Ten years ago, I may have been excited about lining up for an amazing sale on Black Friday but not anymore. In-store shopping very rarely happens for me these days. I’m a busy mom of 3 and I’d rather poke my eyes out with a fork than take my kids to the mall on a busy shopping holiday. I’ve been on the look out for a MacBook Pro and have been keeping my eyes on sales. Nothing has made me take the plunge yet!
Thankfully, Cyber Monday exists for the rest of us who are happy at home shopping from the comfort of the sofa so I’ll be online with the rest of you this weekend, looking for deals.
Still, as with any shopping venture, you must be prepared! There are some definite ways you can better your online shopping experience and I’m letting you in on my own online shopping secrets here:
1) Make a list and check it twice. Figure out what the must-have items are before a sale starts and determine what website has the best deal. Research research research!
2) Pay attention on the small print. Many sites hosting Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales are actually starting the sale at 12:01am that day so if you are a night-owl you might cash in on the best deal if there’s limited product.
3) Ensure you have an account on the website well ahead of time, and if possible, even save your credit card info as well (ensure the site is secure of course before doing so). This will enable you to check out quickly without having to enter in a ton of information when the deal-clock is ticking. Ever been left with an empty card online because you took too long to check-out? It happens!
4) Free shipping sales combined with an online redemption code are a great deal, so if you have a discount code that doesn’t expire for awhile, wait for free shipping sales.
5) Use discount programs like Ebates where you can earn while you shop (and yes, you can even use Ebates in Canada!)
Ebates customers receive 1%-50% Cash Back on their purchases at thousands of different stores. As you shop, Cash Back accumulates in your account, and then every few months, Ebates will send you a Big Fat Check (or transfer funds via Paypal).
When a new member signs up for Ebates this will be offered a $10 gift card. These gift cards will be mailed out after the new member makes their first $25 purchase through Ebates. This process can be delayed if the new member does not include their address in their Ebates account.
On Cyber Monday, customers can get double cash back at hundreds of stores – now that is smart online shopping!
I really like cash back! I also like to shop with a credit card that gives me back a little something too. Best form of double dipping.
Love free shipping (or low min.purchase sites)…that, combined with sales is great. I also use swagbucks, so I always have a giftcard on hand.
I always do a google search before ordering on any website, just in case I find a discount code. I often do!
I find myself starting to really read fine prints now, always looking for the free shipping part
Cyber Monday is great! Last year I bought two vegan purses from Susan Nichole (one for my mother, one for myself) at half price 🙂
Great tips! I always wait for free shipping because it’s not such a hot deal if you have to factor that in, and watch out for any duties!
Thanks for the tips and about Ebates as i didn’t realize you could use it in canada!
Good idea to create your account prior to any big sales. A lot of the times, there are so many people browsing the site at the same time, that the servers get overloaded, and trying to create an account can take forever (or not even work).
Great tips! Free shipping is always a big plus!
Bargain moose website is excellent for online shopping deals and discount codes
great tips! also always make sure you know what currency the prices are.. I know it’s not a big deal now as our $ isn’t too bad, but in the past it can make a big difference 🙂
Shipping to Canada, exchange rates and legit websites are always something to watch for
Great tips! thanks
I find that lists are a must, always check shipping costs and always look for online coupons!
Thanks for the information about using ebates in Canada. Shipping costs can be deterrent when buying something in the US. I can’t tell you how many times I have canceled a purchase because the shipping costs are so high, sometimes double or even triple the cost of the item I wanted to buy.
Wow, these are some great tips, thanks for sharing! I had heard of Ebates, but I didn’t really understand what it was all about or how it worked. I’m going to check it out!
I always google for a coupon code
Great advice and shopping at 12:01 is right up my alley
I do the same as Brenda, I always Google for coupon codes, too. It’s amazing what you can find.
Thanks for the tips. Preparation is obviously the key to getting the best deals.
I haven’t done much online shopping and you’ve provided some great tips and ideas — thanx!! 🙂
great tips! Im gonna have to look into getting ebates
I can’t even imagine going in to the stores during crazy sales anymore!
I always try to check for some sort of ebate when online shopping. I like maximizing my saving power!
Ebates is the best! It does make me shop a lot more though! hehe
I always look for free shipping
Free shipping is always a must for my online shopping ‘trips’ too!
Also consider that many online stores are accessible through loyalty rewards programs like Airmiles and Aeroplan. Visiting a store through such “online portals” allows you to earn points on your purchases.
So before vising a store through a direct link, check to see if your store is associated with a loyalty rewards program.
Free shipping and cash backs are awesome! I am totally hooked on online shopping this year
Love free shippings, makes online shopping much more enjoyable!
Very helpful tips! I also like to double check that sites are SECURE before entering in any private information (or using Paypal if at all possible)…
But do I ever love online shopping – especially for Christmas shopping! The ease of use, lack of crowds and the comfort is perfection! 😀
great tips!
There are some great deals to be had online, and some are from the US. I generally support shopping locally, however some deals just can’t be ignored (e.g. I bough a $600CA vacuum online for $239US- even after the taxes and shipping I was almost 50% off!).
Reading the fine print is always a necessity. I always am sure the site is secure also before doing anything. Being a nighthawk myself I would be sure to hit the sales when they begin.
Ebates sounds like an awesome company. Kinda being paid to shop! 🙂
I am a fan of Ebates Canada!
I have to check Ebates out.. I heard about it before, but I really wasn’t sure how it works. Thanks for the info
awesome tips! Thanks so much
great tips! thanks for the awesome ideas 🙂
great tips,thanks
great ideas and tips
I love shopping sales at 12 am when they start – no rush and the best selection
I never realized about BlackFridays or CyberMondays sales! There is obviously much to learn regarding how to get the best deals for your online shopping time! ☺ Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reminding me about when the sales start. I love online shopping. No crowds.
Thank you for the great tips.
Great tips! I always search for coupon codes before buying
Great tips. I find #1 makes a HUGE difference – browsing the sites beforehand and knowing what you are looking for & where to find it saves a lot of time. Tip #3 is something i forget – so thanks – setting up accounts in advance would save a lot of time and frustration, especially when there are limited quantities of sale items.
I admit never waiting for sales online – if I need something (not want) then it doesn’t matter if there is a sale or not – though there is rarely anything that we need apart from new laptops
I’ve never used Ebates before, but I’m going to look into it. Have you used it?
All great tips! I need to remember to use Ebates. I have a bad habit of buying and then remembering 🙁
I always check for coupon codes from sites such as Retail Me Not. I also look for free shipping, or low minimum purchases for shipping.
I thoroughly check out the shipping charges. Once I was charged twice as much for duty and shipping; never again.
this sounds like such a way better idea than standing in line outside stores for hours!
I always check out the shipping charges, I got stung once so I’ve learned my lesson. I shop online often so thanks for your tips.
Thanks for the tips. I love shopping both in-store and online. I’m not familiar with Ebates yet.
I love ebates, I got my first check a few months ago 🙂
AddictedtoOPI
I have been a member of ebates for a while now. I find that I can save quite a bit simply by staying home and shopping online there…one stop shopping!
Great tips here thank you for sharing, I never would’ve thought of the “time” thing.. excellent suggestions!
Thanks for these tips. I also check for coupon codes to reduce my final bill. Have never used Ebates but will definitely be using it next time.
Great tips! Thanks so much for this!
i have a love-hate relationship with ebates! I love it because it saves me $$ (it adds up you know!) but at the same time, it makes me justify shopping!
I haven’t used ebates yet. I guess I should get on it eh? I shop online enough!