How to Conquer the Downsides of Online Shopping

This is part two of a three-part series.

In my last post, I talked about 12 Reasons Online Shopping is Frugal. As with anything in life, there are drawbacks. Here are some disadvantages of buying on the Web and how to avoid them.

Shipping Costs

While most companies these days offer free or low cost shipping, we can still encounter considerable fees.  Here are some ideas for working around them:

Check the home page first

This sounds obvious, but if you don’t pay close attention it’s possible to miss an offer for free shipping.  Make sure you click through to get a code, if necessary, and apply it at checkout.

Search for promotion codes

The glory days of free coupon codes are waning, when you could lop $10, $20 or $50 off your purchase by searching for consumer-submitted promotion codes. Even though most stores have gotten wise to these unofficial coupon collectors, deals can still be had, as reader Stephanie points out in her comment to my last post.

Try Googling the name of your store and the words “coupon code” or “promotion code.” A list of sites with free codes will come up, such as my favorite, Retail Me Not.

Be aware of delivery rates

If you can’t get free shipping, try to find out how much delivery will cost early in the game.  Most reputable sites will be up-front about delivery rates (this information can often be found at the bottom of the home page).

Once you’ve spent some time carefully choosing items to put in your cart, you’re less likely to bail when you find out later that shipping costs are high.

How much is home delivery worth to you?

Is $7 worth your time, trouble, gas, or bus fare?  Is $10 or $15?  It might be helpful to decide on a ballpark figure of what you think is reasonable, so you don’t just blow off a high delivery charge because you’ve already invested the time and care in selecting the items.

Minimum Purchase Requirements for Discounts

This is the online equivalent of, “I’ve come all this way, so I’d better make it worth my while by buying more stuff.”  Except now it’s them, not you.

Amazon’s Save for Later

Amazon will give you free shipping for most purchases over $25. While this is a pretty low threshold, I find it usually takes two items to add up to $25 (a fact I’m sure that was well-planned-out by Amazon).

One way of working around this is to click “Save for Later” once you have something in your cart. The next time you buy something, move the older item up to your cart to qualify (and don’t forget to click on Free Super Saver Shipping in the Delivery Options section).

Keep running lists

To avoid the temptation of buying more, simply to meet the minimum, write down things you need and only go online when you think you can make the requirement.

Sometimes you can pad your cart at places like Staples with utilitarian things, such as facial tissues, that you’ll always need.

Wasteful Boxes

I feel guilty that home delivery often requires a box that would not have otherwise been used. I always recycle, but it would be better to not to have used the boxes in the first place.

Environmental toss-up?

What about the resources needed to keep a superstore open (vs. a warehouse)? It’s true that retail stores employ a lot of people, but just think of the energy and resources spent on display and decorations, parking lots and carts, electricity and cleaning, just to name a few.

Plus, I bet pollution and traffic is reduced by delivery trucks. As in the public transportation concept, one truck making the rounds uses less energy than many individual cars going back and forth.

You Have to Fork Over Your E-mail Address

I haven’t noticed any online store that sold my email address, as can happen with physical mailing addresses.  But once you buy something from an e-tailer, you can be sure they’ll be adding you to their e-mailing list.

Unsubscribe

Luckily it’s quick and easy to stop them by clicking on the magic Unsubscribe link at the bottom of their emails.  (However, if there is any doubt that the email is coming from a legitimate retailer, just delete rather than clicking a link that could be part of a phishing scheme.)

Web-Based Marketing Ploys

Just like regular stores with their credit card offers, e-tailers have their ways of roping you into programs or deals you didn’t really understand.

Just say no

All those offers for $100 of free products, $10 off your next purchase, free trials, and surveys can cost you time, hassle and sometimes even money.  I’ve fallen for my share of these, and one time I somehow got signed up for a service that began regularly deducting $10 from my credit card.

Shopping can be perilous! Just get in and out safely.

You Can’t Have It Right Now

While some online retailers like Diapers.com are super fast, in most cases you’ll wait three to ten days to receive your order.

As in saving money in general, planning ahead is the key:

• Purchase when you are running low, not completely out.
• Think about holiday gifts in early November.
• Keep a stash of favorite kid presents for birthday parties.

Shopping Online Is a Little TOO Easy

On the other hand, sometimes procrastination can work in your favor. If you’re excited to buy something, treat yourself like a kid (as I do) and offer the purchasing experience as a reward for getting something accomplished.

Try allowing yourself to shop only after everything else has been crossed off your list for the day, the week or even the month. With this tactic, you might find you get interested in other things or that you’re just too bushed to shop!

Either way, delaying is a good way to determine whether a need is real or more about the emotional lift.

Is Your Credit Card Safe?

Consumer fraud is pretty rare on the Web.  According to the Federal Trade Commission, only about 5% of complaints in 2008 were related to Web sales. If you want to be extra sure, here are some things you can do, according to Real Simple magazine’s “Savvy Strategies for Buying Online.”

• Once you’ve put something in your cart, look at the Web address to make sure it begins with “https” (the “s” stands for secure”).
• Use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards users are only liable for $50 of unauthorized charges, whereas debit card users can be responsible for as much as $500.
• Register with PayPal or Google Checkout, services which act as middle-men, so you don’t have to give your credit card information to retailers.
• If you don’t want to use your credit card at all, try the “Bill Me Later” option. You supply your address, birthday and last four digits of your social security number to verify your identity; then you are billed by snail-mail or e-mail.

No Tactile Experience

As M points out in her comment to my last post, the sensory experience is sacrificed when shopping with your computer.  Because you can’t see and feel a product in real life, sometimes you end up with something that’s not right. Returning things is getting easier and easier, but it still can be a hassle, especially if you have to go to the post office.

The most comfortable dressing room

One nice thing about shopping online is that your home is your dressing room.  The problem is that your dressing room is hundreds of miles away from all the other sizes.

Break out the measuring tape

I find it very surprising that apparel is among the top 5 things that people buy online.  It’s hard enough to find a pair of pants that fits in person, much less long distance!

Measuring oneself is so un-fun, but it’s part of the trade-off.  If you don’t have a tape measure, you can use a ribbon or a string to measure yourself, then lay it on a ruler.

Shop sites that have fit calculators

That said, I was actually able to find a bathing suit from LandsEnd using all their fit information.  Other clothing stores where you can specify length, rise (at the waist, below the waist, etc.), and even over-all cut include Eddie Bauer and Victoria’s Secret.

Another way of getting more information is talking to a store agent via Live Chat, which is like talking to someone without having to pick up the phone.

What about Supporting Local Businesses?

In a comment to my last post, writer Nancy Shohet West points out that shopping on the Web usually means you are neglecting small businesses in your area.

Why independent shops are lovable

If you are going to shop in person, why not support a family-run or locally-owned business?  Stores that are not part of a corporate chain…

• are usually run by people who are passionate and knowledgeable about what they do.
• save us time by carefully selecting unique, quality products in an overwhelming world of goods.
• add color and personality to our streets and towns, thereby encouraging strolling and socializing.
• help our neighborhoods thrive.  According to Sustainable Industries, every $1 you spend at a local business adds $3 to your local economy.

But how can we support their efforts while not giving up the convenience of shopping on the Web?

Compromise:  Online for superstores, in-person for local shops

While buying everything at little shops might be a luxury you can’t afford, Nancy suggests identifying a few independent shops in your area that you want to support  – a bakery, a book shop, a hardware store – and favor them over online competition.

The 3/50 Project, a new organization committed to “saving the brick and mortars our nation is built on,” suggests the simple equation:

• Frequent 3 brick and mortar stores you don’t want to see disappear
• Spend $50 a month in these locally-owned independent businesses

This is the second part of a three-part series.  The first article covered ways that online shopping can save you money and make life better, and the last article recommended resources for finding product reviews, price comparison sites, and reputable retailers.

What do you think about the drawbacks of online shopping? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

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You also might like:

1. 12 Reasons Online Shopping is Frugal
2. 10 Ways to Save Money Shopping Online
3. How Online Research Can Pay Off Big Time
4. How to Save Time and Money on Everyday Household Goods with Alice.com
5. Take a Bite out of Big Apple Food Costs (at BabyBites)