There was a time when Amazon was simply an online bookstore, but now you can purchase almost anything you are looking for there through third party vendors. While Amazon is one of the heavy-hitters in online shopping, there are other alternatives that can provide you with different options and pricing comparisons. (For some of the dangers of shopping online, check out 5 Pitfalls Of Online Shopping.)
TUTORIAL: Budget Basics
eBay
eBay differs from Amazon in that you can purchase both new and used goods from the site. Some vendors only sell their old goods that they don't want anymore, much like an online yard sale. Some are professional businesses that sell new goods. eBay offers both auction-style and store-type purchasing. With auctions, you bid on the item and others can come and bid higher. Whoever has the highest bid at the end of the auction gets the item.
eBay differs from Amazon in that you can purchase both new and used goods from the site. Some vendors only sell their old goods that they don't want anymore, much like an online yard sale. Some are professional businesses that sell new goods. eBay offers both auction-style and store-type purchasing. With auctions, you bid on the item and others can come and bid higher. Whoever has the highest bid at the end of the auction gets the item.
With the 'Buy it Now' feature, you can buy the item right away. One of the main benefits of eBay to buyers is the feedback system, which gives you information about the vendor's prior history of sales. Most vendors on eBay are not household names, so looking into what other customers have to say is more important than with a big-name store. Higher-rated sellers are a safer risk when buying from someone you have never purchased from before. eBay does provide limited protection to the buyer if the item is not received or is not what was advertised.
Sites like eBay, Overstock, and Newegg can offer lower prices than Amazon, offer the same free 2-day shipping, and other great features, and we’ll explain how they do it. Learn about these 13 alternatives to Amazon, to determine if there’s a better option out there for you.
Yahoo! Shopping
This site operates a little differently than Amazon and eBay. It is, for the most part, a comparison site. It aggregates online shopping listings from different sites and gives you the range of prices. You then purchase directly from that site, rather than Yahoo!. It is a useful site to compare prices and features for goods before purchasing. If you enter your zip code, the site will also include the shipping costs and tax for each online store. Each online store has a rating by other Yahoo! shoppers, so you can see which stores are popular with shoppers.
This site operates a little differently than Amazon and eBay. It is, for the most part, a comparison site. It aggregates online shopping listings from different sites and gives you the range of prices. You then purchase directly from that site, rather than Yahoo!. It is a useful site to compare prices and features for goods before purchasing. If you enter your zip code, the site will also include the shipping costs and tax for each online store. Each online store has a rating by other Yahoo! shoppers, so you can see which stores are popular with shoppers.
QVC
QVC has been around since 1986 and has grown into one of the largest online shopping portals in the world. QVC has a television channel that runs 24/7, showcasing products that it sells on its site. You can purchase either on the website or over the telephone. Vendors provide QVC with product so everything comes directly from their warehouse. An important benefit of QVC is that its site includes video clips from its on-air presence, so that you can see the item in operation. You can also look at product feedback from other shoppers and find other alternatives.
QVC has been around since 1986 and has grown into one of the largest online shopping portals in the world. QVC has a television channel that runs 24/7, showcasing products that it sells on its site. You can purchase either on the website or over the telephone. Vendors provide QVC with product so everything comes directly from their warehouse. An important benefit of QVC is that its site includes video clips from its on-air presence, so that you can see the item in operation. You can also look at product feedback from other shoppers and find other alternatives.
Online Store Websites
Many bricks-and-mortar stores now have an online shopping feature and you can order directly from their website. This is a great way to order from reputable stores that you already know and shop at. If dealing directly with an online store, it is still prudent to go to a site such as Yahoo! Shopping to do some comparison shopping first before purchasing. Some online sites, such as Wal-Mart, will also allow you to purchase online and pick the items up at your local store without being charged shipping and handling. It gives you access to a much wider variety of goods than would normally be available at store.
Many bricks-and-mortar stores now have an online shopping feature and you can order directly from their website. This is a great way to order from reputable stores that you already know and shop at. If dealing directly with an online store, it is still prudent to go to a site such as Yahoo! Shopping to do some comparison shopping first before purchasing. Some online sites, such as Wal-Mart, will also allow you to purchase online and pick the items up at your local store without being charged shipping and handling. It gives you access to a much wider variety of goods than would normally be available at store.
The Bottom Line
There are several alternatives when it comes to online shopping. The more you know about the reputation of the vendor and the quality of the product, the better your purchase experience will be. (For more ways to save money online, read 6 Ways To Save Online.)
There are several alternatives when it comes to online shopping. The more you know about the reputation of the vendor and the quality of the product, the better your purchase experience will be. (For more ways to save money online, read 6 Ways To Save Online.)
Amazon’s Prime membership program has emerged as a very popular scheme that saw great levels of adoption among the online shoppers. For a flat fee of $12.99 per month, or $119 per year, the program offers a number of benefits. It includes fast, free two-day shipping with flexible delivery options on over 100 million items including two-hour or one-hour delivery in select locations for household items, access to stream or download Prime media content covering thousands of popular songs, movies and TV shows, games and audio programs, shopping benefits and rewards including 5% back for members with Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card, Alexa-assisted shopping, and early access to exclusive brands and deals, free subscription to thousands of top Kindle books and magazines, and early access to next month's new releases before the official publication date, and free, unlimited storage for photos. (See also, Amazon Prime Adoption in US May Have Peaked: RBC.)
But competitors are not far behind in offering similar schemes. Here's a list of top alternative programs to Amazon Prime.
Target.com
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The leading online retailer that sells appliances, baby supplies, books, clothing, electronics, furniture, household items, groceries, audio-video, office supplies, personal care products, and pet supplies offers free membership for its Target REDCard subscribers. REDcard holders receive a 5% discount on purchases and early access to new product releases. One can avail same-day delivery through the Shipt app, and free two-day delivery on minimum purchase of $35 through REDCard shopping. Target allows a longer 90-day return policy on select, unopened items, though electronics and entertainment items must be returned within 30 days, and mobiles within 14 days of purchase. The drive-up pick-up option provisions for a Target team member to load the car's trunk of the subscriber. (See also, Target Begins Rollout of Same-Day Delivery.)
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Walmart.com
The leading retail giant offers free membership. It offers free two-day shipping on qualifying items on minimum bill of $35, and up to five-day shipping on other orders. Bulky or heavy orders qualify for freight shipping. While returns are available up to a period of 90 days of purchase, the return policy varies by the department. Walmart credit cardholders can earn up to 3% back on online and grocery purchases. Purchases made through Walmart grocery app allows the subscriber to schedule a pick-up time, and a Walmart team member will help load groceries in the trunk.
Jet.com
The Hoboken, New Jersey-headquartered American e-commerce company offers its membership program free of cost. On eligible items with minimum purchase worth $35, Jet.com offers free two-day shipping, and free five day shipping on other items. The program also offers 30-day return policy, which the customers can swap with an offer to receive an additional discount on their purchases. In the latter case, a charge of $5.99 shipping fee plus 5% of the item price will be levied for returns. The program includes one- and two-day delivery options under the Jet Fresh grocery delivery service which ships grocery items all days a week.
Newegg.com
The leading online retailer of apparel, appliances, computer hardware consumer electronics and other household items offers a membership program called Newegg Premier at $49.99 per annum. Other variants also exist with $29.99 for six-months and $19.99 for three-months, in addition to a student membership for $30 per year. The program offers free three-day (or sooner) shipping, free returns within 30-days, and zero restocking fees. Subscriber can add up to four friends/family-members to their account extending the Newegg Premier benefits to them at no extra cost. Program supports free Rush Processing, which expedites the fulfillment of order that has at least one qualifying item so it can be packed, shipped and on the road the same business day it is placed. Members also get early access to site-wide sales and exclusive discounts, and a dedicated customer service line.
ShopRunner.com
With offers of a variety of products from apparel to jewelry from more than 100 brands, ShopRunner offers free membership to PayPal members, Mastercard World and World Elite cardholders and American Express U.S. Consumer and Small Business cardholders. Others are required to pay a fee of $79, though shoppers can avail a free one-month long trial membership. The program offers free two-day shipping with no minimum purchase amount at its 100-plus participating stores. Subscribers can return the items for free. (See also, Amazon Prime Becoming Popular in Low-Income Households.)