Online Shopping to the Rescue this Holiday Season

Give great gifts this holiday season - without sacrificing too much time or money. Today, online shopping is as easy as firing up your computer.

Cheyenne, WY (PRWEB) October 10, 2003 - Nobody likes the crowds that will forever be a part of holiday shopping. You can avoid them -- and its as simple as firing up your computer. If you know where to look, you can shop wisely, saving time, money, and possibly a headache or two:

Watch for specials -- Just as you watch for sales flyers for your favorite retail stores, online malls" also offer specials such as free shipping, end of season sales, free gift wrap, coupons, sweepstakes and more. Almost all online department stores offer to send emails that will alert you to upcoming web only" specials. While nobody wants bombarded with marketing emails, you can sign up in the fall, watch for discounts or special offers until your shopping is done, then request removal.

Think clearance - Pare your holiday shopping budget by visiting the bargain" section of online stores. Many, such as SierraTradingPost.com, offer limited quantity or last year's items at greatly reduced prices. For example, everything in Sierra's online Bargain Barn" is marked down at least 60%. Products range from name brand shoes and camping gear to clothing and luggage. Coldwater Creek has Outlet at the Creek," which sells art, accessories, jewelry, apparel, and more all discounted up to 70 percent. Bookmark your favorite sites and take a closer look, because most do offer clearance bargains.

Use free online resources - If youd rather not receive email specials, regularly check with consumer-friendly websites such as www.thatscheap.com, www.shopping.com, www.epinions.com, www.secret-coupons.com, www.myconsumerguide.com, or www.pricegrabber.com. These sites post coupons specifically for online shoppers, categorize products by cost for easy budgeting, alert you to those aforementioned online specials, compare prices at different retail sites, and recommend online merchants based on consumer ratings.

Use common sense -- Apply the same rules to online shopping that you would to mall hopping. Start early so you can take advantage of sales and special discounts. Often offers such as free shipping" do come with restrictions. If you wait until the last minute to order, an offer of free shipping will do you no good.

For more information contact:
Kim Swanson, Media Relations Coordinator
Sierra Trading Post
307-775-8369

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