AP9 SavingSmart Presents Online Shopping Tips That Pockets Will Love

Norwalk, CT (PRWeb) February 11, 2007 -- With the Internet becoming more affordable and faster, people all over the world are finding answers to a quick, convenient shopping experience by going online. AP9 SavingSmart, a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC, reminds consumers than in addition to ease and convenience, online shopping can also help them save some extra bucks.

A new trend for online retailers is to use their websites to sell out-of-season merchandise, which creates a big opportunity for bargain shoppers since items are usually sold at lower prices. Today, shoppers can buy almost anything and everything they can possibly want or need online, and for those who can't make up their mind, members of AP9 Saving Smart can log on to www.SavingSmart.com to purchase a wide variety of gift cards to nationally-known retailers at a 5% discount.

According to AP9 SavingSmart, the key to save on your next online shopping spree is to take advantage of the wonderful research tool that the Internet really is. From the comfort of home, visitors can go directly to the manufacturer's website and read product descriptions. Shoppers can easily find consumer reports or product ratings on items of interest. Consumers can even compare prices with a click of a button. It is also helpful to ask family and friends for recommendations, suggests AP9 Saving Smart.

But even after doing all that research and finding the best prices, there are other ways to keep saving. AP9 SavingSmart presents a few creative ways to save while shopping online:

Price-matching policy -- Many online stores are adopting the policy of matching the competitor's advertised price. This is an excellent alternative that gives consumers the opportunity to receive some money back if they find the same item for less. For example, Apple Inc. has this policy: If you find a better price for a Mac at another online retailer, you can email the link to your salesperson and Apple will meet or beat the price.

Look out for shipping charges -- Look for merchants that charge for the postage but not the handling. Many online stores charge an additional fee for "handling," which means paying for the placement of what you bought in the actual box. In many cases, the merchant offering the cheaper price may very well end up charging more than the competitor once the shipping and handling costs have been calculated. Look for merchants that will only charge for shipping, or better yet, take advantage of e-tailers offering free shipping promotions. There are plenty of online stores that offer free shipping if the price of the item or items is over a certain dollar amount. Remember that when comparing prices between online merchants, compare shipping rates as well.

Online coupons and special deals -- It is worth it to hunt for coupons and deals for online stores since the savings can really add up. During peak shopping months -- October and November -- online stores offer special deals. Many of these offers are available only online and not in stores.

Saving on gift buying -- Shopping for oneself can sometimes be stressful and shopping for someone else can be even worse. Buying gifts online can save both time and money. However, shipping a gift to a relative can be really expensive, even more expensive than the actual gift. Take advantage of free shipping promotions or select a gift card instead. In the end, it will lead to fewer stops for you (shopping and shipping available in the same place) and more money in your pocket.

This article was brought to you by AP9 SavingSmart.

About AP9 Saving Smart

AP9 SavingSmart is a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Adaptive Marketing is a category leader in both membership and loyalty programs, bringing value direct to consumers through an array of benefits in healthcare, discounts, security, personal property and personals. Members may access their benefits at SavingSmart.com. With broad online and offline distribution capabilities, Adaptive Marketing offers its corporate client partners effective tools to enhance market presence, strengthen customer affinity and generate additional value through programs such as AP9 Saving Smart.

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