online shopping – JJ Barnes

Tips For Safe Last Minute Christmas Shopping

Admin — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:03:02 +0000

On the JJ Barnes Blog, I check out top tips for how to avoid scams and enjoy safe last minute Christmas shopping!

Jingle bells may be ringing, but for some, those festive chimes are drowned out by the frantic scramble of last-minute Christmas shopping. The pressure to find the perfect gifts amidst the holiday hustle can cloud our judgment, making us vulnerable to those seeking to capitalize on our desperation. Fear not, fellow procrastinators! This blog post is your holiday lifeline, your trusty reindeer to navigating the treacherous terrain of last-minute shopping without falling prey to festive fraud.

Whether you’re a seasoned gift-giver with a penchant for eleventh-hour heroics or a newcomer to the frantic world of December 23rd shopping, this guide is for you. With the help of Trevor Cooke, online security expert from EarthWeb, I have learned how to protect myself from cybercrime whilst online shopping.

Stay tuned, intrepid gift-getters, as we navigate the treacherous landscape of festive deals and dubious discounts. Buckle up, because the sleigh of safety awaits!

Top Tips For Safe Last Minute Christmas Shopping

Too Good To Be True

If a Christmas deal seems too good to be believed, it probably is. Scammers often use enticing offers to lure unsuspecting shoppers. If you find a deal on a branded product that is well below the normal price then you should be wary, for example if a bike is normally £1,000 but you see it selling for £400 you should question why.

What to do? Cooke advises triple checking the credibility of the website before purchasing. Read online reviews and check social media profiles to verify the business is legitimate.

Beware Fake Gift Cards

Fake gift cards promise substantial discounts or free purchases from popular retailers or online platforms. However, they’re used to steal personal and financial information.

QR codes on fake gift cards can take people to malicious websites, or cause them to download malware onto their devices. Always be cautious and only purchase gift cards from reputable sources.

Watch Your Wi-Fi

If you’re making purchases on the go using public Wi-Fi at places like coffee shops or train stations, be extra cautious. These Wi-Fi networks are less secure so the ideal is to use a trusted and password-protected network.

However you can also use VPN networks to encrypt your internet connection, safeguard your data, and ensure online privacy. VPNs do this by masking your IP address and location from potential cyber criminals.

Don’t Fall Victim To This Common Scam

There is an increase in phishing activity leading up to the Christmas season as criminals know that people are in shopping-mode.

Be cautious of emails or messages claiming to be from online retailers, asking for personal information or payment details. Always verify the sender’s email address and double-check the legitimacy of the request.

About Earthweb

While the holiday season is indeed a busy time for cybercriminals, being aware and prepared can make all the difference. By staying informed about their tactics and following these simple safety tips, you can shop for your last-minute gifts with confidence and peace of mind. Remember, a little caution goes a long way in ensuring your Christmas shopping is joyful and secure.
– Trevor Cooke, EarthWeb,

EarthWeb helps you discover the best research guides and resources for tech and online privacy. Their mission is to help you simplify processes and make informed buying decisions.

Trevor Cooke is the online privacy expert at EarthWeb. His personal mission is to help keep consumers safe by keeping them informed of privacy tips and common online scams.

Conclusion

With a dash of caution, a sprinkle of vigilance, and a healthy dose of festive cheer, you can conquer the online wilderness and emerge victorious, armed with the perfect gifts and a bank account singing with holiday joy.

So, go forth, intrepid gift-hunters, and let your last-minute shopping be a testament to your savvy and spirit. Remember, the true magic of Christmas isn’t found in perfectly wrapped packages, but in the warmth of connection and the joy of giving.

May your holidays be merry, bright, and scam-free! Now, go forth and spread the festive cheer, one thoughtful gift at a time!

The post Tips For Safe Last Minute Christmas Shopping appeared first on JJ Barnes.

How to Find Discount Codes for Almost Everything You Buy Online

Admin — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 08:00:06 +0000

On the JJ Barnes Blog, I check out top tips from experts at Refermate for how to find discount codes for your online shopping.

If like me you love to shop, but don’t have much money to do it with, online shopping is a great way to find bargains, especially if you know where to find discount codes. However, finding a valid discount code can be a daunting task if you don’t know the tips and tricks!

To help me learn how to save the most money possible, Aktug Dogan, an internet shopping master at Refermate, sent over his advice for how to save money and how to track down discount codes that work.

How to Find Discount Codes

Look At Coupon Websites

An easy option for finding discount codes is to look at reliable coupon websites and search for codes there. However, coupon sites aren’t all perfect, and different websites will offer different discount codes. You’ll also find expired discount codes or codes that are not for specific items, so bookmark any reliable coupon websites you find for future use.

Use Browser Extensions

To save time searching for coupon codes, you can install a browser extension that does it automatically. Extensions are plugins that you install on internet browsers like Edge or Chrome, which assist you with finding promotion codes while shopping on the web.

These extensions will open a window when you shop on a website and search for a valid coupon code, Aktug explained.

Download The Apps For Your Favourite Stories

Another great choice is to download the apps for your favourite shops and sign up to reward programs to get in store and online deals.

Discounts and coupons that are only available in the apps will be exclusive, and the rewards programs also let you earn points. These points can then be combined with coupons to maximise your savings.

Talk To Customer Services

Many people forget that you can negotiate on prices online. You can start a discussion by means of the visit box on the retailer’s site and request a markdown. You can sometimes get a discount by asking a customer service representative about any available discount codes.

When you’re talking to customer services for shops, you can point out that you’re searching across different shops to find the best prices. Today, retailers offer discount codes to keep customers coming back and encourage them to complete their purchases online, according to the expert.

Abandon Your Shopping Cart

Online retailers keep a close eye on your activities and are terrified of losing a potential customer—especially if they have a full shopping cart.

You need to log in to your account in order for this method to work, because the retailer needs to know who left the cart empty. Once you’re logged in, add your items to the shopping cart, then leave the site.

After two or three days, check whether the store sent you an email encouraging you to finish your order. Consider your effort successful if the email contains a coupon code!

Sign Up For A Store Newsletter

You can frequently receive a discount code by signing up for the newsletters for various stores.

These codes are customized and will give you a discount on a single purchase.

The expert suggested you set up a secondary email account to receive newsletter emails in to keep your primary email account from becoming overloaded.

Use Social Media

You can follow your number one brands and retailers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with their latest special offers and discount codes.

Look out for posts, stories, or tweets from these brands, as they frequently share unique discount codes or limited time offers for their supporters.

Aktug advised that by supporting brand’s social media content by liking posts, leaving comment, and sharing, many companies will reward their particularly active followers with special discount codes or giveaways.

You can also join social media groups on networks like on Reddit, or follow hashtags committed to sharing discount codes, where clients frequently post and trade the best discount codes they have found.

Try Using Common Coupon Phrases

Common coupon phrases can help you find hidden or unique discount codes. Numerous online retailers know about these common coupon phrases and use them to promote their discounts.

For instance, the coupon expression ‘welcome10’ is the most common coupon code in the US. You can find websites on Google that compile a list of the most frequently used coupon phrases. Some websites do this for different specific retailers.

Be Understanding and Patient

It’s important to be aware that discount codes have different limitations, including expiry dates, brand restrictions, and single-use limitations. You could also find that your purchase didn’t meet the code’s requirements, for example, a minimum spend to activate the code.

Remember that retailers all use different discount code strategies, and these will vary from month to month, so being patient and trying different techniques is important.

Conclusion

I hope this is super helpful! But remember, if you’re looking for a small online shop selling fun and quirky things, check out my shop here! I don’t have a pile of impressive discount codes, like the big shops you could go to, but I do work with incredible and interesting artists to share their beautiful products.

The post How to Find Discount Codes for Almost Everything You Buy Online appeared first on JJ Barnes.