How to Get the Best Deals on the Internet

Getting the best deals online is just like getting the best deals elsewhere. It's a matter of knowing your options and seeking out the best deals based on price and value.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Internet Access
• Telephones
• Credit Cards And Loans

1. Investigate online merchants, auctions and classified ads to get an idea of your full range of options. Visit several sites for each type of resource.

2. Look for special online discounts and bargains offered by manufacturers and other vendors, but be sure to read the fine print.

3. Gather as much information as possible about a particular item or service before purchasing it, especially if you're buying previously owned goods.

4. Consider shipping costs and other extra charges, such as charges for returns.

5. Beware of sites that attempt to list the cheapest prices for items (so-called "shopping bots"). Sometimes these sites give priority in their lists to manufacturers that pay them, and sometimes they only list manufacturers that pay. Sometimes they list different sites, as well. Check out several shopping bots in addition to some other sources.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're shopping at a Web site that requests your credit card number, make sure the site is secure. See if you can call or mail in your credit card information if you have doubts about the security of the site.

• Many online auctions offer ratings of regular buyers and sellers provided by their previous customers or vendors. Use these ratings when choosing whether to buy from someone.

• Use product reviews and other consumer awareness resources to make sure you're getting the best merchandise for your money.

• For airline tickets, Web sites are just like travel agents; even if one site can book you a flight on multiple airlines, another site might have better prices because it has a special deal with a certain airline. You still need to put in the legwork.