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Avoid mall hassles; shop online

December 16, 2009


As I was searching for a parking spot at the mall recently and then dodging bustling holiday shoppers, it occurred to me I didn't have to do this — and all of us may be doing less of it in the future. Less Christmas shopping? No, less shopping in stores.

I ended up leaving with nothing as I confirmed what I thought might be the answer — online shopping is more convenient and less expensive.

This threat should have malls and storefronts nervous as online sales continue to grow, albeit they remain a fraction of holiday sales. But while forecasters predict a flat holiday for retail sales, online shopping is already up 3 percent over last year, according to ComScore . The day after Thanksgiving saw an 11 percent increase. This compares with a 1.3 percent increase in stores so far, according to the Commerce Department .

But the convenience of shopping in the quiet of your home or office is not the only reason. After comparison shopping at the neighborhood malls and stores and then checking online, I found you can also save money by shopping online. The same products on my gift list, mostly electronics, were cheaper online, plus often didn't require sales tax or shipping costs. And don't forget the savings on gas and time.

 One oddity of this was one specific product in a store was cheaper on its own Web site. Perhaps the stores want us to shop online so they can eliminate the cost of sales staff and overhead.

If you'd like to cut the cost of your Christmas list, you better hurry. Many online stores are ending their guarantees for free-shipping orders to arrive before Christmas. If you have to pay for overnight or expedited shipping, your cost savings can vanish.

Also check a few shopping Web sites to find the best prices. PriceGrabber.com compares prices on popular products and will email you an alert when a price drops. BizRate.com also highlights good deals and Yahoo.com Shopping publishes the latest coupon codes. Shopping.com features consumer reviews on products and will pay you to submit your review.

You want to visit a few of these sites as not all stores are on all sites. You also want to be aware of refurbished products that may be the lowest price. Refurbished is a way to get even a lower price, however make sure the warranty is the same as new.

It may take a little time to shop around online just as it does in person, but you'll always get the best parking spot.

 


McClatchy-Tribune Information Services