Over the past several years, the internet has revolutionized the way we shop. Clothing from thousands of retailers around the world are all available for purchase at any hour of the day, for nearly any price. With this convenience comes the ability to search around and get the best possible bargains without running from store to store in a shopping mall. Here are several tips and tricks which will help ensure that you get the best bang for your buck while shopping in the convenience of your living room.
Isn’t it frustrating when you purchase that perfect sweater, jacket, or pair of jeans, only to have them go on sale two days later? When you sign up for emails from online clothing stores they often send you advance notice of sales and promotions, as well as virtual “coupons” that often help you avoid shipping and handling charges, or get a large percentage off the price. To avoid getting yourself on any unwanted spam lists, make a free email account such as Yahoo, or GMail and use this address to sign up for mailing lists. A separate email account also comes in handy while shopping online as a way to organize your purchases and the virtual receipts that you will be sent. JCrew, Neiman Marcus, Banana Republic, and Victoria’s Secret are just a small sampling of stores which send out promotional email alerting shoppers to excellent deals.
Why buy straight from an online department store or boutique when you can shop around with the click of a mouse? Sites such as www.Amazon.com offer the same product from dozens of retailers so you can always choose the best price of the bunch. Popular brands such as Lacoste, Juicy Couture, and Ugg Boots are all available on Amazon from several different sellers. A similar site is www.FatWallet.com which has a price browsing feature that lets you view prices by designer, item category (blazers, sweatshirts, jeans, etcetera), and price range. If you are into designer clothes, www.Bluefly.com is an excellent resource for finding just the right item. Bluefly has enormous discounts of up to 75 percent off on hundreds of designers such as Betsey Johnson, Christian Louboutin, and Ralph Lauren. In addition to their already heavily discounted prices, they run contests frequently for shopping sprees and other giveaways. When you enter these contests you are often given a discount on a purchase as a consolation prize if you do not win. They also offer a flat rate of $7.95 for U.S. ground shipping– which is a steal when making a hefty purchase.
There are dozens of sites on the internet which offer discount codes similar to the ones which retailers send in promotional emails. When you check out while shopping online, there is usually a space for a promotional code that can land you free shipping, a discount, or free gift. On the website www.CurrentCodes.com, there are discount codes for online stores such as Bloomingdale’s, Brooks Brothers, Fashion Bug and Delia’s. There are many more sites such as CurrentCodes.com, and it is worth taking an extra minute or two to look up a code and save some money.
Overall, the best way to save some money while shopping online is not to rush. You are already saving hours of frustration by avoiding the mall, so use that extra time to sign up for a few mailing lists, check out some different retailers for the best price, and peruse websites offering discount codes. Take advantage of these tricks and never leave home to shop again!
