A steal of a price from an online store can quickly get bloated with added charges and fees. These tips will help you dodge paying those extra dollars, plus track down additional savings.
- Frugal folks don't pay for shipping. Some online stores, such as Outpost.com, never charge for shipping; others offer frequent free-shipping specials.
- When comparing online merchants, watch the bottom line. It can make sense to pay a few dollars more for a product at a store that doesn't charge shipping fees. If you must pay for shipping, choose the "slow boat" method rather than relatively expensive express delivery.
- Sales-tax laws are complex, but they can work to your benefit. Ordering from a company that doesn't have an office in your state generally means you won't have to pay sales tax. This can mean saving hundreds of dollars on a big-ticket item.
- A few sites charge handling fees, in addition to shipping charges, for orders less than a certain amount. If a site demands such a ransom simply because your total is under, say, $200, shop elsewhere.
- Beware of the "upsell." Upsell is a sellers' term for offering additional products after you've agreed to buy something. Sometimes upsells are helpful; for instance, a site might offer media after you've added a CD burner to your shopping cart. Other times, the offers are just overpriced and useless. Do you really need a "free" surge protector for a $4 handling fee?
- Be on the lookout for mail-in rebates. You could be reimbursed quite a few dollars in exchange for a few minutes' time spent filling out forms.
- Look for student discounts. Some online sellers, particularly software sites, provide academic discounts for students and school faculty. These promotions are often buried on the site, so check the customer-service areas of your favorite sites to see if they offer deals for starving students.
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