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Shopping Online Is A Risk
I was watching tv the other day and I say a disturbing story of a scam artist, (whose name I won’t say as he deserves no more attention). To sum it up, this guy was like the King Catfish of online stores. He would create an online eyeglass store, get money from people shopping online, and not give them what they paid for. And as an added kick to the gut to his victims, he would harass, even threaten them by phone or email if they complained to the Better Business Bureau or in online reviews. The scam artist was arrested and sent to prison but was back to his old tricks when he got out. He created more online stores, and when they were shut down, he would create new online stores to replace them. When the media covered his antics, he made a mockery of the media and his customers by bragging that they were giving him more hits to his website.
Watching this story, I realized so many people shop online, but they don’t do it right. Yes! There is a right way to shop online. Being the Deal Finding Diva, you know I do a lot of shopping online. Therefore, I know many tricks of the trade. I not only know how to save money, but I do it without being scammed.
I want you all to know how to be smart when shopping online. I’ve put together this list of three things that can help you save money while protecting yourself when shopping online.
1. Check Reviews
Before I shop on with a website I’ve never purchased from, I always check the reviews for the website. It’s as easy as doing a Google search for “(website name) Reviews.” Keep in mind that some websites will post fake reviews so, be wary of reviews that are too perfect. If there are only pros, and no cons in a review, then it may be a fake review. I do know that not every company can please every customer, so negative reviews are to be expected. But if their list of reviews are riddled with negative comments, especially those reviews that say things like “I never received my item,” then stay away!
If a store has an overall rating of four or five stars, and the reviews seem authentic, then I will shop on that website. Just use your good instincts and remember, if it doesn’t seem right, then don’t shop on that site.
2. Use Promo Codes
If I pay full price for an item, it’s a PROBLEM. Before completing a website purchase, check for promotion (promo) or coupon codes. My favorite go-to for promo codes is Retailmenot. That site makes online shopping easy by allowing you to easily input the store name in the search bar and they will let you know if there are promo codes available. Plus, they often have cash back offers for online or in-store purchases. The cash back can be put right into your Paypal account.
CouponCabin is another good place for promo codes. They also have cash back. You can cash out after you reach $7. And they have a variety of payment options such as Paypal, gift card, check, direct deposit, and more.
Promo codes that are specifically created for you can be obtained by signing up for websites email lists. Sometimes they will send you a coupon instantly, and sometimes you may have to wait until they feel like being nice and send promo codes out. If you’re in a crunch, and none of the above methods work to get you that promo code you’re looking for, do a simple Google search of “(website name) promo code” or “(website name) coupon code.” I’ve saved lots of money using this method.
3. Use Online Rebate Sites
I’ve spoken to many people who have told me they thought online rebate sites were a scam. Not the ones I use! It’s absolutely true, you can shop and get a percentage of your money back just for clicking on a link.
How it works:
- Sign up with a rebate site such as Ebates, Lemoney, BeFrugal, or Upromise (Upromise will put the money into a college savings account for you or your kids, or you can opt for a check). Most will give you a cash bonus for signing up, so sign with all four. It’s free money!
- Use the rebate site to link you to the store website where you plan to shop by entering the store name in the search bar.
- The rebate site will open a new window for you to shop on the website you requested.
- Shop and checkout as you normally would. Whatever rebate was offered for your purchase amount will be applied to your account on the rebate site.
Be patient when waiting for your cash back. They usually take weeks before they make the funds available. While my favorite one is Ebates, they send payments every 3 months (February, May, August, and November). But by the time the payout comes, I usually have shopped on several sites and that rebate is fat! For my normal Christmas shopping, I earned over $200 back. Keep in mind that most of these sites will offer bonus cash back at various times of the year, especially around the holidays.
So, the moral of the story: You’re spending your money, get some of that money back!
Remember these tips when you are shopping online. You can thank me later. LOL!
Get more great online shopping tips here!
