I am what some people call...cheap.
I revel in telling stories about how I cheaply I purchased things, how I found this really rare object online for half price, or how I caught a sale that was so low, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. Of course, I do tell you, because I really love saving money.
However, while I am cheap, I also really like to shop. I do 90% of all of my shopping online, and have developed some really good tips for how to get a bargain.
Here are a few of my secrets, but not all of them. Some of them I need to save for myself.
Beth's Tips for Getting a Bargain Shopping Online
1. Google searches are your friend: I do not buy anything online without first running two google searches: STORE NAME coupon and STORE NAME free shipping. I rarely buy anything without a discount, and that one tip has saved me money repeatedly. If I'm also interested in price checking, Froogle allows me to price compare without having to hit multiple different sites.
2. Keep a dummy e-mail address for registering with sites: The majority of websites will give you a coupon code the first time you register with them and will often times send out coupons before all major holidays. I keep one e-mail address to register with sites I don't plan on using again, and I have the rest of the sites send me the emails directly because I save them when I do need to buy something. Make sure to register before checkout to make sure you get the discount the first time you are ordering.
3. Be friends with your frequently used sites: I have not bought a pair of shoes off of another site then Zappos in probably 2 or 3 years. Zappos has enrolled us in their VIP program which allows us to get free one-day shipping and they always have the shoes we want. On a slightly off-topic note, they also have the best customer service I've ever encountered. When a pair of shoes I had bought broke, we had a replacement within a day, no questions asked. If you use a site frequently, it is worth signing up with their programs, especially if that site allows you to shop for multiple topics.
4. E-Bay and Half.com aren't just for auctions: So many small business sell on ebay and half.com, it is almost not worth buying some products full price. While I still will price check against Amazon, I have used both of these sites to get new, in-box products almost half off of their retail. An extra tip, if you are looking for something slightly more rare or competitive, try searching misspellings for the product. Also, don't be afraid to buy used. If the seller has a great rating, why pay full price for some products? Plus, in cases with things like paperback books, you can often find them from charitable organizations, making you feel extra good about your purchase.
5. Use Your Google Reader and Twitter to Track Sales: Woot.com's twitter feed is constantly listing great sales, and allow you to track woot offs while at work without needing to constantly refresh. The Consumerist posts a list of great sales every morning. There are tons of sites out there for whatever you are looking for that can lead you to a great sale. This does involve being prepared to wait to purchase some things. We will wait a month or two once a video game is old to buy it, because it is not worth spending full price on most of them, especially when the replay value is limited.
6. Be Patient: Being a smart shopper means being a patient shopper. Don't impulse buy, don't buy without doing your research, and if it is a pricey product, do not buy without free shipping.
If you have any questions, or need any suggestions on where to locate an item, please leave a comment. I really believe a part of living a sustainable life is examining our shopping habits, and by making certain decisions, you can feel confident that you are buying responsibly. Also, when you do limit yourself to shopping online, it does prevent you from impulsive buying and will save you money in the long run.
I should know, I'm super cheap.
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