Five Ways To Save Big Money On Overstock Items

Recent statistics show that even though Americans state that they try their very best to save money and make responsible purchases, over 87% of the population can be categorized as impulse shoppers. Even more alarming is the frequency that we cave in to our desires and spend money that we really should be saving; in cities and towns across the United States we make impulse purchases three times per day on average. Even now, during what is considered the worst financial crisis in global history, if each American’s excess spending was applied to our thirteen trillion dollar national deficit the country would be debt free in five days.

Now don’t take those statistics the wrong way; you earned that money and by all means you should spend it however you like. Those facts were only pointed out to convince you to shop a little bit smarter with your money, and since Overstock.com is the least expensive way to purchase almost anything you can dream of, we turn to them on money saving advice when shopping with them or anywhere else on the web.

1) Get Familiar with the Term “Coupon Code”

Online coupons and coupon codes are available for just about any major retailer when you’re shopping online, so if you’re going through the checkout process on your favorite website and see an input box entitled “coupon code” or “promo code” it’s time to stop and put the search engines to work in your favor. Search for the store’s name plus either of the above phrases and there’s a good chance you can save an extra 10-30% off the purchase price. In other cases, you can visit a partner website and click through a coupon link directly and the savings will automatically be applied to your shopping cart. For Overstock coupons and coupon codes, check websites like MoneyJibe.com by visiting their Overstock Coupons & Promotions page.

2) Look for Refurbished Items

Many people mistake “refurbished” as being a demo item or something that was returned to a store, but it actually means that the item was restored to 100% new condition by the manufacturer. By law they can not sell it as a new item even though it really is, so the price tag on refurbished goods is usually 30-50% below retail price and they normally come with a full warranty.

3) Sign Up for Email Alerts

If there’s an item you’ve been wanting but you’re not quite ready to purchase it, be sure to register on multiple websites that sell the item and check the box that states you want to receive email. Next, create a folder within your email account for “store sales” and drag/drop each store’s confirmation email into that folder. From that point forward, all of your solicitations from your favorite stores will be in that one folder, so you can quickly check for the best price when you’re ready to buy.

4) Pay Attention to Free Shipping Specials

Many people will avoid buying a $22 item with free shipping if they feel it is only worth $20, but at the same time they will buy it at $19.99 and pay $7.95 to have it delivered to their home. The shipping and handling costs are often a way for budget websites to make a substantial amount of money, so pay close attention to the overall price. For example, Overstock always ships an entire order for $2.95 or less, even if it costs them more to do so.

5) Read the Return Policy Carefully

One tactic websites use to convince you to keep a purchase that you really do not want is by offering a mere seven day return policy, and normally they fail to mention that the clock starts ticking the moment you place your order. Overstock.com and other reputable websites allow 30 days to return a product (starting on the day it arrives in the mail), so always check the return policy before purchasing anything online.

By: Mark Minks

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Mark Minks is the founder of MoneyJibe.com, a website that has money saving tips, money making ideas, and online coupons and coupon codes for major retailers including Overstock.com. For exclusive money saving offers from Overstock, check out the Overstock Coupons & Promotions page for Overstock coupons and discounts like free shipping and limited daily or weekly sales promotions.