Plus, several online electronics retailers allow consumers the option to buy refurbished and used laptops at discounts of 50 percent or more off the retail price, Shelton said. Buying diapers online can save you money and time. 99 a year -- you can join the Amazon Mom program and get a 20 percent discount on recurring deliveries of diapers. For example, you'd pay just 17 cents per diaper for a 216-count package of Pampers Swaddlers through the Amazon Mom program versus nearly 23 cents per diaper for a 168-count package of Pampers Swaddlers at Walmart. By choosing Target's own up & up brand, you can save even more. With the 5 percent discount, you'd pay 16 cents per diaper for a 222-pack of up & up diapers compared with 18 cents per diaper for a 204-pack of Pampers Baby Dry through Amazon Mom. Yes, shoes. You shouldn't be afraid to buy shoes online without trying them on because many footwear retailers offer free return shipping if the shoes don't fit, said Sean Graw, a deal expert with deal and coupon site Brad's Deals.
Even if free return shipping isn't available, the discounted price is often reason enough to justify buying shoes online, he said. But retail stores also offer great deals on their websites. When retailers bring new styles to their in-store displays, they have to make room for them by removing out-of-season shoes. While these shoes might no longer be available in stores, they tend to go on sale online at steeply discounted prices, Graw said. You probably should avoid buying children's shoes online, however. Considering how fast kids' feet grow, you'll likely need to have their feet measured when you buy new pairs of shoes each season. Like shoes, buying glasses online might seem like a risky proposition. But the savings can be remarkable. Plus, online glasses retailers offer features and safeguards to ensure that you get the right fit. They offer comprehensive frame-buying guides, and some, such as Zenni Optical, allow you to upload a photo of yourself and virtually try on frames, Shelton said.
Some retailers offer free returns and free adjustments as well. Coffee pods -- or K-cups as they're commonly called -- are the fastest-growing segment of the coffee industry. More than one out of every three dollars spent on coffee is now spent on a coffee pod, according to The Washington Post. If you use single-serve pods for your morning cup of Joe, you know they can be pricey. You can find a local florist through the Society of American Florists' directory and read reviews on sites such as Yelp. Buying bulky furniture online can be a mistake, Levitte said. Although some brick-and-mortar retailers do charge to deliver furniture, you'll likely pay more for shipping from an online retailer. Online furniture retailers often add delivery and processing surcharges on bulky, heavy items in addition to shipping fees that can be a flat rate or a percentage of purchase price. 100 -- on top of the standard delivery charge of 10 percent of order total.
Additionally, it can be hard to judge the quality and color of furniture online. If you're unhappy with your online order, returning it can be costly. Some retailers, such as Macy's and CB2, won't refund delivery fees if you return an item, and they might charge a restocking fee. Although there are great discounts for appliances online and delivery often is free, the same discounts and delivery offers usually apply in stores as well, Shelton said. Aside from saving some time driving to a store, there's no advantage to buying an appliance online. There is, however, a benefit to making this sort of big-ticket purchase in a store. Shelton said. Plus, salespeople usually can explain differences in models and features to help make the buying process a little easier. It's a good idea to research cars and car prices online before buying one. But actually purchasing a vehicle online "is a dicey process," Graw said.
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