Ask A Seattle Expert: Tips On Finding Deals Shopping Online
Styled.Seattle
9528 Roosevelt Way N.E.
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 349-3401
www.styledseattle.com
Founded in 2006, Styled.Seattle has provided hundreds of clients with expert fashion advice, shopping tips and budget-friendly wardrobe styling. Owner Darcy Camden has made numerous appearances on the Seattle-based afternoon talk shows, "New Day NW" and "Northwest Afternoon," giving her advice about personal shopping, wardrobe consulting and makeovers. Darcy is also the editor of Styled Right magazine and her fashion advice has been featured in Seattle Magazine, Modern Bride, on Forbes.com and on The Style Network.
Many online retailers send out exclusive coupons and news of sales promotions via email. Check with your favorite retailers and sign up for any emailed advertisements or newsletters that are sent out. Emailed coupons provided by merchants will save you money on items you may purchase regularly or provide you with free shipping offers. Information on sales events sent to customers that are signed up via email will allow you to shop online (and sometimes even in-store too) and get exclusive deals on merchandise before anyone else knows about the sale.
It can actually save you money to follow your favorite stores on Facebook and Twitter. In this day and age, there are not many retailers who don't have a Twitter account or Facebook page. Be sure to follow all of your favorites on Twitter and "Like" the stores you shop the most on Facebook. By doing so, you can find out about sales, newly stocked merchandise and even get exclusive coupons and discount codes to help save you money when shopping online.
There are plenty of online sites that allow you to comparison shop for items and have the ability of giving you all the best search results on the same webpage. For instance, if you were looking for a particular pair of Skechers shoes, simply go to sites such as PriceGrabber.com, Shopzilla.com, Shopping.com or even Amazon.com. Type the item you're looking for in the site's search bar and click "search" and it will bring up all of the best deals on that item. You can then sort the results by price, store rating, best match, most popular and more.
Online retailers have learned that not only do customers want a great deal on items purchased, but perks like free shipping and inexpensive gift wrap add to their incentive to buy. You surely can't find gift wrapping in stores, except for maybe at Christmas time. Online sites like Amazon.com feature merchants that offer free shipping and gift options, including gift wrap and gift cards on almost every purchase. Granted, you have to spend a certain amount to get free shipping (usually around $35), but gift wrap is usually available for about $5 or less and the gift cards are always free.
While most retail chains carry the same items in-store, you might be surprised to know there are exclusive items that are sold only online and cannot be found in stores. It pays to search online when you're shopping for clothing, jewelry, shoes, appliances, furniture and more. Many retailers will also list exclusive deals on online-only items to add to your savings while shopping and prompt you to come back to their website again and again.
Related: Ask A Seattle Expert: Dressing For Work During The Summer Heat
