Finding Deals Online

Ask any good shopper the best stores to get the deals—then sit down, because the answer is likely to take awhile. All good shoppers have their favorite sources. The same goes for online shoppers. If you’re a bargain shopper in the “real world,” most likely you’re a good online shopper, too. But even if you’re not, you can learn—it just takes a little research.

So where to start? Should you hit the online price comparison sites, or go straight to the source (i.e., the store)? Here are five factors you should consider to make sure you’re getting a good deal online.

1. Low prices: Finding a good price is easy online. In fact, in many cases you’ll find a better price than at a bricks-and-mortar store, plus a wider selection. Not restricted by the space constraints of a retail store, merchants can put all of their inventory in their Web store, especially clearance items they want to move fast. A quick search either in Google’s shopping site, called Froogle (www.google.com/products, or just go to www.google.com and click on the “Shopping” link) or Yahoo! Shopping will give you a variety of options at the top of the list and include price and shipping costs. The more specific your search, the better. For example, instead of typing in “running shoes” and getting tons of Web sites, type in the specific product you’re seeking (“Nike Air Max Torch II men’s running shoes size 11”).
2. Free shipping, no taxes: Most online merchants offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount or are a first-time buyer. This is a huge advantage. Be aware that heavy or bulky items such as furniture or sporting goods can get very costly if shipping charges are added. Stores like Staples and Home Depot sometimes offer free next-day delivery, so it’s not out of the question to expect that option. As far as taxes go, for years there’s been talk in Congress of requiring all online merchants to collect and pay sales taxes, but as of yet, there has been no resolution. That means for now, only online companies with a physical store in a state are required to collect and report taxes on sales made to customers living in that state. Companies like Amazon.com that have no physical stores anywhere charge no taxes on Amazon items. (Make sure to check your order; if it’s not from Amazon but from one of its partner sellers, there could be taxes.)
3. Shopping comparison sites: At shopping comparison sites such as BizRate, Shopping.com and Shopzilla, you can search for products, sort by category and compare prices with a few clicks of the mouse. Among the most useful features of shopping sites are the reviews by other shoppers. The product description may sound great, but if you read “product fell apart after one week” in the feedback section, you’re going to think twice about making the purchase. Most sites also have feedback about the merchant. You could read “fast shipping, great customer service” or, on the other hand, “sneaky return policy, watch out!” Warnings like this are priceless.
4. Coupon codes: Never check out without first searching the Web for a coupon code! Sites such as Dealcatcher, Ebates and RetailMeNot.com update with new codes daily. Using a code upon checkout could mean a big difference in the price. Free shipping and a percentage off the order is the most common kind of discount.
5. Warranties: If you’re thinking of buying an extended warranty for a product, check out SquareTrade first. This site’s warranties include all kinds of products and cover mechanical and electrical failures that occur during normal use, as well as100 percent parts and labor.