Most People Pay Too Much When Shopping Online

While many people shop online to save money, even the savviest shoppers could save more. Four simple steps can help shoppers save big. Are you paying too much?

(PRWEB) February 2, 2005 -- There was a time when the notion of Internet shopping was novel and its future not-so-certain. Would this "web-thing" be just a passing fad? Would people trust it? And, would they really shop online in any meaningful numbers?

Those days have passed and any questions have been answered in a big way. Consumers spent $117 billion online in 2004, a figure which represents a 26 percent increase over 2003. One of the biggest motivating factors for consumers who shop online is simply to save money.

"There are really three primary reasons people shop online: convenience, variety, and savings", says Giving2Gether.org CEO Vince Martin. "And, I would say that price is the biggest. I mean, it's so easy to comparison shop just by clicking a mouse. Online retailers know this and they compete fiercely for the shopper's business."

But while many do in fact save money online, the majority of people could save even more.

It all starts with recognizing that not taking these steps is literally the same as giving away money. Once a consumer has made this slight adjustment in perspective, there are some simple things that can be done to create maximum savings:

By far, the easiest and most effective way to save is to sign up for a free site that offers cash back at multiple popular retailers. Once registered, these sites only require that you stop by first and click a link to visit retailers, rather than going to retailers' sites directly. This will generate rebates upward of 35 percent for you, which is deposited into your member's account.

There are several sites out there and they pay different amounts, so be sure to comparison shop and check for those that offer the highest rebates. Some sites pay several times more than popular cash back credit cards. Two that pay well are www.Giving2Gether.org and www.Ebates.com. These sites also include special offers, such as free shipping, promotional codes and other discounts to help you save further.

You'll also want to know how frequently they send checks and the minimum account balance required before they do so. You don't want to wait years for your rebates.

"I can honestly say that I'm not being biased when I tell people that this is the no-brainer in the bunch", asserts Martin. "We are literally giving away cash to our members simply for clicking their mouses. It couldn't be any easier."

The second step is to look into sites that offer discussion forums for online shoppers. There are entire communities dedicated to finding and sharing harder-to-find discounts, promotional codes, etc. You can post a request for the best deal on an item and have a network of savvy shoppers help you to locate it. Note that this might take a little effort, but it can pay off if you have the time. Two popular sites are www.slickdeals.net and www.dealofday.com.

Third, sign up for offers and newsletters from retailers that you like and trust. Many times, retailers will send you great offers by e-mail, especially around the competitive holidays. If you're concerned about spam, be sure to check the retailer's privacy policy to ensure that they won't sell your address (most reputable merchants don't). Also, consider using a special e-mail address just for these offers.

Fnally, be sure to check the total cost of your purchases when doing comparisons -- including shipping and handling. You should also be aware of a store's return policy or any restocking fees. A great bargain is no bargain if you get stuck with something unusable.

By combining these simple techniques, you'll find that you're suddenly saving big money. Keep a list of your savings and refer to your cash back account to see exactly how big your efforts are paying off. You'll be amazed at how those savings add up!

About Giving2Gether.org
Giving2Gether.org is the website that allows anyone to earn cash back and contribute to a nonprofit or school simply by shopping online as they normally do -- at no extra cost. The site launched in November, 2004 and features 159 popular retailers while providing support for 47 nonprofits and over 97,000 schools nationwide.

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