewhere ... [like] a minimum-purchase requirement."
3. Be Skeptical of Glowing Reviews
"A study of 2.5 million online customer reviews by consultancy PowerReviews found that 84% awarded four stars or more."
4. Know the Return Policy Before Purchasing
"Sending back opened electronics, for example, can often mean paying additional shipping and restocking fees, which can run anywhere from 5% to 15% of the purchase price -- no small amount if you're talking about a $4,000 flat-screen TV ... Amazon will cancel your account if it sees what it considers an excessive amount of returns for your account ... only 31% of [retailers] surveyed by Forrester Research offer [postage-paid returns]."
5. Online Tax-Free Shopping: Ending Soon?
"The stakes are high: Sales tax is the No. 2 source of income for most states, after personal income tax. And with online sales of more than $200 billion expected this year, that's a lot of pie to ignore."
6. Research Unknown Websites Before Purchasing
"At some e-tail sites, security isn't the only problem. Complaints of undelivered goods have risen 57% since 2004 ... Before buying from a site you've never heard of, make sure it has a bricks-and-mortar location, not just a post office box and a phone number."
7. Test Out Their Customer Service in Advance
"...online customer assistance can be a challenge ... Experts prefer live chat, as reps can steer you to specific parts of the site by sending you direct links."
8. Online Retailers Are Not as Eco-Friendly as You Think
"Though shopping online sure is convenient, it isn't exactly green ... Overpackaging isn't just a waste of trees; it can also take up more space in delivery trucks, requiring extra trips and extra fuel."
9. Repeat Customers May Miss Out On Deals
"'Once you're a customer, you don't necessarily get the same deals' ... To keep yourself on the receiving end of discount offers from an e-tailer, an inconvenient but effective strategy is to start a new account, using a different e-mail address and credit card."
10. Comparison Shop
"'Your best bet for zeroing in on the best deal is by taking advantage of price-comparison sites.'
Also, remember, before making any online purchases search for coupons and free shipping codes which can save you a bundle.
There's a lot more commentary behind each of these 10 tips, so we suggest clicking through the link below to read more about each one. And let us know if you have any tips of your own by posting a comment below or submitting a tip here.
"10 big secrets of online retailers" (MSN Money)
Also, before you make any online purchase remember to search for coupons and free shipping codes which can save you a bundle. |
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