Buy everything online!!!

[97guns]

My wife is into cosmetics and she needed to buy 5 different kinds, she usually buys at Walmart/Target but this time she bought off Amazon and saved 40% from targets prices. Amazon had a $2 off coupon and she subscribed for another 20% off, total came to $23.87 for 5 pieces, total cost at target is $40.45

I buy most everything online, can't even remember the last time I bought a set of tires from a brick and mortar, I think around 1996. My refrigerator, range, washer/dryer, couch, printers, computers, camera's, cell phones, tv, tools, almost everything. I would say a good 90% of my purchases are online and I save a bundle of cash.

[disneysteve]

We buy a lot online though not as much as we could. Almost always the price is better, sometimes by a lot.

Last weekend we were at an outlet mall. I found a pair of shoes I liked but they didn't have my size. I looked them up on Amazon and they had them so I ordered a pair. Price at the outlet? $70. Amazon's price? $65 with free shipping and free returns.

can't even remember the last time I bought a set of tires from a brick and mortar

How does that work? Once the tires are delivered to you, do you install them yourself or do you take them to a shop to have them put on, balanced, etc? If you go somewhere, what do they charge you for the service?

[disneysteve]

When shopping online, be sure to do a search for coupon codes before checking out. You can often find codes to either get you a discount like 10% off or free shipping or something to make the deal even sweeter.

[97guns]

How does that work? Once the tires are delivered to you, do you install them yourself or do you take them to a shop to have them put on, balanced, etc? If you go somewhere, what do they charge you for the service?

The set I'm on now I took them to a cheap shop that was really close to me, $15 a tire for mount/balance but I've been going to Americas Tire for $20 with lifetime balance/rotations, they are the parent company of the online store that I usually buy from

[disneysteve]

The set I'm on now I took them to a cheap shop that was really close to me, $15 a tire for mount/balance but I've been going to Americas Tire for $20 with lifetime balance/rotations, they are the parent company of the online store that I usually buy from

Interesting. How much would you say you typically save on a set of tires? That's something I never thought to buy online. My wife's van is due for tires soon. I just might do that.

[97guns]

Tires at brick and mortar stores are very high compared to online, usually $500 minimum for tires, mount and balance. Mini van tires should be no more than $100 online for an American name brand or $70 and under for an asian brand. I've used Asian brands - falken, kumho, ohtsu , I'm on nankangs right now and would buy all these brands again

[PeggyHefferon]

My BIL has been buying his tires online for years. I think he even has them delivered to the tire shop he uses for the mounting. Pretty sure he saves hundreds of dollars every time he gets them.

[PeggyHefferon]

I used to do a lot of my shopping online but got away from it for awhile. This year I decided to get Amazon Prime and have been searching there for things I need. The amount I am saving hasn't been significant so far, but it has been a huge help having items I need delivered for free instead of frequent trips to the store.

I have even got credits for other Amazon services on a few occasions by choosing regular shipping instead of the free 2-day. Watched a movie pretty cheap last week because of a credit I had.

[GoodSteward]

I do most of my shopping online as well, but I also try to support local places because people still need jobs. If it only saves me a couple dollars, I'll just buy it locally in a lot of cases. I also live in a smaller town so most items I get there isn't a place to buy them at other than Walmart.

As for tires, I happen to live near a very old privately owned tire shop that my grandfather managed before I was born. They are a Michelin wholesaler, and I get tires there cheaper than online. Not because of my grandfather (I have no stake in it and I have no relatives there now), but because they have a connection to the warehouse and get stuff dirt cheap. I can get a $200 90k mile Defender tire put on for $145 a piece installed. Lifetime rotation and balance after that. They also sell Uniroyal, Michelin's cheaper brand. Great tires and I just got a set of 60k mile Tiger paws put on for I believe $160 total for two tires.

High mileage tires are a waste unless you keep your tires aligned often, which means more money in maintenance offsetting the benefit of longer lasting tires. My van goes out of alignment easy, so my tires are wearing prematurely. If I spend the money to keep them aligned, I might have well of just bought the cheaper tires twice in the same time frame and saved the hassle.

[james.hendrickson]

The advantage of buying online is there are an increasing number of apps you can use to make the price you pay for goods/servcies online more efficient. For example, a couple of weeks ago I did a review of a savings app called Paribus for a client.

Paribus pretty much scans your email and if it sees that you bought something eligible for a price match discount, it automatically applies for the discount and credits it to your account (minus a charge for their services, of course).

Ebates is another similar piece of software.

Both of these are new in the past few years.

So, bottom line - the Fintech industry is getting better at offering efficiencies for online shoppers.

[msomnipotent]

I just read about Paribus in this month's Money magazine, but Ebates isn't new. I'm not sure when they started, but I have been a member for almost 10 years. They are kind of the same in that they both save you money in the form of rebates, but Paribus is after the fact and Ebates is prior. I'm wondering if you can double dip, or would Paribus take into account the ebates rebate.

I have bought tires for a trailer, go kart, and moped online, but not auto tires. I probably would, though. They are surprisingly heavy, so I couldn't get them in the garage myself. Something to think about if you have to lug them around yourself.

I buy my makeup online all over the place. I'm a platinum member with Ulta, so I get birthday gifts and more coupons. They can be expensive unless you shop the sales, use a discounted gift card, and go through ebates. I load up on Black Friday when the rebate is doubled. I also get makeup basically for free by using my Walgreens points. Amazon can have some good coupons and usually price matches Walmart within a few hours of a price reduction, so I keep on eye out. Otherwise, I would never spend the kind of money on my make up. $50 for a eyeshadow palette? Nuh uh!!!

[disneysteve]

I was just browsing Giftcardgranny.com and they have a $100 Amazon card for 10% off. Not a bad deal if you're interested. I have a ton of Amazon credit otherwise I'd jump on it.

[saver17]

Can't buy clothes online maybe shoes.

[97guns]

Can't buy clothes online maybe shoes.

I buy lots of clothes online, I won't pay $60 for a pair of Levi's in the store, I can get them for $25-$30 all day long

[saver17]

I buy lots of clothes online, I won't pay $60 for a pair of Levi's in the store, I can get them for $25-$30 all day long

You don't try on clothes?