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| Monday, June 23, 2008 |
| Gas cost too much? Have your shopping delivered |
 CNN reports: Consumers say 'no' to high shipping fees "Consumers have never liked shipping costs," says Evans. They will look online to find the best possible price and weigh the cost of shipping among other factors, Evans said.
That worked for savvy shopper Whitney White. When he set out on the hunt for a Samsung LCD television for his home, he used online resources like Dealtime.com and shopping.com, in addition to checking big box retailers like Circuit City (CC, Fortune 500) to find the lowest possible price, factoring in delivery, taxes, discounts and promotions.
"Sales tax alone on an item like that adds hundreds," he said. Tack on substantial fees for shipping and delivery, and a big-ticket item can easily slide out of reach.
After comparison shopping online and at electronics retailers in his area, White ultimately found the best deal on Amazon.com (AMZN, Fortune 500). "That's where I found the best all-in cost," he said.
Even though he ordered online, the shipping and handling charges were free, bringing the total of his new 52-inch TV to $3,699.99, about $100 less than the next-lowest price online and nearly $1000 less than the store down the street, not including delivery. While I am not shopping online for a flatscreen TV, I do find myself getting a lot of items delivered. Before high gas costs became a factor, I found online shopping a great time saver. It also cut down on impulse purchases - I tend to just purchase the item I am looking for or need. When I shop in stores I find myself picking up cute or pretty things I see on a shelf or rack - for some reason I don't feel the same compulsion when shopping online. But the free shipping and tax savings are another big draw for me. When you add it all up - saving gas, saving time, easier price comparison, cheap or free shipping and no sales tax (depends on what online retailer you are using) - virtual shopping is the way to go. |
| posted by Boston Gal @ 12:03 PM *
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| 7 Comments: |
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this is one of the major reasons we (americans) are in debt - we buy stuff we don't really need with monedy we don't really have.
It does not make sense for anybody to buy a $3,000 or $4,000 TV unless they generate that much in a day or two of work...
it isn't that he is saving taxes, saving on delivery charges, but that rather that he is most likely spending money he doesn't have or should be budgeting towards escalating housing/utility and food costs...
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I have a coworker who claims to only shop online for everything but groceries. She says it's a lot easier and in many cases, cheaper.
The one thing that I don't buy online is clothing (at least not much) because I find it's hard to figure out what fits right. But for just about everything else, I at least scour the web for a good deal.
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You are not saving taxes. You are just no paying them. In almost all cases you are still supposed to pay taxes to your home state for items bought online. The only reason certain companies collect it is that they have a physical struture in that state and need to collect for what they report to the state government. Eventually, the states will catch up and everyone will go back to paying sales tax.
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Interesting that you find shopping online to prevent you from buying stuff that you don't need. I feel it works the opposite for me.
Being able to buy things online has made it easier for me to buy stuff and therefore I am more prone to finding a deal and buying things on a slow afternoon while I am simply surfing the web.
I am trying hard to forget my CC numbers, so that at least I have to get up from my chair to remove my wallet :)
BTW I agree about the convenience factor. I absolutely abhor going to the mall and shopping now. I would much rather sit at home, do my research, have choices, not have to drive, not have to find parking and not have to deal with lines to checkout.
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The best thing that has ever happened to me is Amazon Fresh. They deliver groceries right to my door--at the time of my choosing. They even have all of the funky and organic items I like.
I can save items to a list as I think about them (note to self--we're out of eggs), then make the actual purchase at my leisure. I now spend 15 minutes grocery shopping instead of 1+ hr. So far, I'm finding that I'm making fewer impulse purchases, although I can't say that about the regular amazon.com. ;-)
I don't remember the last time I set foot in a brick & mortar grocery store. I'm saving time and gas (there is no delivery fee if I spend at least $25, but they don't take coupons). I do feel a bit bad, though, about all of those reusable bags I'm not using anymore.
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I live in a major city and have found that on bigger-ticket items,it can be worth it to buy in the burbs. Of course it costs $$ on gas to get out of the city, but the city has the highest combined taxes, and if I have to go out that way for something else anyhow, I buy it there. My spouse's family lives in the burbs, so when I was looking to buy a new iMac, I did the math, and bought it at an Apple store out there on the way back from a family gathering and saved a little over $50.
As for buying out of state, we've got outlet malls just over the border in the next state, and between the outlet prices and the lower taxes, it's totally worth it. (Yeah, you're supposed to pay the taxes to your home state--it's on the form--but who actually does this? Nobody!)
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I second Heather. AmazonFresh is so awesome. I hate wasting food. My freezer is full of meat that I purchased and intended to cook before throwing in the freezer at the last minute.
I used to spend $125 at the grocery store each week. I now spend around $75/week at Amazon Fresh broken into 3 deliveries. I only buy food for the next 2-3 days so it does not go to waste. They have all the organic products I like to feed the family.
I will search allrecipes.com for the stuff I want to make and add the ingredients to my list. For instance I can buy spinach and feta. One night spinach and feta omelets. The next spinach and feta lasagna.
I hate physically entering the grocery store. I argue with the kid the entire time about why she cannot a particular treat and things still inadvertently end up in the cart. If I send the hubby, well we will be eating potato chips and ice cream for dinner. I also always feel the need to get a coffee or a soda and a magazine.
The produce from amazon is always amazing. I pack lunch every for myself and the kid with a different fruit every day. They also have alternative products like sunflower seed butter for schools that are nut free and household items.
I was able to buy 3 empty spray bottles and now make my own cleaning supplies. I will never go back to clorex wipes, toilet bowl cleaner, and glass cleaner.
The best part about amazonfresh is having items delivered before 6am. Run out of toilet paper or milk at 10pm, no problem. Amazon will have it to your door before you wake up. You never see the delivery guy so no tipping either.
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this is one of the major reasons we (americans) are in debt - we buy stuff we don't really need with monedy we don't really have.
It does not make sense for anybody to buy a $3,000 or $4,000 TV unless they generate that much in a day or two of work...
it isn't that he is saving taxes, saving on delivery charges, but that rather that he is most likely spending money he doesn't have or should be budgeting towards escalating housing/utility and food costs...