Home shopping expert and Random House author Jennifer Litwin announced five things consumers should consider when shopping for the holiday season. Litwin also researched name brand store credit/gift cards that achieve the biggest bang for the buck for the consumer.
“Holiday shoppers are always thinking about finishing their homes in time for the holidays, accommodating guests, and doing it all on a budget,” said Shop Cop and Random House author Jennifer Litwin.
“What consumers don’t realize when finishing their homes in time for the holidays is the varying degrees of ‘pay for play’ benefits each name brand store credit and gift card will offer when making purchases. Some holiday shoppers may spend just $100 to finish their home while others may spend $10,000; so knowing what store credit/gift cards can save them money and give them great deals can make all the difference in the world.”
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN SHOPPING THIS SEASON:
- If shopping online, look for free delivery. Many stores are offering free delivery as an incentive. Otherwise, there is typically a charge of about 10% for shipping big ticket items like furniture.
- Beware of store credit card rebate/savings programs because most only offer a 1-2% savings on the cost of your purchases, but you will still incur financing charges, just as with a typical credit card.
- If a price seems too good to be true, ask to see an assembly sheet to find out how difficult it will be to actually assemble the piece.
- Buy gift cards for your loved ones that can be used both in the store and online. Many egift cards can only be used for online purchases, and then merchandise needs to be returned to a non-store location.
- If making a lot of purchases, try to do it with a store credit card that offers good discounts for large purchases, or free, desirable gifts.
