I was an early adopter of online shopping. In 1997, the online shopping experience was for pioneers – those willing to travel unknown virtual lands in search of bargains and products unavailable at home.

Now, everyone benefits from shopping online. It’s pretty safe – identity theft has been proven to occur from on-site businesses and other means far more often than from online sources – and there’s no denying that online shopping is convenient. You can find you want, no matter where you live. I’m going to tell you how to find it easier and usually cheaper.

Tip 1: Online Coupons and Sales.

Not everyone is an avid coupon-clipper. I’m not. But I always Google for a coupon before buying online. Why? Because it’s amazing how often you’ll find a discount, even from obscure stores or for odd products. Discount websites that list lots of coupons are a great place to start. But you shouldn’t rely on those entirely, since no website can keep up with every coupon out there. You want to Google twice: Once for the store name and the word “coupon”; and once for the product name and the word “coupon”. Invest those few seconds searching, and you’ll be rewarded with a lot of savings!

Online sales are frequent and usually worth your time. To find sales online, Google the name of the item or store you’re interested in, along with one of these terms: “sale”; “clearance”; “outlet”; or whatever special sales term your preferred store uses.

What is a good discount online? I suppose this depends upon the person; but a 10% off coupon is not worth my time. It is so easy to find what you want at 50% off that I usually won’t shop until the price hits that point. Of course, if you love it, buy it; you’ll make up the savings somewhere else.

Tip 2: Refurbs.

If you like high end gear but have a low end budget, refurbs are the way to go. What is a refurb? A product that the original purchaser returned to the seller. Maybe it didn’t work; or the purchaser didn’t know how to operate it; or couldn’t really afford it. Occasionally these are used items traded in for newer models. Whatever the reason, the returned product is carefully examined, repaired if needed, and then made available to you at an incredible discount.

It’s understandable that many people would hesitate to purchase refurbished equipment, especially online. I took the risk years ago, and ever since, I’ve never been disappointed and have saved huge amounts of money on top quality gear. Besides the incredible savings available, there is an additional secret benefit to purchasing refurb. A trained technician has personally examined the product, and repaired it if needed. New products don’t receive that level of individual quality control before being put on the market (which is why so many new products have glitches). So, strange as it may seem, you are likely taking less risk on having a problem with the refurb product, which has been checked, than with a new product that came off the assembly line unchecked.

Tip 3: Try the Little Guy.

One of the wonders of the Internet is that it has created a virtual global “village marketplace”. Many of the individuals running niche businesses are trustworthy, dedicated to making their online business a success by pleasing customers (try to find that mentality in bigger businesses anymore). Are you the type that likes to have unique products, perhaps handmade or customized? Are you sick of giving gifts that everyone has seen before? Then try one of the niche boutique shops online.

Tip 4: Check Reviews.

Bless our fellow Internet users who post reviews of online businesses they’ve shopped with, and products they’ve purchased. Google the name of the business, or product, with the word “review”. Then spend a few minutes making sure you really want to shop with that store or buy that product by hearing the word from those who went before you. Many times I’ve been redirected to a better product or shop this way. Take advantage of this great online resource offered free – and be sure to post reviews yourself!

Tip 5: Check the Shipping Policy.

When deciding which online store you should buy your product from, be sure to look at what each store will charge for shipping (and anything else, like the nebulous “handling”). While the product price at one store may be lower, the overall cost to you after shipping (and taxes, where relevant) may end up being higher.

Tip 6: Be a Foreign (Virtual) Traveler.

I have shopped online from several nations other than the U.S.A., very happily. For example, I buy all of my eyeglasses from an online shop in Hong Kong (optical4less.com). Why? Because the quality far exceeds what is available locally at 1/6 the price, and I can customize each pair to a ridiculous degree. For what I’d pay to purchase one pair of glasses here, I can have six pairs, each for a different outfit or use. Canada often has goods much cheaper than here. Customs and shipping can be an issue, but I’ve found this to be no problem and at the most, the delivery can be a bit slow coming from places like India. But so what? Every Shopping Girl wants unique products at a good price. If the Internet can take you shopping in faraway lands, then why not go?

Tip 7: Go Tech.

I would never buy tech gear like computers anywhere but online. Why? Because the prices are awesome, you can find a wide variety of refurbs, and I’ve found the shipping and product reliability to be great. It’s much easier to compare specs online. And, while you’re browsing, you can quickly search for reviews to help you decide. The only tech gear that I would not purchase online are speakers. (As an aside for audiophile Shopping Girls, to get great deals on high-end speakers – and other audio gear – go to your local top-level used audio shop, and listen to the speakers on-site. )

Tip 8: Keep Lean.

Your system, not you…. Don’t download any “helpful” toolbars, shopping search “assistants” or similar spyware. I’ve also never found any benefit to signing up for special deals at online stores. If you do, usually all that happens is they start sending you pointless emails every day. You can speed up your online shopping speed by closing any unnecessary programs. However, I recommend having several browser tabs open while shopping, because you’ll want to be able to check for reviews and discounts while still leaving the store site open.

Tip 9: Managing Details.

This is a bit of a promotional plug, but I highly recommend Microsoft OneNote to online shoppers (and well, it’s awesome for college students and all sorts of other people too). Why would I plug software? Because as you shop online, you’ll be glad to have an easy way to save your order confirmations, notes on products you’re considering, and other snippets. OneNote is mind-numbingly easy to use. For example, you can simply “print” an order confirmation to OneNote and it will automatically save a screen-shot of the order page. You can select all-copy-paste, and not only will you get everything including all graphics in the right places, you’ll get live links and a note stating which website you were on, the date and time. Very handy for later reference and you don’t have to clutter up your desk with a bunch of printouts. The virtual notebook format allows you to create a “notebook” for any special shopping project, say a “Holiday Shopping List”, with a tab for each person, where you can paste ideas, their sizes or wishes, and receipts as you go. I’m sure that there are similar software products offered by others, if you don’t or can’t use Microsoft. And true, you can accomplish these things without specialized software; but the speed, convenience, and organizational options really make this a plus in your shopping arsenal.

Tip 10: Take a Chance!

Now, I don’t advise risky shopping. If a website looks amateurish or questionable in any way to me, I won’t shop there. When I advise you to take a chance, I mean on a new or different product. The Internet brings the world to your door. Always wondered how you’d look in a sari? Buy one – why not? Even if you don’t wear it, you’ll find that lovely length of hand-woven silk useful for something. How about kitchen equipment to cook ethnic cuisine, like a cast-iron wok identical to those actually used in China? Or a vintage hat from a charming virtual boutique? The Internet makes shopping enjoyable again; so enjoy yourself!

10 GREAT ONLINE SHOPS, BY DEVON DRAIG ©2008

I’ve shopped online since 1997. I’ve tried every type of online store imaginable. Over time, I’ve discovered a few that have never let me down.

1. Amazon.com

Amazon is amazing. They have everything, and almost always for the lowest possible price. They also offer free shipping in many instances. Amazon’s free shipping is far superior to paid shipping at any other store I’ve used. They ship remarkably fast, pack well, and never seem to screw up any orders. The final benefit that puts Amazon at the top of the list is their 30-day price guarantee. If they lower the price of your item within 30 days after purchase, just email them the details and they will refund the difference, no muss, no fuss. Since they frequently change prices, this feature really pays off.

No matter what I’m shopping for, before I purchase it somewhere else, I always check Amazon. Nearly every time, Amazon ends up being cheaper, and usually the item will qualify for free shipping.

2. Flamingoworld.com

This website lists store discounts and sales. Over time I’ve come to prefer Flamingoworld to similar sites because it has a fast layout with breakdown categories, and it stays up-to-date on the deals. The forums are also good. Posters alert you to great online bargains ($9 cashmere sweaters with free shipping?!?). I still always Google for coupons, since no website can stay up on every deal; but this one seems to be the most reliable.

3. TigerDirect.com

For discount tech gear like computers, this site often has the best price (sometimes beaten by Amazon); and they offer a lot of top quality refurbs. Their spec information is detailed, the reviews are helpful, they hold many sales on top of their already low prices, and they ship competently. Computer geeks often shop at Newegg.com, however over the years I’ve never found Newegg’s prices to beat TigerDirect or Amazon, especially once you’ve calculated in Newegg’s high shipping charges. I only had one minor mix-up at TigerDirect and, when I called, they immediately handled it with no grief.

4. JustForRedheads.com

This is a specialty niche boutique online store that sells cosmetics and hair products specifically designed and suited for redheads. The products are great! The packaging is very well thought out, especially the credit-card sized compact which has one of everything you could possibly need in it – by the far the best do-it-all compact I’ve ever seen in my life. They have monthly sales and when I’ve purchased, they’ve sent me exceptionally nice free gifts.

While I realize that not everyone is a redhead, I mention this site to point out that, with a little web searching, you can find small companies like this that have addressed the needs of a specific customer base. If you have problems finding cosmetics right for you, look around online and see what you can find; you may be as enthused as I was to finally discover products that really work for you.

5. DearbornClassics.com

Car enthusiasts have trouble finding parts to re-build their dream machine. Dearborn Classics is an old standby that has a very well-designed website for finding every little nut and bolt you might possibly need. They have replicas and “new old stock”, along with some fun items like hats and T-shirts. This is the kind of company that can make you decide to go ahead and try a re-build, since you won’t have to spend every weekend at the junkyard looking for parts.

6. Drugstore.com

Another reliable standby that’s been around for a long time (in Internet years). This place is especially great for those of us who like to stock up on things. They have sales all the time, freebies, and a wide variety of products. They carry some of the harder-to-find brands that you otherwise might need to hunt up in a health food store or boutique. Their shipping is competently handled and I’ve always been very happy dealing with this company.

7. Vistaprint.com

I can’t quite figure out how this company stays in business, with all the freebies and great deals they offer. With a place like Vistaprint.com available, there’s no reason not to have custom business cards, stationery, and other paper goods made up. Vistaprint’s free business cards aren’t bad at all – I use them to make cards with just my email address – and creating a custom business card is very affordable. When I go on job interviews or otherwise hand them out, people are always struck by how beautiful and distinctive my cards are. That pay-off is worth it for such a low price. I had matching business stationery made for even more impact. They will retain your personal logo information on their website, making re-ordering easy. You can design everything with their easy online design tools, or upload your own designs. They make other products like promotional goods, mugs, T shirts, thank you cards, business magnet signs and stickers for company cars, etc. They produce and ship fast, securely, and at a reasonable cost. I’ve used them for years, as does everyone else I know. 8. AVG (Free.Grisoft.com)

This company sells one thing – the best anti-virus software out there. What’s even more amazing is that they offer a freeware version of the software. This product has out-tested the big anti-virus sellers such as McAfee and Norton – it does a better job – and it doesn’t cause endless horrific system problems like those other programs, either. It does its thing and otherwise stays out of your way. Ask any technie person you know and they will tell you that they use AVG. You might want to use it too, especially if you find your computer moving at a snail’s pace and barfing a lot due to your McAfee or Norton anti-virus software.

9. Novica.com

National Geographic’s international shopping website is not the cheapest. But if you want to shop for beautiful, handcrafted items from artisans you can learn about on the site, this is the place to do it. The ethical free-trade arrangement does not take unfair advantage of the artists. When I’ve shopped here, I had direct contact with the artists and felt assured that my purchased items were really handmade by those people. The shipping can be very slow, since the items are coming from foreign lands; but that’s not really a problem. You can find good bargains here, but some of the prices are on the high side.

10. Your College Website

If you are in college (or know someone who is), be sure to familiarize yourself with your college’s website. Many colleges have arrangements with companies offering great deals on things like computers, software, or travel. For example, one college offers software licenses for MS Office Pro for only $49. You may also be able to get things like art supplies, clothing, food and entertainment like concert tickets cheap.