Tis' the season of gifts.
This year most of my presents will be handmade (surprise, suprise:) and the others I'll get online to save time. Before heading to my preferred destinations I asked expert online shopper Jennifer Handshew to give me some advice. Jennifer's cash and time-saving tips are below!
photo: Lesley Ware © 2010
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Five Tips for Hassle-free Online Holiday Shopping
Despite the fact that online shopping has grown exponentially, shoppers are still wary on buying certain merchandise for fear of going through the inconvenience of returns. I am here to tell you to GET OVER IT! You can truly find some amazing bargains and ensure fewer returns, if you keep the following tips in mind.
1. Online is the best place to find shoes
Where else can you browse through an inventory of 5,000 or more shoes in less than an hour?
2. It’s all in the numbers to find the perfect-fitting shoe
Go a half inch lower for anything over three inches. With platforms, subtract the platform height from the heel height to get the shoe’s true heel height. For boots, know how tall you want your boots and your calf circumference (measure the largest part of your calves). Also, know what type of material you want and what material you are buying.
3. Shoulders and arms guarantee a perfect fitting top, sweater and outerwear
Your shoulder-to-shoulder (top of shoulders across the chest) and sleeve (top of shoulder to wrist) measurements will guarantee a perfect fit every time. To get your merchandise’s measurements, speak with customer service.
4. Always look for a promotional code
A majority of the time, retailers have some type of promotion. Go to your browser and type in the retailer’s name and “promotional code” or “promo code”. Chances are you will get at least $5 to even more than $50 off your merchandise and/or free shipping.
5. Take advantage of sales – even if you missed them
Most stores have a 15-day policy to ensure you get the best price. Meaning, if you bought something that was not on sale and within 15 days, it goes on sale, you can get the difference back! For online sales, you need to call customer service
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Jennifer Handshew is a (self-proclaimed) expert online shopper, contact her at jhandshew@msn.com.
