Online shopping is a great way to avoid crowds and find exactly what you want from the comfort of your own couch. You can also find some pretty good daily deals too.
The only problem is that shipping and handling fees can add up and negate any savings you may have found.
Here are some easy strategies you can use to save money on shipping and handling fees when you’re shopping online.
* Search for “free shipping” deals. At Susies-Coupons, we tag each of the coupons that we publish on our Daily Deals blog with Free Shipping, so you can easily find all of the Free Shipping offers by clicking here. You can even subscribe to an RSS feed of Free Shipping offers, so you can be notified as soon as new Free Shipping offers are posted. .
* Ship to a local store instead. Sometimes you will find an item you need online, but it isn’t available locally. Some companies will charge shipping and handling fees for delivering that specific order to your home. But, if they have a local store, they may ship it there for free. You will have to go to the store to pick it up, but that’s a minor inconvenience when you think of all the money you can save. WalMart is particularly well-known for its Site-to-Store shipping specials. And BestBuy.com has a Store Pickup program that allows you to buy online, avoid shipping charges and pick up your order at the local store in as little as 45 minutes after you place the order.
* Comparison shop. When you’re comparison shopping, remember to add up the total amount including the shipping and handling fees. This isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Some companies will include shipping and handling in their prices, while others add it on to the total once you’re ready to check out. Add the totals including all associated fees before you decide which is the better deal.
* Shop ahead of time. One of the big conveniences of online shopping is that you can arrange to have your purchase delivered overnight. That’s a big stress reliever when you’ve forgotten to pick up a present for tomorrow’s birthday party, or when your printer runs out of ink and you need to print something yesterday. It can also add a lot of additional expense, though. Save money by planning ahead of time and purchasing well in advance. That way you can use the least expensive, and often the longest, shipping method.
* Make bulk orders. Some online stores will give you free shipping and handling if you order a certain amount. If you really need those purchases, it can be smart to order more so you qualify for free shipping. However, if you’re only adding items to your shopping cart to avoid shipping fees, you may have been better off paying the extra fees instead.
Online shopping is a great way to save time and money. By using these tips for saving on shipping and handling fees, you can save even more and still get the items you need.
