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 From price comparison sites to researching post and packaging costs, these top tips will help you get the best value when shopping online
Before you do anything, do your research. If you feel you need to see and touch a specific product before you buy it, go and find it in-store, choose what you want, and then shop around for the best deal online.
If you prefer to do your research on the net, search Google for consumer reports and product reviews to find a product that you know others are happy with (Google Product Search is great). Comparison sites like Amazon often include a consumer rating.
If you think they might be biased, www.ciao.co.uk is an excellent option as it doesn't actually sell anything itself. It's a reader review site, on everything from cameras to cars, and carries links to websites that sell the products, so you can immediately compare how much it will cost at a range of online sellers. A great site for fashion and beauty products is www.reviewcentre.com.
Once you know what you want, shop around. Being able to hunt around for the best bargain is half the joy of online shopping. Make use of fantastic sites like eBay and Amazon that do all the comparison work for you.
On price comparison sites, always sort by price rather than 'most popular', which can be bought out by sellers. In other words, the results that come out top are not necessarily the best, but simply the ones who have paid the most for the privilege of coming out top.
When buying items such as books, shoes and DVDs always check the postage costs involved and calculate this into the total price to find which is truly the cheapest deal.
Search around for sites that offer free delivery, or if this isn't available, you may get free delivery if you buy in bulk.
Before you buy, always check that the seller is reputable. Sites like Amazon are incredibly useful for this as they offer buyers' feedback so you know the seller's track record and what type of service they are likely to deliver.
If that option is not available and you're concerned, try www.resellerratings.com. They offer reviews of online stores.
Before you buy the product, do a search for specials by typing in the product's name + 'specials' or 'coupons' - www.couponmountain.co.uk is great for this. You may get free delivery, an upgrade or a free gift.
Always check the seller's returns policy so you know what the protocol will be if you are not happy with the product when it does arrive.
Beware of unsafe sites. The term 'https' should always precede any website address where you enter personal information or pay for anything online. The 's' stands for secure. If you don't see 'https,' you're not in a secure web session, and you should not enter data.
Sign up whenever you are given the option to Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode.
Always print out your order once it has gone through. You may need it as proof of payment at a later date.
For more money saving and personal finance tips, advice, news and videos, visit www.financedaily.co.uk
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