Fill Up On Online Shopping Tips

Shopping from the comfort of your couch. Finding the right size and color by lifting one little finger. Comparing deals and searching promo codes. Well, if it isn’t good ol’ St. Click, doing your holiday shopping online! While online shopping will soar to historic levels this unusual season, we’ve made a list of online holiday shopping tips to protect your budget, your credit, even your identity.

Black Friday starts before Halloween

It’s true. As big boxes and small local retailers alike go online, they will fight for your dollar. Great deals will start early, and experts predict they’ll continue through December to get you to keep spending. So make your list and stick to it.

Small and local vs. Big Box

Shopping local can also happen online. Even small boutiques have zhuzhed up their websites and, like restaurants, offer curbside pickup. You may spend a little more but give gifts that aren’t cookie cutter while supporting the local economy. Shopping local may also mean bargaining local. See what you like on their website? Call and negotiate the price with the store owners themselves, especially if you’re purchasing a big-ticket item. National brand stores, of course, make shopping for out-of-town friends and family turnkey – and also make it easier for them to return or exchange.

Warm up to product reviews

Product reviews are an authentic way to learn more about what you’re about to order. Details like quality, fit and construction that you can’t get online help you make informed purchases.

Compare prices

Be merry but be bright. Search the name of the product online to see who is offering a lower price. And always search for promo codes and online coupons for extra discounts. If an item goes on sale after you’ve bought it, call customer service and ask for a price match. Many retailers would rather give you the sale price than see you return the merchandise.

Credit card vs debit card vs store card

Many people prefer credit cards that offer cash-back programs or give automatic discounts at favorite stores. Check to see if your card comes with buyer protection in case of theft, damage or fraud. But beware the January bills that follow — and have a plan to pay them off. In fact, some people pay down their credit cards before the holidays to allow more spending room and less statement shock.

Debit cards are less expensive than credit cards as they don’t charge you interest or annual fees and, best of all, use cash rather than revolving debt. The discipline factor is great: Debit cards don’t let you spend more than you have in your account. And today more banks offer buyer protection with their debit cards.

If you primarily shop at one or two stores online, you might consider using their store card. These popular cards often come with no annual fees, huge first-purchase discounts, free shipping as well as rewards and rebates. But look closely at their annual percentage rates and low credit limits.

Point-of-sale financing

You’re about to pay and…bing! Up pops a logo like Affirm and Afterpay, promising easier monthly payments for your merchandise. The pros of third-party financing (think of them as short-term loans) are convenience, less cash out of pocket, smaller payments spread out over time and no credit cards — plus they don’t insist on perfect credit. The cons? You may take on a high interest rate, face a complicated return process and be tempted to overspend.

Is your information secure?

Before you enter your credit card number (and never enter your Social Security number!), learn how to protect your personal information online.

Delivery dilemma

If you’re shopping for a time-sensitive item, pay attention to the promised delivery date. Is it a guarantee or an approximate window? Is it coming from across the country or across an ocean? You may decide to pay extra for expedited shipping – and peace of mind. The postal service along with private delivery services like UPS and FedEx sometimes experience slowdowns, so leave enough padding in the schedule for a delay. Many retailers offer regular updates and tracking for your packages. If you know which day items will arrive and you can’t be home, you might want to ward off porch thieves by having a neighbor or family member put them in a safe place.

Many happy returns

Time to read the fine print. What is the retailer’s policy on exchanges and returns? Many e-commerce sites will email you a preprinted, prepaid label to make things easy. Know in advance whether or not they’ll take shipping costs out of your refund. Pay special attention to which carrier the label is for and whether you need to drop off at a designated spot. Finally, verify the window for returns — a few days’ delay can make a difference to you being reimbursed or not.

As you make your shopping list, use our list of tips and tricks

Just because it’s the holiday rush doesn't mean you should rush into online purchases you’ll regret later. Details about quality, pricing, payment options, delivery and returns matter. And smart shopping decisions will make your holidays that much happier.