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Black Friday sale: free shipping now a click away

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Off all the things we Indians love apart from the ‘please adjust’, Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and Gajar Ka Halwa, we do love our discounts.

Some of our fondest memories is getting some of the best deals for dirt cheap prices in some seasonal sale.

But apart from this, we are also fascinated by the US. Their culture, their television shows and most of all, their merchandise. I mean, we do love our Jimmy Choo footwear, our Prada handbags, our Ray Ban sunglasses and our Apple products.

Even though we are willing to spend the extra buck for the luxury, there is no greater sense of exhilaration than getting what we desire at a discount.

So when we got the word that the biggest sale of the year in the US, Black Friday followed by Cyber Monday were round the corner, we decided to share a list of the best websites that ship merchandise to India so that you can get a good deal for pocket friendly prices from international e-commerce websites.

Though you can get these products online from various sellers in the US but the International freight charges amount to more than the price of the product itself which takes the kick out of it.  

But, there is a way out of the mess. There are a few vendors who provide free international shipping but the kicker is that there is no way to track these shipments in transit so all you can do it cross your fingers and hope for the best.

Though some of these websites are run by nice people who will send the product again – taking a loss – but if you are heading down the free shipping road, don’t expect the merchants to take responsibility for the courier’s fault. Of course, this isn’t a common problem, and while it’s important to know the risks involved, many people have shared good experiences with these sites.

These are the recommended websites that ship everything from books to tech and apparels:

1. Book Depository
Book Depository is an Amazon-owned website that sells – you guessed it – books. Even before it was acquired by Amazon, this website was known for offering free shipping worldwide. Books are duty free in India, which means that you can import books without paying any customs fee. Thanks to Flipkart, and also Amazon India, you should be able to get most popular books here but when you want a special edition or a hard to find title, try Book Depository.

 

2. AliExpress
China’s Alibaba group owns AliExpress, which sells just about anything, from automobile accessories to jewellery. This website is a good option if you want to order goods from China and many of its sellers offer free shipping (via China Post) to India. If you order anything from AliExpress, don’t forget to check if the item has Customs duty in India. Add that to the cost to decide if a product is worth ordering. The site is also running a special Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale so there will be plenty to choose from.

Since AliExpress functions as a marketplace, you’ll want to be a little more careful when ordering from the site as well. Some people talked to us about good experiences, while plenty of online reviews warn you about fraud. AliExpress has a great section on its website with tips to avoid being cheated and it gives some advice that we will repeat here: if it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is. The page also suggests that you should avoid buying branded products, saying – “name brand products sold at far lower prices are mostly fakes.” If you look for deals, instead of steals, then AliExpress is worth checking out.

 

3. Dealextreme
Dealextreme is probably the best and best known site for buying gadgets. From desktop computer components like RAM to 3D printers, Dealextreme stocks pretty much any gadget you’ll need. This website is a good hunting ground for people looking for cheap accessories such as headphones and battery packs. Most products are shipped free to India, but once again, a big question mark hovers over the reliability of the shipping method.

Most of the complaints we found online were from people who were waiting for products over a month after placing the order, but there were a large number of positive comments as well. Of course, if you’re trying to get the best deal on a Black Friday or Cyber Monday discount, then be prepared for delays as well, because there would be a lot of orders taking place at the same time.

 

4. Asos

Asos is a UK-based website that deals in fashion-related items. You can buy items such as clothes, bags, belts, etc. on this website and they ship free to India. They sell products from their own label and from other brands such as American Apparel, Oasis and Vero Moda. Buying clothes online is a bit risky as there’s always the chance of something not fitting you properly. If you’re buying from a brand that you’re familiar with, and possibly own the same item in another colour, it might be a safe enough option. Other than that, some people also warn about issues with hugely delayed deliveries.

 

 

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