[HOME] [WEB DESIGN] [CONSULTING] [CUSTOMER SITES] [FREE STUFF]

Shopping Online – How to find good deals on the web
August 20, 2006
By: A.Retlick

Disclaimer: The author is not responsible for any negative feelings derived from reading this document. The contents herein may not be used in any form without written permission from the author.

My last article on building your own computer gave you a taste of how to go about finding good deals on the web. Now I want to go into it in a little more detail. If you are looking to save money on something you need, the Internet is a great place to shop. But before you get started you need to be aware of a few pitfalls. First of all, make sure your computer is free of viruses and spyware. I know you have all heard that before, but it needs to be mentioned again, especially if you are planning on using your computer for online purchases. If you are concerned that your information might be stolen, you can always use the Internet to find the best price, and then call in your order. Most online stores will give you the option to call them with your credit card information when you are ready to checkout with your purchase.

The next step is to figure out exactly what you want to buy. When I say exactly, I mean right down to the model number. For example if you want a digital camera, decide on what features you want, then try to narrow it down to a single manufacturer. If you are undecided about how one camera stack-up against another, it is helpful to read customer reviews. There are many web sites that let you read comments from real customers. I find these to be more valuable than the professional reviews that are written by people who don’t own the product.

Okay, so lets say you have your model number, now what? This is the time to do some price comparison-shopping. My favorite way to do this is to use a web site like froogle.com or mysimon.com to see a range of prices. You will be amazed at what you find. This is one place where you may not want to buy from the lowest price seller. In addition to price, there are a few other things to look at. The comparison-shopping sites often have a rating next to each business listed. The ratings give you an idea of how well the company is satisfying their customers. If a customer has a problem with their order and it isn’t resolved quickly, the store may see a lower rating next month. You can look back at the ratings history and customer comments to see if the company is making an effort to maintain a good rating. It isn’t hard to find both good and bad examples of customer service. I have often found stores that offered a great price for an item, but their rating and customer comments were so bad that I had to look elsewhere to make my online purchase.

Of course the highest rated store don’t always have the best price. To get the best deal, you may have to take a chance on a store that has a rating with one or two stars less than perfect. This is when you need to start comparing store web sites. It isn’t hard to narrow the choices when you see some poorly designed stores. Here is what you need to look for. Does the store web site show how many of the items are in stock? Do they give an accurate picture and description of the item? Do they let you estimate shipping costs before you checkout? Generally, a well-designed store will have lots of customer features. How easy it is to shop at the online store is a good indication that they are concerned about customer satisfaction.

I also like to check the contact information on the web site to see where they are actually located. Last year I ordered something from a store that was located in Florida, not realizing that they had been affected by a hurricane. But the communication was good and I was able to cancel my order and found a store in Ohio that offered the item for a similar price. Now I check the location every time. So to recap, find the model number, find the best prices, narrow the store down to the one that has a good rating vs. price, compare shopping experiences, and know the actual location of the store that you buy from. Now get out there and start saving money!

-AR-