온라인 쇼핑 알려지지 않은 절약의 지혜 > 알뜰소비

Have a shopping list. Like the analogy of going into a grocery store hungry, you don't want to find yourself buying stuff on the spur of the moment then getting coal in your mailbox when later finding the bill. Have the list and stick with it no matter what shiny objects try to lure you from the glow of your computer screen. You and your wallet will be happier for it.

Look for discounts. Why pay full price? Bizrate.com and Froogle are just two examples from a competitive field. The Internet is replete with sites vying for your patronage.

Comparison shop. It's tried and true advice. In the Information Age, there is no reason not to be armed with the latest deals. For example, Pronto.com and PriceGrabber.com let you compare prices. Let the computer be your friend to save money.

Be wary when reading a product's online reviews. Reviews from consumers are generally a good temperature gauge for a product's worthiness. But some reviews are plants from the company selling the product, thus giving a false representation of the item. Like they say, "Don't believe everything you read."

Before clicking your mouse, check out the return policy. How easy is it to return an item? Is there a "re-stocking" fee hidden in the fine print? Who pays for shipping the item back to the warehouse? Consider these questions, lest you're stuck with a gift no one wants and is more trouble than it's worth to send back.

It's been said before, but it's worth saying it again: make sure the website you're buying from is safe and secure. This means shopping from trusted and known companies; being wary of overseas companies; and look for the padlock symbol in the bottom right of the web browser window.

Consider the tax implications. Sometimes it's cheaper to find the same item from a different state to avoid paying the state income tax. Different states have different state taxes, so it's worth the time to double check.

Check out the shipping rates. Some companies like Amazon, provide free shipping over a certain amount purchased; others, like Overstock offer $2.99 shipping no matter how big the item. Shipping rates can make a decent deal turn into an awful one. Remember, you are the consumer; you hold the power.

Don't wait until the last minute. Even though it's the magical world of the Internet, real concerns still exist: items run out of stock; a storm in Denver may delay shipment; a union may go on strike. These scenarios may be far-fetched, but don't get caught without gifts because you waited until the last minute and something suddenly came up.

Read the privacy policy. Make sure you're dealing with a vendor that will not sell your name to other companies. Also, you deal with enough spam; make sure you can remove your name from their company list if so desired.