Other Ways to Save Big $ Using the Internet

My family & friends usually call me when they want to order anything over the internet because they know I have become a bargain-finding queen. You’re probably saying to yourself about now “You’d think she could find other things to do with her time” and you would be right, but I don’t do it for fun. Times have gotten hard in the Gentry household so I save money any way I can. Besides, the thrill of the chase in finding a real bargain makes me feel good and I absolutely hate to give too much for anything. I get a lot more enjoyment out of something if I paid less than the next guy for it. Also, I absolutely hate to go shopping. If I can buy it and have it shipped to my front door and save money in the process, then that’s the way to go for me. So….I’m going to pass along a few easy money-saving tips. If you read the post I wrote on How to Become a Power Searcher, you can really put it to good use when internet shopping.

If you are in town and see something you want (but don’t have to have that very minute) make note of the maker and model number of the item. When you get home a simple web search alone will probably save you a few bucks or enable you to buy a higher quality item for the same money. To usually get the item for even less, go to Ebay and search there. You can filter your Ebay searches to show just “new” items and items with the “buy it now” option. Personally I’m an Ebay bulldog if there’s something in particular I’m looking for. In your searching go so far as to misspell words. Some of the best bargains I’ve ever gotten were from sellers who either had a problem spelling or were poor typists. Also, it doesn’t bother me to buy used items so long as they are in good usable condition. Always carefully examine the photos and descriptions and ask the seller questions to clarify anything in question. Be observant of the shipping costs which are sometimes too much but in some cases free shipping is offered. For the most part Ebay sellers are very fair in their shipping fees. Most of the time even taking into account the shipping you can still save money. Always review the seller’s feedback. To do that just click on the number next to their name. That’s the best way to feel comfortable about buying from them. I’ve been buying off of Ebay for 15 years now and have had only one bad experience. Ebay has since started offering “Buyer Protection” which protects the buyer if they receive anything that is not as was advertised. Not only does buyer protection reimburse your for the price of the item but shipping charges, too.

My favorite shopping site is Amazon.com. You can get just about anything through the Amazon partners and can always save money there. I’ve bought everything from vacuum cleaners, electronics, and even underwear. Just use the Amazon search box like you do with Google, narrowing your search as you go.

Another of my all-time favorite bargain sites is Overstock.com. I will tell you though, if you find something here you want, don’t drag your feet in buying it. Overstock has limited numbers of their items and when they are gone, they’re gone and usually will not be back in stock. Items sell out within days (sometimes within hours) of being listed. You can buy just about everything here, too, but can especially find good deals in household items & electronics. Shipping is never over $2.95 no matter how much you order and during the holidays they always offer free shipping.

Another way to save money on web sites is by coupon shopping. The major online stores offer online coupons that offer everything from free shipping to per cent off deals. For example, doing a search on “Dell Coupon codes” right now will give you a code you can use at checkout with Dell to get 25% off selected systems. During the holiday season site coupons are generally even better than at other times during the year. Almost all major online sellers offer coupon codes from time to time. You won’t always find a coupon for the online merchant you are buying from but it’s worth the effort to check for one.

Craigs’ list is another good place to find bargains. You can generate the listings by your geographical location. That way you can go examine an item before you buy it. Like Ebay, Craigs’ List is a mecca for just about everything under the sun. Each listing includes a phone number so you can call and discuss the item with the seller. As an example, just last month I happened across a laptop being sold out of Denison for $100. I called the girl and bought it sight unseen because I was scared someone else would snatch it up. I went to the bank, transferred money to her account, she mailed it to me & I sold it the next day for $300 without touching it. I could have gotten more but I wanted a quick sale. Had I been needing a laptop for myself I would have kept it. It was that good. Please note that with Craig's List buying sight unseen is not a good idea, though. I was just lucky.

Everyone loves to shop at Walmart but did you know that not all Walmart stores have exactly the same merchandise.  Go to Walmart site online, find what you want, pay for it with your credit card (secured checkout is safer than showing your card in the store). They will ship the item to the local store where you can pick it up with no shipping or to your door for a small fee. Speaking of Walmart, I always take advantage of their “price match guarantee”. Not only do I ask for price match from the other stores in town, I also print a copy of anything I find online, take it into Walmart and ask for a price match. I’ve never been turned down yet. Of course, it must be the same exact item. Also, I make sure I have the internet address where I found the item. I do the same thing if I see something in the Dallas News. Walmart price matches those, too.

Keep in mind that all major internet sites have secured checkout. If you worry about using your credit card online, don’t be. Secured checkout is much safer than using your card in a store where everyone from the clerk to the office girl has access to your credit card number. You can always tell when you are using secured checkout. When you go to checkout, in the address bar the http:xxxx will change to https:xxxx.

These are just a few of the basics for saving money by shopping online. You will recognize other ways as you go along. Here are a few of the best online price comparison sites. If you don’t want to find a bargain on your own, use one of them. They do most of the work for you.

Nextag.com

pricewatch.com

pricegrabber.com

 Here are a few of my favorite internet sites for lower prices.

newegg.com    Electronics – computers –camera – cell phones newegg.com
harborfreight.com    tools
fragrancenet.com  Perfumes & cosmetics
dsw.com, shoebuy.com, zappos.com   shoes – ( shoebuy & zappos offer free return shipping if you aren’t satisfied)
abebooks.com booksamillion.com barnesandnoble.com       books
smartbargains.com   A little bit of everything