We are getting closer to the biggest shopping season of the year, Christmas shopping, and with that comes big deals and even bigger crowds. I cannot stand the crowds at the malls and the other major shopping centers during the holidays.
With the introduction of Cyber Monday, more and more people are choosing to do their shopping online instead of in a brick and mortar store.
Why Online Is Best for Christmas Shopping
Here are a few reasons why you should consider shopping online too as the best for Christmas shopping.
No Lines
If you’ve ever shopped from Black Friday up to Christmas Eve, chances are you have experienced the massive amounts of people shopping at the same time. Parking can be hard to find, and once you get into the store, lines can go from the door all the way to the back.
That’s more time wasted waiting just to pay for your things. When you do your Christmas shopping online, it’s just you and your shopping cart, and you can check out when you’re ready.
Bigger Inventory
How many times have you gone into a store, and found something you’d like to buy, but it’s either the wrong size or the wrong color? While some may be able to tell you when they’re expecting a new shipment or can direct you to another store nearby who may have exactly what you’re looking for, that takes more time than it should.
If you shop on the same store’s website, the inventory is usually much larger, carrying just about all of the varieties of a particular item. One of the downsides is that you can only see pictures, so you run the risk of ordering one size and it not fitting properly, or a color that looked one way online and looks a little different in person. Check out buying directly from China through Dhgate.
More Coupons
Stores are pretty generous when it comes to deals around the holidays. From door busters to sales, you can find prices slashed for just about anything you’re searching for. When you order online and spend a certain amount on your order, you can usually get an additional discount at checkout. You also have the chance to search for coupon codes.
Websites like RetailMeNot.com give you codes that have worked for other online shoppers. If you’re subscribed to a store’s email list, you may benefit from exclusive coupons being delivered to your inbox. These are two of my favorite ways to save money during the holidays. I do not buy anything online without checking out RetailMeNot.com first.
Clear Return Policy
In the chaos of longer work hours and a constant flow of customers, some sales associates may forget to give you the details on the store’s return policy. This can be frustrating for shoppers who may want to make a return or exchange and are not informed before they left the store what was required in order to bring an item back.
When you’re shopping online, you can easily find a return policy and are pretty flexible about your online orders.
Cash Back
This is an option that you can find offline as well, but it’s a lot easier when you do your shopping online. There are websites like Ebates and Mr. Rebates that give you links to your favorite online retailers.
And, when you’re ready to checkout, you will get a percentage of your purchase back to you, either in the form of a check, back on your credit card, or as a gift card to a retailer. Who doesn’t love getting paid for shopping?
So this year, you can skip Black Friday and choose Cyber Monday. You can save your gas and your time by doing your Christmas shopping from your bed on your laptop. You won’t have to worry about getting everything you need in time, with amazing shipping and return policies. It’s all available for you online.
Or, like my wife and me, we start Christmas shopping in July. Each month we slowly buy a coupel things, and so by the time the holidays are here, we’re already set to go. No need for black friday, crowded stores, or cyber monday! Of course, it’s too late for starting early this year, but start thinking about next year!
That is the perfect way to save for your Christmas shopping, TB. Thanks for sharing!
I always opt for online shopping first but somehow I always end up in a packed shopping mall closer to Christmas anyway. I guess that sometimes I feel the need to actually see or physically touch the item (for example clothes or tech products I’ve never used before).
I do buy a lot of presents on Amazon’s different websites for family/friends who are in other countries, then I don’t have to worry about paying a bunch for extra shipping, for example I buy my sister in London, England items from Amazon.co.uk and she gets them 2-3 days later.
It definitely makes a big difference if you can find free shipping online when you are making purchases.