Online Shopping...

Eyes squinting, sweat beading up on your forehead, left hand clenched, cursing under your breath, right hand sweating while hovering over the enter button. It's you and your faceless enemy on the other side of the "innanets" trying to outbid you while you're hoping he loses his internet connection somehow and then you lose the auction by $0.01. Damn!

Or you end up paying way more for something than you originally intended because you refuse to lose to whoever this faceless person is. Either way, its all bad. Trust me, I've been through both. With websites like eBay, Etsy and of course your favorite retailers website that offers e-commerce, style has become accessible than ever and with the right combination of timing, coupons and free shipping, more affordable.  Online shopping can also be very peaceful because you don't have to go anywhere or deal with crowds of people especially around holidays, which I particularly enjoy.  Of course, there are a few basic guidelines that can make it smoother.

• Know what the maximum amount you're willing to spend is and stick to it when bidding on auctions.  Research the item, know what it would have cost you if you had to pay full price, how its made, how it fits etc. Yes, some of us men are very competitive and programmed to win at whatever we want, but turning it into a pissing contest could end up costing you.
• Beware of the shipping charges, especially on sites like eBay. Some of the shipping costs I've seen are like "Are you serious? $25 to ship a pair of shoes by USPS? Get the entire f@$k outta here." Yea, that hit me in a bad place. No doubt, the seller has to make their money, but the entire point of bargain shopping is just that, so make sure you keep an eye on what the shipping costs are.
• Pay using a secure service such as PayPal that gaurantees and protects your purchase. For the most part, eBay sellers are legit but when you're spending a decent amount of money on an item or its a luxury item that may raise authenticity questions, it's good to know that if it shows up and its fake, you have recourse.
• As I said in the Art of Thrifting page, getting familiar with your favorite labels/makers will help as well.  The more you buy of a maker, the better you become at identifying how things will fit you, what's authentic and what's not etc.  With the internet, you also have resources at your fingertip such as StyleForum or Dappered to ask questions.
• Speaking of resources, everytime I get ready to make an online purchase through a retailer, I do a Google search to see if there are any coupon codes floating around on the internet that I may be able to take advantage of to knock the total down on my purchase.  I'm one of those people who honestly gets irritated when I pay full price for something and then its on the sale the week after, so I try to avoid paying sticker at all costs.

Here's the Deal...

As I come up on a deal online or hear of a good sale going on during the week, I'll post it on here...

The Pick-Up: Navy Blue Pinstripe Corneliani Double-Breasted Suit
December 22, 2012

- 100% Extra Fine Virgin Wool.
- Made in Italy
- 6 x 2 button jacket, fully lined, with side vents.
- Flat front pants, 1 3/4 inch cuffs.
- $91

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