The start of the school year is nearly here, and
parents are feeling the weight of that endless to-do list: make sure the kids
have every school supply on their scroll-sized list. Plan a shopping spree for
new school clothes. Sports equipment? Dig out the old stuff and see if it fits
or search the internet for the next size up.
With all the last-minute school buzz, it’s
important to remember to be a savvy shopper. Keep these shopping tips from
your Better Business Bureau Northwest + Pacific handy and back to school will
be a breeze.
Make a
list
You can either wait
for the school supplies list to come out or start shopping without it. Even if
you don’t have the exact list, you should have an idea of what to purchase
regarding school clothes, and basic supplies. Jot everything down on a list and
stick to it! Impulse buying can jack up your overall total in a hurry.
Shop your home
You may already have
some of the items from last year hidden in your home. Why purchase the same
thing twice?
Research big ticket
items
Before purchasing that
expensive laptop, tablet or dorm refrigerator, be sure to do your research.
Research the brands, warranty, customer reviews and the prices at various
stores to be sure you’re getting the best deal. Also check the retailer out
with BBB at bbb.org.
Look for the sales
Compare prices between
different retail stores, save your coupons, sign up for email alerts and redeem
any cash-back or rebate offers. This will help you get the best deals, saving
you a nice chunk of dough.
Ask for student
discounts
Many stores and
software companies offer discounts to students that have either an .edu email address
or a student ID. Even if you don’t see a discount advertised at the store, it
doesn’t hurt to ask.
Shop in bulk
Some teachers ask
parents to buy bulk items for the entire classroom to use throughout the year.
Talk with other parents about what they’re getting and see if you can all split
the cost.
Know the return
policies and save your receipts
Kids can be fickle.
They can love a new shirt yesterday but hate it today. Ask about return
policies before making your purchase. Be sure to save your receipts just in case you have to return the
item later.
If you’re looking for
deals online, exercise caution when you browse a new website. Here are a few
tips from your BBB to shop safely online:
- When shopping from an
online website the first step is to make sure the URL starts with “https” and
includes a lock symbol. The “s” in “https” stands for secure, that way you know
your information is being protected.
- Look up the website’s
privacy policy and contact information. If it is not clearly listed, or they
only have an email as the point of contact, take that as a big red flag and
shop elsewhere. - Do your research. An
unknown website may offer a similar product at a lower price. The lowest price
isn’t always the best route. Check for user reviews and badges for consumer
protection agencies.
- Be sure to use your
credit card instead of your debit card, as credit cards not only provide
additional protection, but it’s also easier to dispute a fraudulent charge.
- Be extremely wary of
any website or store that asks for your child’s personal information in order
to access special deals.
- If you’re buying
supplies through a website like Craigslist, make sure you don’t wire money to
someone you’ve not met. Use PayPal if possible, but if you are using cash, make
sure you meet in a public place and bring a friend.
- If you use Facebook,
you know banner ads are all over the place and many ads are even catered to
what you like. Some of them, however, are just “click bait” ads to drive you to
a different website where you could potentially be asked to input personal
information. Take note of the ad and go to the store's website directly.
- Click here for more
online shopping tips.