Shopping by the Book(s)

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Shopping online is hard work. I think sometimes it requires a massive grid of information to be done properly.

Not only do you have to know your username and passcode for each site, but you also have to keep in mind whether the store you are buying from has a coupon code that you might find with a little bit of sleuthing on sites like Ben's Bargains or Slickdeals.net.

But that's not the end.

If you have a rewards program like AAdvantage or United you have to decide whether to add miles to your accounts (and which one!) or whether you are going to use a site like igive to donate a percentage of your purchase to your favorite charitable cause.

And then for check out! Do you use Google Checkout and get the (current) offer of $10 off a $30 purchase? or PayPal to get (current offer) free shipping?

And that isn't even considering the dilemmas of how to group purchases at stores to take advantage of free shipping offers, buy one get one, and the host of other things created to make your head hurt.

Dare I even mention comparison shopping?

No, no indeed.

I say, at least I don't have any bruises from over eager shoppers with out-of-control shopping carts.

Comments

fitzgerf said…
Yeah, online shopping can be hard. But as I look at it never as hard as cruising the malls. And you're right: even online, you need to look around for the best deal. You mention igive, for example, but there are better sites out there. For instance, take a look at HEARTof.com -- they have about as many stores (more than 670) and the donations they make to whatever school or charity or other kind of cause you choose average about twice as big. Shop at magazines.com, for example, and igive will donate 14% of what you spend and HEARTof.com will donate 26.25%. That's a gigantic defference! Take a look and let us know your impressions, if you don't mind.
9:30 PM
slowlane said…
As a post note on the topic of shopping, I did end up getting a bruise from an over eager shopper with her shopping cart.

I went to the drug store to pick up some tissues and batteries, and I managed to run myself over with my own cart.

Now that takes talent.
10:05 PM
Anonymous said…
End Sleuthing Completely. Boddit.com
12:24 PM
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