A few years ago, no one would have thought that you could actually buy whatever you want from the comfort of your home or office and have it delivered right to your doorstep from miles away. In the digital age of today, shopping is incredibly easy, safe, and less frustrating. This is all thanks to the internet. However, it gets even better and cheaper if you have a few tricks and tips up your sleeve as an online shopper. In this piece, we shall highlight a few useful tips you can use to improve your overall experience as a frequent online shopper.
1. Always Shop from Trusted Business Websites
While many retailers now offer online shopping options, it is imperative to shop only from online businesses that you already know and trust. That way, you avoid getting scammed online or even ending up with counterfeit products. Don’t forget, you also share some of your personal data when shopping online. For your own safety and convenience, it’s worth spending a few minutes to research and ensure you are shopping from a reputable online vendor.
2. Consider a Delivery Box
You may not always be home when the delivery guy arrives with your parcel a few hours or days after shopping online. Even if you have a friend or neighbor, you may not always trust them with your confidential purchases, let alone the thought of inconveniencing them. In this case, a parcel delivery box makes total sense. Most importantly, one of the parcel delivery box advantages is that it helps keep your goods safe and secure after purchase and delivery until you open them. With a good delivery box, your parcel is protected from theft, weather damage, snooping eyes, and a whole bunch of other factors. What’s more, they come in a range of shapes and sizes so you can pick the one that best suits your shopping habits and fits your home. Some common options include:
- Wall-mounted delivery boxes,
- Freestanding parcel box
- Fence-mounted box
- Gate-mounted parcel delivery box
3. Look for Coupons and Other Discounts
So, are you looking for ways you can save significant amounts of money while shopping online? Then look for reputable online merchants that offer discounted prices and coupons. To receive the discount, you simply enter the coupon code in your order form, and just like that, your discount is automatically deducted from the total purchase price.
For instance, if you travel a lot, many airline sites provide their customers with weekly specials as well as e-fares to take advantage of. You just need to sign up for their newsletters to get notified in case of any weekly specials.
4. Compare Prices from Different Online Vendors
Different online vendors may retail their merchandise at different prices. In fact, if you spend a little more minutes shopping around different online stores, you will definitely land a better deal. Also, consider the so-called shopping bots to compare prices across several online stores. Some of the shopping bot services you may consider using include:
- PriceRunner (UK)
- Shopzilla
- Google Shopping
- PriceGrabber.com
5. Don’t Forget To Check the Shipping Costs
Shipping costs are another thing you need to be keen about if you love shopping online. For instance, shipping costs for next-day delivery could make the overall cost of the product even more than outsourcing it locally from a physical store. Well, there was a time most online vendors offered free shipping costs but those times are over now. It was just a way to attract customers. However, there are still some online vendors who will offer their customers free shipping costs, especially on special occasions such as holidays. Others still offer discounted shipping costs for a certain amount of purchases.
6. Always Review the Return and Refund Policies
When shopping online, take a moment, ask yourself the question, “will I be able to return the merchandise if it is faulty?” Who pays for the return shipping? For a great online shopping experience, your e-retailer should provide you with all those answers. Otherwise, it’s advisable to call the merchant before making the purchase. By reviewing the return and refund policies, you’re sure of a streamlined process in case of a return or refund.
7. Pay with Plastic
Paying for your online orders using a credit card is another great tip when shopping online. There are many options to consider when it comes to making payments electronically. For instance, you can simply set up an account with PayPal or any other electronic money transfer service provider and you are good to go.
In fact, credit cards offer the same consumer protection regardless of whether you are shopping online or offline. For instance, you’re charged $50 in case your card is used fraudulently, and also the credit card company doesn’t hold you liable for the fraud. Additionally, you can also challenge the charges or even withhold your payments in case of a dispute between you and the e-retailer.
And there you have it. The tips above should help ensure a smooth sail every time you make online purchases. Keep them at your fingertips.
