From Overstock to Other Money Savers

Tips for Overstock.com:

1) Did you know Overstock will suddenly drop the price of shipping your enitre order to $1.00? These offers seems to be pretty random and last about 24 hours.

2) Prices will drop without notice. For example, I bought a stretch bracelet for around $16.00 US. Several weeks later when ordering some for gifts, the price had dropped to $12.00

3) Read feedback. Often Overstock will have feedback on items. Read it before you buy, but use common sense. Anyone can post a review even if they didn't buy the item at Overstock. And yes, there are people who think it is funny to post bad reviews.

4) You can check out reviewers other ratings. Does she complain too much or is she right on the money?

5) Know your prices and item. If you know purses, read those reviews to see if the qualities and design you need are really included. Avoid purses where the zippers or straps break within a week. If a hole developed in the bottom? You know the answer. Trust me if 100 purses were junk you will not get a better made item.

6) Some items are second runs, which explains the low prices. This isn't always true, but low quality ratings by reviewers can show you an inferior product. Yes it is still a brand name, but not the top quality most buyers are looking for. That said, second run items can be a great value and often the flaws are minor.

7) Comparison shop. Overstock is not always the lowest, and you might want a style of jewelry they will never carry. Instead of venting try Googling your need.

8) Like most online stores you will have to return the item first before a refund is given. You pay the postage on the return. Some items cannot be returned, so be careful.

9) Beware of copycats sites. There are several sites out there that use overstock as part of their name. Although this is legal, some sites can be scammers.

10) Read the description. Does that tennis bracelet say certified diamonds or diamond cut? Is the tie clasp emerald tone or real emerald? Most sellers won't lie, but the descriptions can be confusing.

11) Reduced or free shipping. Overstock will reduce shipping to $1.00 without notice on the entire site. This sometimes, but not always, is close to a holiday. The also feature free shipping which subscribers to the e-mial will find out about.

Overall Overstock is a fun place to shop for great values. Just keep the above tips in mind and enjoy yourself.

My Overstock favorites:

Multi-row Amethyst-Chip Stretch Bracelet


Mutli-row Citrine Chip Bracelet

Sizes vary wildy between brands. I can wear a 5.5 to a 7.5 US in various brands. So please don't dump every cute sale item in your cart and hope they fit.

But shoe love is true love right? OK when they reach you try them on. Honestly I know you are going to buy some that are too little or too big because you fell in love. But that will mean either buying a shoe stretcher or shoe heel gaurds to take up the extra space. Yup, returning them can be costly too.

Check for flaws. Some women are downright catty and will ruin a pair of shoes on purpose. Make sure one of these 'ladies' didn't do a number on the shoe you want.

Buy wisely. Yes they are cheap, and yes we love them all. Yes it is also true that you could buy one of each pair that fits for less than one standard price pair elsewhere. But make sure you have enough money on hand for groceries.

Dollar stores can be excellent places to save money on the items you need. The dollar stores being discussed here are ones with items for a dollar or less. My Aussie readers will want to hit the two dollar stores.

Cereal- How about something like frosted flakes, granola and flakes, or marshmallows added. These boxes might seem small but the weights are close or bigger to the pricier store brands.

Drinks- Sunny D, juices, 3 liter sodas. Yes, they are still a dollar.

Candy, gum, treats- Everything from brand names like Scooby Snacks and Hershey bars, to old favorites like movie size candies. Love those Rasinettes!

Other foods- Depending on the store size: noodles, soup, pasta sauce, cheese, dried foods, mashed potatoes, small frozen food items.

Cleaning products: bleach, glass cleanser, detergent and more. Also buckets, sponges, cleaning cloths and so on.

Not enough? Try electronic, light bulbs, car products, kids and adult clothes and accessories, jewelry, perfume, bath products, pet food, books and movies.

Just remember that when some items are gone they are gone. Items like overstocks (think books, clothing, videos) are only there for a limited time.

FYI: Most dollar stores do not take coupons.

Before we start, just be aware some people do have high prices as they fancy themselves antique dealers. Some do have real antiques and others are just cool junk shops.

Flea markets are places you can find just about everything. Mind you having a specific item in mind, say a Hasbro game might be a harder match. But a general idea, like a fun game will yield lots of neat stuff.

Socks and tees: plenty of flea markets have sellers with new items. Socks run a dollar or so a pair and tees from five dollars and up.

Purses: Second runs or copies of ultra-expensive bag. Honey you only pay for the name. The majority of purses today are made from the same materials. Do a quality check though.

Food: From fresh baked to overstocks to veggies you're going to find tons of food. Most larger flea markets have fixed food sellers too.

Books: Heck if you aren't picky you can find some lovely novels and ridiculous paperbacks. Yes you'll find religious materials for all faiths, including pagans.

Bibles: There are people who will give you free New Testaments, sellers of 'family' Bibles, or small Bible story books everywhere. You can find modern user-friendly versions that don't have an overload of brimstone and hellfire. I like my Precious Moments one myself.

Misc: Lava lamps, couches, paintings, jewelry, kid's toys, magazines, statuettes, one-of-a-kind gifts. You'd be surprised how many ceramics end up here for one reason or another.

Always:

Bicker on prices. This is expected of you. You'll get better as time goes on.

Be respectful. If you get a rep as a problem customer, nobody will sell to you.

Bring relevant sizes and gift ideas. Again it is just too bad your Auntie May is a size 12 shoe wide and you bought a size 9 narrow. Sellers will try to hint they need a real size, so work with them.

A flashlight and magnifier. Yes I know your shaking from excitement over THE FIND, but take a deep breath and check it for defects. You can buy less-than-perfect, but the price should reflect the flaws.

Wear comfy shoes and clothes. The cheaper the better. Cagey sellers will notice how expensive your earrings or purse are and base the prices on that. Plus you might be there for hours.

Fuel for you: a small water or power bar. Yes most flea markets do sell food, but just in case they don't have a little something to munch on and keep hydrated.

Remember: Most sellers in flea markets do not take returns for any reason. If the book sucked or that top is too tight consider donating them to charity.

You can save a lot of money here. To be clear, we'll be covering just used stores, not resale shops in this section. OK so what can you get? Be aware that some stores charge more than others. A church run store tends to be a lot cheaper than a chain used store.

Clothing- All types, any size and style. You can get name brands too, but you will pay more. There is a trend to charge more money for brand name items and antiques. While this does help people in need, it prevents those same people from affording nicer things.

Toys- Again almost any toy. You have to take electronic toys as-is. That means if it doesn't work you cannot return it. My advice is to buy only if you want to take the risk. Very young children may not care either way.

Tip: Know your child's favorite toys. Does that used toy have all the right accessories? If not the price has to reflect that.

Electronics- I've had used electronics that have outlasted new store-bought items. I do check for three things before I buy. Value: is it really cheaper than a new unit? Condition: Will it last me a long time, or is it near it's useful end. Look for missing knobs, broken antenna, jammed controls. Safety: Is there a frayed or stripped cord? Are strange wires hanging out? If you can, plug it in for a test run. Anything that sparks will not magically fix itself on the way home. And no, sparking does not go away.

Books- Lots of choices. Be aware that there is a trend to charge more for popular authors and how-to books. Again that's fine, but see if you can't find it cheaper online or at a yard sale.

Housewares- Anything from dressers to toasters. Again most items are sold as is. Bring a magnifying glass and flashlight if considering large items.

Jewelry- You can get excellent buys, but be aware of what you buy. Employees try to be honest, but often can't tell a copy from a more expensive item. Check for loose or missing stones, charms and so forth before you buy.

Tip: Will you repair that almost-perfect jewelry. The cost of gas and repair stones, clasps, etc. may take up any money you saved. Plus a lot of jewelers, even cheap ones, will use a unique cut. So if you don't mind eclectic that's fine, but don't expect a perfect match.

These stores fall about halfway in between retail and dollar stores. Most items start at two dollars and up. There are a lot of store brands, so using coupons can be a challenge. But they will honor most coupons and managers will put items on sale.