Are you tired of traveling to shopping malls and fighting crowds just to get what you want and need? Online shopping has become a massive industry, and more secure than ever. You can virtually find virtually any product virtually if you know where to look. You can also find some great deals. Read Step # 1 below to learn how to search for what you want and buy it with confidence and reliability.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Finding the perfect product
Step 1. Search the Internet for the product you need
One of the most effective ways to quickly find online stores offering the product you are looking for is to simply use search engines such as Google, Yahoo! or Bing. If the product is very popular, you will receive several pages with links to the stores that sell it. You can use this as a starting point for price comparisons.
Step 2. Look at your item on the Amazon portal
In addition to selling its own products, Amazon acts as a liaison between you and a myriad of third-party vendors. Various businesses and people use Amazon as a way to showcase products and apply the site's payment system. This means that Amazon and its independent vendors have one of the largest inventories on the planet.
Amazon allows suppliers to sell used products, so be aware of the condition of the item you're buying if you absolutely need a new product
Step 3. Check the auction sites
If you are having difficulty finding items, check out online auctions. It's a little more difficult in practice than shopping at a regular store, but you can probably find good deals and rare items if you take the time. Check out this guide for tips on working with auctions.
Auction sites set much more rules and regulations than traditional stores and require a lot of input from you, the buyer. Make sure you are familiar with all codes and user guides before bidding
Step 4. Visit specialized sites
In addition to big name stores and auctions, there are also a number of marketplaces that cater to specific markets by topic. You can find the best deals for what you need, or a ton of options not available in large stores.
- Also, be sure to check the product manufacturer's website. You can save some money by buying directly from the manufacturer rather than through a retailer. Not all manufacturers have their own online stores.
- Many sites collect price data from a wide variety of online stores and make comparisons.
Step 5. Study the portals that collect information about emerging promotions
A large number of forums and sites operate to search for offers for specific goods. These sites are mainly focused on specific markets, such as specials on electronics, books, and more. If you are not looking for a particular thing, but want to stay up to date with the latest promotions for the products you are interested in, these services are great.
Step 6. Trust your intuition
If you begin to feel pressured to execute a trade, or if you feel that the offer is too good to be true, trust your instincts and give up the trade. There are many people out there who talk about different get-rich-quick schemes and life-changing products. Such offers should be viewed with a great deal of skepticism.
Always read seller and product reviews before making any purchases
Part 2 of 3: Smart Shopping
Step 1. Check shipping costs
Even if you find a delightful offer for the item itself, it can be compensated by the fact that you have to pay for the shipping. If the amount is outrageous, ask yourself if it is worth paying for the shipment instead of purchasing the product from the central store in town.
- Compare the cost of different shipping methods. If you don't have an urgent need for your item, you can save a lot of money by choosing a slower shipping method.
- Be especially careful about shipping costs on auction sites. They are set at the discretion of the seller, and unscrupulous senders can increase the cost of carriage of goods, taking advantage of the client's ignorance.
Step 2. Buy multiple items at once to keep shipping costs to a minimum
So, if you buy more than one unit of a product, try to make sure that all products come from the same seller as part of a total order. Most manufacturers group your purchases into one batch, so many items will be delivered to you for free when you purchase over a certain amount of the order.
Step 3. Avoid repaired items whenever possible
Refurbished items often sell for near new prices as they have been repaired for resale. Of course, you can find profitable offers in this way, but it is advisable to avoid them. If you are looking to buy a refurbished item, then check the warranty and make sure the cover is durable in case of a fall.
Step 4. Read the merchandise return policy
One of the biggest differences between buying from a hardware store and buying from an online retailer is the issue of returns. Make sure that the retailer you are purchasing from has a clear shipping system and understand that you are responsible for this.
Many stores will charge additional fees to process returns. This amount is usually deducted from the value of the item you returned
Step 5. Look for coupon codes
Many retail stores provide a field for entering promo codes. These can be general discounts across the store or special offers on specific products. Before placing an order, search the Internet for discount codes for this particular seller and enter any coupon you find that is relevant to your purchase.
Part 3 of 3: Safe Deal
Step 1. Check the security of the site
Any store where you make a purchase must have a padlock icon next to the site address during the checkout process. This ensures that your information is encrypted as it travels to Amazon's servers, preventing thieves from reading your data. If there is no lock icon, refrain from shopping on this site.
- Safe sites also contain "http s: //www.example.com "instead of" http://www.example.com "
Step 2. Use a credit card instead of a debit card
You are much more secure if your account is compromised when paying with a credit card rather than a debit card. This is because when your debit card information is stolen, the thieves have direct access to your bank account, while if your credit card information is missing, all actions can be quickly reversed by the issuing bank.
Try using one credit card for all your online purchases to minimize risk and keep any potential incidents under control
Step 3. Never purchase over an insecure wireless network
If you are connected to an insecure wireless network, any data sent from your device is transmitted unencrypted until it reaches the router. This means that hackers can "listen" to your device and steal the information you enter to send and receive from the Internet.
If a password is required to join the network, it means that it is secure and your data is encrypted. For a higher level of protection, pay for the purchase only from your personal computer through your home network
Step 4. Change your passwords
Since you buy mostly online, you will inevitably create multiple accounts to use in different stores. Always make sure that your passwords are different for each store, no matter the inconvenience, because if there is a problem with one seller, the billing information of each store visited will be compromised, which thieves will want to access.
Step 5. Archive your payment receipts
Write down all the purchases you make so you can compare your checks to your bank statement. It will also help you obtain receipts for legitimate purchases in the event of fraud.
You can print and place your receipts in a folder, or save them digitally
Step 6. Buy using a virus-free system
Viruses on your computer can compromise your security and send personal information to hackers and thieves. To avoid this, make sure to keep your antivirus programs up to date and run virus scans regularly. Review this guide for detailed information on how to protect your computer from viruses and malware.
Advice
- Keep in mind that some stores charge picking and consulting fees (in Australia at least) to try to keep people from making a choice at a physical point of sale and then buying it online for a lower price.
- When shopping at clothing stores, be sure to read the sizing chart.