online shopping 101

I've always liked shopping online, but I don't think I actually became good at it until I started working at my current job. Now I know all the little tricks to finding the best deals and all the websites that usually have them. So, I wanted to share some of my tips, as well as some of my favorite sites, with you.

Tip 1: Always look for coupons!
Everyone should know about retailmenot.com, and if you don't, you really need get on this website and check it out. A lot of sites have random 10%-20% off coupons that people have found. What is nice about this site is that users actually post their coupons, so there is usually quite a big list of options for you to choose from. Also, some of the users post sales to the site, usually called 'shopping tips', where they share how they saved money. Before buying anything from a website, I definitely suggest looking up the site on retailmenot.com first; just to make sure you're saving as much as possible.

Tip 2: Google
Always type your product into Google and then hit the shopping button at the top of the page. You can then sort the results by price and know whether or not you're getting the best deal. Other great resources for price comparisons include: shopping.com, pricegrabber.com or amazon.com. Always be sure to be as specific as possible when looking for prices of a certain thing, include the item or model number when possible. This is also a great resource if you aren't looking for a specific model or brand, because if you type in 'Madden Girl Boot', you will get a list of all boots and you can sort them by price and begin your shopping that way.

Tip 3: Check shipping charges
Going along with checking for price comparisons, also always check for shipping price comparisons. What is nice about Google Shopping is that you can sort your list by 'base price' or 'total price', which includes the tax and shipping. While one store may have an excellent base price, their tax and shipping fees could make it more expensive that somewhere else. Another great trick is to look for places that offer flat rate shipping, like Overstock.com that boasts $2.95 shipping on every order (and TRUST ME, they mean it. It's $2.95 for a pair of gloves or for a sofa!).

Tip 4: Read the return policy
When buying online, you should always have an escape plan. A lot of people are hesitant to purchase something they haven't tried on, which is smart. Whenever you buy anything online, make sure you check the return policy. If you aren't sure about an item and the website charges for returns, you might want to rethink whether or not you want to purchase that item from that particular site, or if it would be worth it to spend a few extra bucks at another site and have the option of returning it without being penalized with a fee.

Tip 5: Read product ratings
Most sites include their product ratings if people have reviewed them, however don't be scared to do a little more research. Again, type the name into Google Shopping and read some of the reviews that show up on other sites. Amazon.com is always great for this too. Not only do a lot of stores give star ratings, but some clothing stores have even started rating apparel on fit (for example, this dress at Macy's has ratings on fit along with customer ratings).

Some of my favorite online shopping sites:
6pm.com: Their daily deals our OUTRAGEOUS. I'm talking top-brand/designer items up to 75% off! Check out this kensie tank I just found on sale from $78 to $35.10.

Even better, they have flat rate shipping at $6.95 for ever order.
 
Smart Bargains: I shop here more for housewares (think sheets, towels, curtains, etc.), but they also have some great prices on designer apparel as well. Plus, they do a lot of free shipping on select items, and take an extra 25%-40% off certain items, frequently.
 
asos.com: This is actually a UK retailer, but I stumbled across them at work recently and love some of their stuff. Check out this headband on sale from $10.11 to $3.97. 

Plus, I know from now until I think 8/20, they are offering free shipping on any order with no minimum. Just beware that their sizes are UK and not US, so you might have to do a little research to find your size.
 
Ulta.com: I think its pretty obvious how much I love Ulta. I mention them in almost every post. Right now they have $3.50 off any $10 purchase (there are some brand exclusions) with code 40063 and are also giving away a free 15-piece Ulta cosmetic set with any $17.50 purchase. I highly recommend you take advantage of this, it will allow you to try the Ulta store brand if you haven't yet, which can save you a lot of money because a lot of items are less than department store brands.

Other notable mentions:
ShoeMall.com (through 8/17, use code BK2SCHOOL to get 20% off your order)
Piperlime.com
shopGoldyn.com (new customers can get an extra 30% off with code GOLDYN30)
buy.com (great for electronics or kitchen items)

Anyone else have a favorite online store? Any tips you would like to add to getting great deals? Has anyone bought anything online recently that they are super proud of? Share!