With Valentine’s Day promotions already in the stores and the cold days of
February fast approaching, even those of us who like to shop in person, find
that buying gifts as well as necessities online offers some major
advantages.
Although it does have a tendency to clutter up my mailbox,
signing up for coupon alerts at my “regular stores” (Stop & Shop, Staples,
Talbots) flags specials that I might otherwise have missed. You can also find
free coupons and free shipping deals at sites such as freeshipping.org. Stop & Shop’s Peapod
site is a great convenience in bad weather. There is a minimum order and a
charge, but they deliver right to your kitchen counter.
To make sure your
online experience is a happy one, here are a few guidelines to
follow:
-Make certain that you are ordering from a secure site. Look for
the small padlock icon usually found in the top right-hand corner of your
browser URL bar or look for the “s” in the address such as htps.
-Pay with a credit, not a debit card. I keep one, no-annual-fee card,
exclusively for online purchases.
-Know the return, refund, shipping and
handling policies. Print the terms and keep a copy. Some stores offer free
shipping if you use their charge card, but be sure to pay off the full amount as
their own cards often have a higher interest rate.
-Stick to your list.
It is easy to get distracted by super-cheap, final-sale offerings.
-Read
the reviews. They can be helpful to let you know if certain styles run small or
if the golden yellow actually has a green cast. For electronics or purchases you
need to assemble, it is good to know in advance how difficult it may be. You
might decide the trouble won’t be worth the effort.
-Knowing the return
policy can save you money, especially if you are not sure of your size. Some
stores offer a postage paid return. Locally, Land’s End merchandise can be
returned at a Sears store, and you can return all L.L. Bean purchases (including
new and gift items) to their outlet store in Orange.
-The Amazon website
is not just for books. They carry almost every product you can think of,
including cosmetics, shoes and pet supplies.
Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at 101 Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.
