Advertisement

How to shop online like a pro this holiday season

How to shop online like a pro this holiday season

When it comes to holiday shopping, the thought of bundling yourself up and trudging through Canadian winter to go to the mall only to fight for a parking space and battle the crowds inside can leave even the most stalwart shopper zapped of holiday spirit.

This helps explain the popularity of online shopping. You can do it at any time from wherever you are and you don't even have to get dressed up. And, according to research by Ebates.ca, 77 per cent of Canadians say they've shopped online in the past year with 32 per cent reporting they've spent more online in the past twelve months than in previous years.

“Time is so valuable and convenience is definitely number one on a customer’s shopping list all year long and especially during the holiday season," says Megan Vickell, public relations manager of eBay Canada.

But how do you know if you're getting the best deals possible and keeping your personal information safe? We spoke to some experts to find out how you can shop like a pro online this holiday season.

Make a list and shop early

Echoed by everyone we spoke with, making a list – of who you need to buy for and what you plan to get them – was the first place to start and the best way to save cash when shopping online.

"It's for the same reason that you create a list when you go grocery shopping," says Angela Self, co-founder of SmartCookies.com. "If you don't have one, you end up just throwing everything into your cart and getting sidetracked and you can get pulled in with all these promos."

Shopping early can also score you deals – whether you’re buying something 'in-season' or taking advantage of the multitude of sales year round.

"Canadians are getting finally getting a taste of what Black Friday and Cyber Monday is all about," says Lena Almeida, founder of ListentoLena.com. "Start early because once Black Friday and Cyber Monday hits that's when we begin to see some really amazing deals and especially they're going to be online."

Compare, compare, compare

"The beauty of shopping online is that comparison shopping is as easy as opening another tab in your browser," says Almeida. She says it's important to know when a deal is truly a deal, so scanning flyers early for items you're planning to buy is a great idea. "One of the easiest things to do, especially if you're shopping last minute, is to get lured into what you consider or what you're told is a sale but may not actually be the best deal."

You might also have a hard time finding the item you want in store, where it's hard to stock a full suite of products. Kerry Reynolds, head of consumer marketing for Paypal, notes this trend already has many retailers expecting (and directing) people to do more of their purchases online.

Check discount sites

Before purchasing anything online or in-store, do a quick check to see if there are coupons or discount codes available. "Even if you only save five dollars – I mean great, that's your coffee for the week," says Self.

Websites like RetailMeNot.ca, Save.ca and others offer discounts for savvy online shoppers. "Customize your searches so that you're only getting coupons and information on specific deals that are of interest to you," says Self.

Your favourite stores might offer deals via email subscriptions, so it might be worth signing up ahead of time, adds Reynolds.

Another way to save is by shopping through a shopping portal like AirMilesShops.ca, Shop.ca or Ebates.ca, so you're getting rewards points and you can double dip savings with coupon codes.

Keep it secure

Make sure your information is safe when shopping online by checking if a website's payment page has the https in the URL. The 's' means it's secure. Third party encryption is also another great feature.

Using a payment site like PayPal, or going through your bank online, also gives extra protection to your purchases.

"It's not just about security, there's also a speed factor there," says Reynolds. "This particular season we're going to see more transactions on mobile than ever before."

Look for 'hidden money'

Self says shoppers should look for 'hidden money' – things like leftover or unwanted gift cards – to help save some cash on this year's holiday purchases. And don't forget your points!

"Now's the time to be looking at the points from credit cards or your Optimum card, any type of reward or loyalty programs," she says. "We actually one holiday season just bought all of our gifts on our points."

Do you prefer shopping in-store or online? Tell us why in the comments below.

Check out some of the hottest gifts for kids this year in the video below: