Shopping without dropping

By Jason Cole

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No one is bumping my shoulders, jostling me out of the way or fighting over the last few tech toys on the shelf.  No one is in front of me in line, trying to write a check and no one is behind me sniffling or sneezing.  I'm all alone, on December 22nd, and I'm about to have the last of my Christmas shopping done.  Did I mention that I'm still in my bathrobe with a fresh cup of coffee?  If you haven't already discovered the joys of online shopping, then you've really been missing out on one of the biggest advances that the internet has brought us.

Online shopping is now more convenient and safer than ever before.  It's also one of the best ways to get a great deal on that special something that you've been seeking for so long.  From flat panel TV's to cases of oatmeal, the Internet, coupled with improvements in delivery logistics through competing carriers such as FedEx and UPS, has brought us closer to getting exactly what we want, exactly when we want it.  You can buy clothes, shoes, computers (and pieces of computers), TV's and consumer electronics, appliances, home furnishings, even groceries, and have it all delivered to your house within days, all without setting foot out of doors (no weather to deal with, no parking hassles, no lines).

One of the most powerful advantages the internet offers us for shopping is the ability to quickly and easily compare several items and several price points -- even from different retailers -- without the time and hassle of driving all over town (or for those more rural dwellers, without having to drive to town).  When going online to try and find that perfect deal, there are a few things that you can do to make sure that you're going to get the best deal possible. While they're easy to remember, they're not always easy to execute. Those people that are bound and determined to get the best deal will stick to these time-tested steps.

1. The first, and possibly most important thing to remember for getting the best possible deal online is to be patient, but ready to buy.  Some of the bargain hunting tips I'm about to offer depend on the caveat that you know what you want, and that you're ready to pounce when that deal comes along.  Many of the best deals online can be found as overruns, clearance, and refurbished items, and quantities on these are going to be limited.  Online retailers are ready to move these few items, and they price them to move fast.
2. The second step to online shopping it to identify what credit card you're going to use to make your purchase.  Personally, I use both a Chase Visa card, and a Discover Card.  Both of these cards offer me special redeemable points with purchases, and they offer portals to many online retailers that, if I go to the retailer through that portal, I get bonuses to my rewards.  For example, if I go directly to one of my favorite computer shopping websites, www.NewEgg.com, I get one point per dollar spent using my Chase Visa card.  But, if I go to my Chase Visa card's website, and connect to NewEgg through their online shopping section, that 1 percent reward turns into a 2 percent bonus, just for connecting to a site through my credit card's website.  In the case of the Chase rewards, points accumulate, and I can choose to trade those points in for an account credit, or I can choose to get gift certificates for other retailers.  Using this method, I'm guaranteeing myself an additional 2-20 percent rebate type discount on the final price that I pay, before dealing with any actual rebates.  Some people prefer to use cards that give them other rewards or airine "miles" as rewards for using them, and thats fine as it's all about personal preference.  Just be aware that if you carry a balance over that accrues interest, you're likely going to negate any discount you got.

Travel

The same thing can be done for travel and leisure.  There are specialized sites like Expedia.com and Hotwire.com that specialize in getting hotels, car rentals, and airfare at discounted rates.  The catch here is that these sites are helping hotels and travel agencies sell unreserved rooms and seats at a price that covers the cost of having it serviced, but little else.  In other words, they'd rather have someone in a room and only make a few dollars, rather than have the room stay empty.  From my personal experience with these sites, the best deals are found closest to the travel dates (regarding hotels, its buyer beware with the airlines these days), so they may not be optimal for planning that family vacation six months out, but they're great for last minute travel arrangements.

Comparison Shopping

At this point, you should know what you want to buy, and what you're prepared to pay for it, and you should have the websites you're prepared to buy from narrowed down to two or three (possibly one, if you've been shopping online long enough to already have favorites in specific categories, though if you really want to get the best deal, having two or three trusted options is optimal).  This is where the dealsharing websites come in.  Dealsharing websites like www.fatwallet.com and www.slickdeals.net are dedicated to helping people get the best deals possible.  But, these deals are often limited time offers (some expire the same day that the go active, some within hours), so this is why you need to be prepared to buy when you find the deal.  Using these sites, you won't have a week to consider it, like in a brick and mortar store's weekly circular.  Once these limited quantity items are sold out, they're gone.

Finally, just to illustrate some examples of deals I have personally found through internet shopping:  

• Panasonic 42" plasma TV – retail list @ $1799, purchased for $899 @ a retail store, using price matching policies and "secret" door buster fliers for competing stores.
• Harmon Kardon AVR – retail $399, purchased for $160 (refurbished, so it carries the same warranty as a one from any retail store).
• HDMI cables, retail $50, purchased for $6.
• Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 – 3 license software package $79.99.  Normal price is $150 for a single license.
• Carnival Cruise room discount vouchers - $160 off our cabin for trading in $80 in Discover Reward points.
• Hotel Room in Birmingham, AL, one night, double occupancy, $35 (using Expedia).  Perfect for making the trip to Mobile, AL, shorter to catch that cruise ship.

Online shopping can be safe, fun, and a great way to save money (by spending money, ironically), but just remember to be careful and read the "fine print", and check on their return policies.  Unlike brick and mortar stores, its easy to waste money getting something that doesn't work out as expected, and have to re-ship it to the seller at your cost, and often adding on an additional restocking fee (10-15 percent sometimes).

Happy shopping!