Getting the Most from Amazon.Com

If you are like me then you are an Amazon.com customer, and there are millions of us. Amazon is a leader in online shopping and for good reason. They are cheap, convenient, fast, and their virtual shelves are stocked with nearly everything. About the only thing you can't do on Amazon is buy your groceries'"yet.

As good as Amazon is when you really need something, it can be equally bad if you shop impulsively. Amazon is a huge company, an industry in its own right, and its primary goal is to make money. Amazon makes your money, and though they are willing to give you a blockbuster deal, they're also willing to be devious. And like any other company, cut holes in your pockets.

Your losses can add up, becoming hundreds, thousands of dollars if you shop Amazon on a regularly. But with savvy shopping skills and a bit of patience, you can play this retail giant like a fiddle, getting the most bang for your buck.

The first and most obvious advice is to use Free Super Saver Shipping, but wisely. Amazon items can qualify for free shipping if the order total is more than twenty-five dollars. This is great for large purchases, and is an opportunity to save a lot of money over a long period of time.

If last week you bought something for twenty dollars, and this week you bought something for fifteen dollars, you would have spent about eight dollars in shipping. Buying both items at once would have allowed you to ship the items for free and save. If you make two purchases a month, that eight dollars becomes one hundred dollars in one year.

Don't purchase items you don't want just to get free shipping, and don't rush to buy things you don't need right now. Use your checkout cart as a wish list, adding items you are interested in and purchasing them when the cart reaches twenty-five dollars. If your order is at twenty-two or twenty-three dollars, you may take advantage of small items, such as bookmarks, that you can always use yourself or give to your children and friends. These small items can be less than the shipping would be, and be put to better use.

Take advantage of third-parties. One of the hundreds of third-party vendors may have what you want for less. Pay attention to the vendor rating and volume. To safeguard against buying lemons, buy only from vendors with a high rating and a high total volume of sales. Read vendor reviews to find out if other customers have had bad experiences, and remember which vendors have treated you best, so you can return to them later on if need be.

Buy used movies and books. Used items are usually more than half off, yet their quality remains high. Many vendors quality-check items before they are sold and list each as "acceptable," "very good," and "like new". Shopping for "very good" and "like new" will enable you to pick higher quality used products. And because vendors usually error on the side of caution, many products marked "very good" are closer to "like new" and some "like new" products are as good as new.

Take advantage of defects. Some items like clothing and shoes can be sold with small flaws. You can sometimes save 75% off face value if you are willing to buy items that were sewn incorrectly or have spots on the leather or fabric. Rockport shoes are a great example of this. Many Rockports sell for over 100 dollars, but on Amazon they can sometimes be bought for less than forty.

Some items that are marked down are in very good condition but are discontinued. Amazon may be in a rush to get rid of them and you may be the benefactor. If you use Amazon to make recurring purchases like clothing and shoes, it may serve you to watch for these deals and buy ahead so that when you want something you'll already have it, and for cheap.

Research a product using Google and Youtube. Watching video demonstrations or reading more detailed product reviews can help you make a more specific decision on your purchase. Is this item right for you? Is it the right size, color, material, etc? Use your research to compare items. This method will help you avoid having to return items that don't fit your needs.

Read between the lines when reviewing user ratings. Not all products get low ratings because they're faulty, but because the customer was dissatisfied with the shipping, the seller, or something else entirely. It's always better to buy products with five stars, but knowing your own needs, and knowing what the ratings are really telling you about the product (or the people rating the product), can help you choose items more wisely. No ratings or low ratings may turn off many buyers, but you could be getting a deal if you dig deeply.

Don't assume Amazon is always going to have the lowest prices. Check prices in your local stores, and at other online retailers -- Wal-Mart.com and Ebay. Getting the best deal from Amazon means sometimes shopping elsewhere if it'll cost you less. In the end you must take care of yourself when shopping anywhere, find the best deal, and save the most money.