Emily Ruane, HuffPost's Managing Editor of Shopping, shares her expertise on mastering online shopping just in time for the holiday rush. She discusses essential safety tips for navigating the web, ensuring your personal information stays secure. Ruane reveals savvy strategies for maximizing savings, from cashback sites to abandoned cart deals. The conversation highlights the importance of supporting minority-owned businesses and offers practical advice to avoid common online shopping pitfalls. Tune in for a wealth of insights that will transform your shopping experience!
Using public Wi-Fi for online shopping poses risks, so ensure you shop on secure websites with HTTPS and a padlock symbol.
Shopping tools like Rakuten and Honey can enhance your online shopping by providing discounts and cash back effortlessly.
Creating a prioritized list before big sales events helps resist impulse buys and ensures you secure the best deals.
Deep dives
Maximizing Online Shopping Safety
Using public Wi-Fi for online shopping poses significant risks, such as exposure to potential hackers who can steal personal information. To ensure safety, it is advisable to shop only on trusted websites, identifiable by secure URLs beginning with HTTPS and accompanied by a padlock symbol. Prior to making a purchase, consumers should also do their homework on the website, checking for a legitimate social media presence and a valid customer service contact. This vigilance can help avoid falling victim to scams, especially on less known sites.
Utilizing Shopping Assistants
Shopping assistants like Rakuten and Honey provide valuable resources for online shoppers seeking discounts and cash back. These services can automatically apply coupon codes at checkout, simplifying the shopping experience and maximizing savings. Many users have reported earning substantial cash back through these platforms, making them a worthwhile consideration for anyone looking to enhance their online shopping strategy. Taking advantage of these tools can lead to significant financial benefits and streamline the buying process.
Timing Your Purchases
Certain shopping days, like Black Friday or Prime Day, can present excellent opportunities for snagging deals on desired items. However, strategizing ahead and creating a prioritized list is essential to resist impulse buys and to capitalize on these sales effectively. Shoppers are encouraged to monitor prices and wait patiently for discounts, particularly for larger purchases like electronics, to ensure they get the best possible price. Planning can make a substantial difference in the overall shopping experience and financial outcome.
Leveraging Abandoned Cart Discounts
Leaving items in the online shopping cart without completing the purchase can lead retailers to offer discounts as an incentive to finalize the transaction. Many consumers may receive offers like free shipping or a percentage off after abandoning their carts, as retailers aim to recover potential sales. This strategy allows shoppers to potentially save money without committing immediately. Engaging in this practice can be an effective way to capitalize on retailers' desire to close sales while also potentially securing discounts.
Identifying Genuine Product Reviews
When evaluating product reviews, shoppers should be wary of overwhelmingly positive feedback that may indicate inauthentic reviews. Looking for three-star reviews often provides a balanced perspective that highlights both pros and cons, allowing for a more accurate assessment of the product. Additionally, examining timestamps can help identify clusters of reviews that may suggest manipulation. Using diverse sources, such as forums like Reddit, for product recommendations can lead to more trustworthy insights from genuine users.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are rapidly approaching, so now is definitely not the time to be online shopping wrong. This week, Raj and Noah chat with HuffPost Managing Editor of Shopping Emily Ruane to learn how to score the best deals online with the least amount of hassle.
Want to add to the conversation, or think you might be doing something wrong? Email us at amidoingitwrong@huffpost.com.
