Tips for Saving on Online Retail Shipping Costs

With the price of gas skyrocketing, more consumers are looking to save money by shopping online. Here is how you can save on your online retail shipping costs. Online retailers are in direct competition with everyone selling the same products online, as well as traditional brick and mortar shops locally. Therefore, it is possible to save money on the products themselves, and the cost of shipping. The savvy shopper can score some real online deals by reducing shipping cost using one or more of these tips.

According to Donna Montaldo's Tips for Saving When Shopping Online on About.com, online retailers add free shipping to their list of online deals and coupon offers in more aggressive marketing strategies and promotions before the peak shopping months of October and November. They realize that their real competition is only a click away.

Check out product codes and coupon clubs for free shipping codes for your chosen retailer. To find a product code for free shipping, do a search on your favorite search engine. For example, when "product codes for free shipping for overstock.com" was typed in on Google, about 1,300,000 results were obtained in less than a minute. Admittedly, all of these results won't be for free shipping on overstock.com. Some might be for discounted shipping for certain products, or for other retailers. You will need to check them out and see the details and restrictions for the top results.

You can do the same thing for the specific product you are wanting. Searching for the specific product in the same manner will bring up results for coupon clubs and comparison shopping sites. According to Ebates they have the best free shipping deals updated daily. You can register at their site and have free shipping deals delivered to your email address.

Many online retailers like Amazon also offer specials directly to customers using their site through mailing lists. This is a convenient way to keep up with all the specials from your favorite online stores.

Another way to save on shipping is to be organized! Plan your online shopping as efficiently as you would your trips to your local department store. Make a list of everyone you want to buy gifts for in the near future. Add gift ideas for each person to the list, or at least gather information about likes, dislikes, and sizes. Then let your fingers and mouse get busy shopping. The idea is to find one online retailer that can supply gifts for several people on your list. Many retailers offer free shipping routinely when your purchase totals more than a certain dollar amount. By shopping for several people at once at one retailer, it is much easier to reach that amount.

Online retailers that have brick-and-mortar stores also often have free ship to store options when ordering online. For example, a recent order of the same dehumidifier carried in the local hardware store online from their website offered free ship to store. They had an online special and the actual cost was $10.00 less than it retailed for in the store.

That illustrates the benefits of combining online and in-store shopping. By taking the opportunity to see the product in the store, it is possible to determine if the quality, size, and accessories are exactly what you want. Then take advantage of the ability to comparison shop online to find the best deal for the same product.

In 10 Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping Online, the Federal Trade Commission advises that when considering online shipping costs, be sure to check the stores policy for returning items if needed. Will your shipping costs be refunded, or will you have to pay additional shipping costs to return the item? Can you buy online and return to a brick-and-mortar store if there is one available?

It is possible to save on the shipping costs for shopping online if you use these tips. Online shopping can be a good way to save time and money on your purchases. Take advantage of all of the discounts available, shop safe, and Happy Shopping!