by Ginger Kazay

Created on: April 18, 2007   Last Updated: April 24, 2007

Everyone loves a bargain; so, here are some tips to help you hunt down those bargains on-line:

1) Misprints - I just got 4 of the 2007 George Washington dollars for $2.95 and that includes shipping and handling. That's right - $4.00 worth of dollar coins for less than $4.00. The company made an error in their ad; I got the coins at the price listed in the ad and the ad has now been changed. You have to take the chance and actually order the item at the misprinted rate. If you "inquire" they will see it is a misprint and will usually tell you it was an error and not let you have it at that low of a price. Once your order is placed though, they cannot charge you more or you can take them to court and/or ruin their reputation.

2) Comparison shop - make sure you have time to comparison shop; it may look like a great deal now; but, you may find an even better deal with just a few more minutes of surfing. Bookmark your deals so you can go back easily; if they really were the best deal you don't wan to waste more time finding them again

3) Don't forget the shipping and handling charges. Some companies charge almost as much for shipping and handling (or more) than the item is worth. Some companies have a flat rate they charge for an order that is over a certain dollar amount; some even offer FREE shipping if you purchase a certain amount. This can make a big difference between sites. If an item is selling for $70 and comes with free shipping; it is a better deal than a site that sells the same item for $62 and charges $12.95 for shipping.

4) Check in their "sale", "closeout", or "clearance" sections. Sometimes you can get some real bargains for just pennies on the dollar.

5) Buy bulk or wholesale. You may not need it now; but, a lot of things can be used later, given as gifts, or even resold. I once got six brand new bras, all the same size, for the price of two purchased separately. I only needed one at the time; but, that was almost one for every day of the week, they don't go bad or spoil, and they were all my size.

6) Used and refurbished items can be great buys. Make sure you know the seller and what the warranties, guarantees, and return policy are. This can really lower the price on items you are going to be using yourself.

7) On-line coupon codes - These can save you a flat amount or a percentage of the cost. Check them out. They are worth the search.

8) Expiration dates - just like local stores, when an item is approaching it's expiration date, you can get some deep discounts. They would rather sell it at cost than not sell it at all.

9) Auction sites - you all have heard of ebay; but they are not the only auction site. They are just the biggest. Smaller auction sites don't have as many sellers OR bidders. So if you are being outbid on ebay; try a smaller site. ubid.com is a good site for new electronics and there are a lot of specialized auction sites available.

10) If you use Paypal, each month they have a list of sites and businesses that give a discount if you use your Paypal account.

These tips should help you find some great on-line bargains.

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