Online Shopping Tips

When it comes to Online Shopping, we've been there, done that, now serving 208 tips in 22 categories ranging from Airline Coupons to Why Use Online Coupons?.

Have you ever had difficulty booking a vacation over the phone?

Ease Of Use

Have you ever tried to book a vacation over the phone? Maybe you were put on hold for 25 minutes while trying to book a flight. Or you might have been disconnected while the concierge was checking to see if they had any rooms available for your desired vacation dates.

Automated phone systems are frustrating because you cannot speak with a real person. Oftentimes the voice recognition on automated systems is less than accurate. If you do get a real person on the line, are they courteous and professional? Do they speak clearly so you can understand them? Not always.

With booking vacations online, you can get everything from the flights to the hotel and activities all mapped out in no time. You can also take advantage of free online coupons and savings that you might not get on the phone.

Online deals, combined with the fact that you can book everything in a fraction of the time it would take over the phone, make the Internet the easiest and most efficient way of booking your vacation. You get the best savings, ease of use, peace of mind and no hassles.

Try Orbitz.com or Hotwire.com or a similar online travel company for your next getaway and see if you think it is easier online (don't forget to use the free online coupons that are available for big savings).

   
What is an all inclusive vacation?

All Inclusive Vacations

One of the best ways to save money when going on vacation is to take advantage of all inclusives. These are package deals at resorts where you get roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, as well as food and drink during your stay, for one flat amount.

Many resorts often include coupons for free activities like tours or scuba diving lessons with their all inclusive deals, too. This means that you can eat or drink as much as you want while on vacation, do practically whatever you want, and it will all cost the same thing.

These are the best cheap vacation packages you are likely to find. There are all inclusive resorts in Mexico, Jamaica, The Bahamas and plenty of other places with white sandy beaches and crystal blue water.

Orbitz.com is a great way to find these types of packages. An Orbitz coupon can sweeten the deal even more with bigger discounts.

One thing you should remember to ask about when booking an all inclusive vacation is the gratuity. Tips for hotel staff, waiters and bartenders are usually included in the original price you pay, but on occasion you might find out they are not. If they are not included, remember to tip the staff. It's the polite thing to do.

   
Do you get e-mails with coupons and sale infor from your favorite stores?

E-Mail Coupons & Promo Updates

One of the biggest advantages of online shopping is that you can receive countless offers via e-mail for huge savings. Junk mail is a common Internet pet peeve for many people, however, this is not junk mail.

By registering with your favorite stores online they will send you e-mails with advanced notice of sales or additional savings in the form of Ecoupons. These are free online coupons that can lead to some big savings.

Receiving regular e-mails from the stores you shop at the most is the best way to stay informed about all the possible opportunities they will be offering in the future. Not only does the advanced notice allow you to plan your financials in anticipation of certain upcoming offers, but the extra savings that might not be available to your average walk-in customers is a nice little bonus, too.

These online discounts can come in handy during times when you maybe have a little less cash available than you would like. With these, you can treat yourself to something you really want without breaking the bank.

   
Are you eligible for an upgrade as a valued customer?

Valued Customer Upgrades

You may find that your wireless provider offers discounts to its valued customers over time. Most companies offer a free or discounted phone upgrade every year or two that you remain a customer. This can be especially useful if you tend to drop or “beat up” your phone a bit over the course of a year.

When the time comes that your service provider offers you a deal like this, there are huge savings to be had. Scour the Internet for wireless coupons that you can combine with the discount the wireless company is already giving you.

Now, if your new phone was not going to be free already, it just may be once you apply the coupons. The addition of the wireless coupons might also make it possible for you to upgrade to an even better phone than the one you were originally being offered.

Many people do not realize that they are eligible for these offers and pay full price for every phone they purchase when they do not have to. So the next time you are looking to buy a new phone, see if you can get a discount for being a valued customer. Throw some coupons into the mix and get a brand new, sleek and stylish cell phone that is reliable too.

   
Is your hectic schedule making shopping difficult?

Online Savings Of Time & Money

Is your schedule jam-packed just about every day of the week? It can be very hard to find the time for grocery shopping, clothes or furniture shopping, getting back to school supplies for the kids, etc.

That is why free online coupons are so useful. Now you can use these promo codes, order your groceries online at a discount and have them delivered to your door. The best deals for school supplies are online these days. If your son or daughter is heading off to college, you can purchase furniture for their dorm room on the Internet with great online deals and have the items shipped directly to the school.

If you have children or work long hours in an office, or just have too much to do, taking the time out of your day for shopping can be difficult. By taking advantage of Internet deals you save money on purchases, but you can also save time, energy, money for gas, and your sanity.

Sit down and relax for a few minutes instead of rushing to the car for your next errand. Online coupons offer peace of mind that goes beyond the financial savings (but the savings don't hurt).

   
Did you verify that the mobile phone deal is current?

Make Sure Deals Are Current

Whenever you use wireless coupons online, always make sure that they are current promos and not out of date. Cingular Wireless coupon codes found online, for example, might not work since that company is now part of AT&T. There may still be coupons that are valid that use the name Cingular, however. These could be from a third party offering coupons using that name for customers who had Cingular service before they became part of AT&T.

Mobile phone companies merge and/or change their names on occasion. So it is important that you pay close attention to mobile coupons to make sure that the deal you want actually exists and is an option currently available to you.

If you are unsure whether an offer is still valid, try calling the customer service phone number on the provider's site. They should be able to tell you whether or not a promotion is ongoing, and give you a list of all the current deals available.

Mobile phone companies roll out new coupons and special deals pretty regularly to stay competitive and bring new customers on board. Use these offers to get deals on phones and service, but make sure that the company's service is a good fit for you in the long term, not just for the short term savings.

   
Is the Internet good for holiday shopping?

Holiday Cash Crunch

The holiday season can sneak up on you before you realize what time it is. And buying presents for family and friends all at once can be daunting. Not only does it make for a hectic couple of weeks, but it can feel like a big financial blow all at once.

So how can you avoid this holiday sucker punch to the wallet? Try starting your holiday shopping in August or September. Instead of putting it all off until the last minute, space the purchases out over multiple pay checks so it does not seem overwhelming. If you see great online deals in September, pick up a few gifts and hold onto them until the holidays roll around.

If you buy one gift a week, the financial burden seems much lighter. You also do not have to scramble at the last minute to get everything you need when thousands of other people are doing the same. By the time that season of gift-giving is here, you will have most of your shopping done already and little left that you need to spend.

Since this time of year can be very hectic, anything you can do to make it easier is a plus. There are online discounts, key codes and store sales at all different times of year, so there is no reason why you cannot take advantage of them a little early.

   
Can I find online coupons as good as print ones?

Online Coupons

Do you sit at home on the couch, rifling through the Sunday paper looking for coupons? Then suffer through paper cut after paper cut while you use scissors to extract the coupons from the newspaper? That can be both time consuming and a major inconvenience.

Printable grocery coupons online are an alternative to those coupon-cutting sessions. Try hitting the Internet for printable coupons. All you have to do is sit comfortably at your computer and click the mouse button. No more paper cuts.

You also do not have to wait until the Sunday paper arrives for your coupon fix. You can print them out any day of the week online and use them whenever you want. Many stores now have Internet sites where you can order your groceries and apply online coupons for instant savings. Then simply have the items shipped to your home.

This is a great option for parents who have limited time to shop because of the kids, the elderly or people with physical ailments, etc. You'll also find that many of these stores also offer free shipping, whether it is through online coupons or regular policy.

   
Can you do in-store returns for items bought online with coupons?

Coupons & Returns

When you order anything online with online promotion codes or coupons, make sure you know all the rules and guidelines. Some companies will allow you to return an item that is not satisfactory and get a refund at their local store nearest to you. But not always.

Some specific online promotions are either final sale or require you to mail the purchased item(s) back to the company before getting a refund. Check to see if this is the case, and if so, are you required to pay for the shipping costs?

Everyone has had to return a purchase that did not work out quite like they had expected, but online purchases add that extra element. They can still be your best bet in many cases, but knowing the terms in advance never hurt anyone. If you do not see any information on this matter when making a purchase online, try calling the company's customer service number and ask them directly.

This can give you a better idea of how online promotion codes will work for you and what you can expect as far as customer service is concerned. Whether you are buying computer games or clothing, kitchen appliances or books, knowing all the terms of promotions you use is always a good idea.

   
What kinds of coupons can you get on Amazon.com?

Amazon.com Coupons

Amazon.com is known for being a site where you can find virtually anything you are looking to buy and get a great price in the process. But just because you find a good deal does not mean that it is the best deal to be had. They have so many offers it is important to make sure you know them and are using the best ones.

Amazon is constantly offering online coupons for a variety of savings and benefits when you order through their site. With these coupons you can practically order the world on Amazon and not have to pay for the shipping. And when you order large quantities or physically large items, the savings on shipping alone can be astronomical.

Other online promotional codes offer up gift cards, discounts on merchandise, 2 for 1 deals and more. If you plan on ordering something from Amazon, make sure you take a minute to examine all the special offers they currently have. There are so many that you could practically cut your expenses in half and get next-day shipping at the same time.

Then use their online tracking to see exactly when your order will arrive at your door.

   
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