Tips for Shopping on Amazon
If you’re shopping for a bargain online, one of the first places to look is Amazon.com. But beware: Not everything that appears to be a great deal at Amazon is such and, just as in the offline world, it pays to consider the details.
Here are some great tips to keep in mind the next time you’re navigating the virtual aisles at Amazon.
- Look for what you want in the bargain bins, found through a link named “Today’s Deals” at the top of every Amazon page. On the Today’s Deals landing page, you’ll find the Best Deals section loaded with bargains in every category. On Fridays, find one-day discounts on even more products by clicking on the Friday Sale link at the top of the Today’s Deal’s page, where it’s adjacent to two more links worth using: those to Amazon’s Outlet Center and Warehouse Deals pages.
- Don’t assume that any of the prices are the lowest available anywhere, especially if the seller is a third-party store. We've seen stores on Amazon sell products for as much as twice the retail price, often for products that are outdated or even obsolete. Check other retailers’ prices, and prices at specialty websites—Argos or Comet, for example.
- If you find an item at Amazon but it’s out of stock, or you’re hoping the price will fall later, consider Buylater. It’s an extension for the Firefox web browser that adds a “Buy This Later” button to Amazon pages and, after you click it, sends you email or a Tweet when your item is back in stock or the price changes.
- Look carefully at who is selling and who is shipping the item you want. An item may be shipped by Amazon on behalf of another seller with a returns or exchange policy that is different from Amazon’s—and not to your liking. Items that are both sold and shipped by Amazon will be tagged as eligible for “Super Saver Shipping” or for free shipping via “Amazon Prime” (a pre-paid premium membership plan). And check out a seller's feedback rating before buying. If it has very few reviews or a satisfaction rating less than 90%, you may want to take your business elsewhere.
- Super Saver shipping is available only if the total value of everything you’re buying at once is £25 or more.
- With the new Amazon credit card customers can get a £10 gift voucher by earning 1,000 Loyalty Points (at 1 Loyalty Point for every £1 spent at Amazon.co.uk and 1 Loyalty Point for every £2 spent elsewhere³). Apply online for the card, spent £25 with the card within 60 days of opening the account, and you'll get 1000 Loyalty Points and you will receive a £10 Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate².
- Always pay off in full, or the 16.9% APR interest will dwarf the gain.
- Get a cashback credit card. You can earn up to 5% every time you spend by using a cashback credit card, although always ensure you pay it off in full to avoid interest charges. Those with an MBNA card can get a 7% discount when they buy Amazon online gift vouchers worth £100 or more from MBNA Lifestyle.
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