A credit catalogue affords you more options when it comes to ordering items online. You can find furniture for your home, you can find electricals and appliances, you can find catalogues which sell clothing and designer name-brand styles. Nearly anything you want to buy, for the home or personal, can be found on different catalogue sites. But, before you choose to apply for a line of credit, there are some things you should familiarise yourself with, if you are new to the world of online catalogue shopping.
First off, there are restrictions. Not all individuals who apply for credit are approved; in fact, like a credit card, your credit score will be checked prior to being extended a line of credit. This will not only indicate the interest rates you will pay, but also how much you are going to be approved for when you choose to order from different online catalogue sites. So, make sure you understand the terms, limits, and how financing works, to ensure you don’t get in over your head, and aren’t able to make monthly payments, when you choose a catalogue you are going to order with.
Catalogue shopping offers different payment options. Many offer weekly, fortnightly, and monthly repayment terms. Many offer interest free periods for 6 or 12-months, and for items you order at a price of £500 or more (this will vary with each catalogue), the amount of time you have to repay the items, interest free, will vary. Catalogues also afford you the opportunity to buy items, for zero down, and have these items delivered to your door the next day.
Catalogues offer next day delivery, and free returns. With many, you have up to 30-days to try items out in the home. If you aren’t happy, you can return them, won’t pay any penalty or fee, plus you can have a replacement or different product delivered to your home, free of charge as well. With most catalogues, a minimum order total of £50 is in place for customers who want to finance the purchase of items they are ordering through sites.
It is important to note restrictions as well. With some sites, there are items you can’t finance, and with some items, you can’t take advantage of interest free or other promotions. Each catalogue has different restrictions in place, and each catalogue has different terms for ordering and repayment for their customers to abide by. Before you choose the catalogue to order through, make sure you understand these terms.
When paying, you will typically have the option to choose to buy now pay later, to defer payments, or to pay like a traditional credit card. Some sites even offer no interest, or split the payments evenly on a monthly basis, if there are special promotions. Prior to ordering, it is a good idea to find out about any promotions, discounts, and other savings available, so that you find the best terms, and prices, for the items you plan on ordering through different catalogue sites.
There are many benefits and a few drawbacks to catalogue shopping. Among the benefits are:
- Free delivery and returns on most items.
- Easy shopping experience from the comfort of your home.
- Many promotions and interest free financing options are offered frequently.
- The ability to find nearly anything, from clothing to accessories, from the comfort of home.
Of course, there are also some drawbacks that should be accounted for if you plan on shopping via catalogue. Among these are:
- The interest rates, penalties, and late fees if you miss or are late on payments you owe.
- The minimum order restrictions.
- Fees, penalties, and product limits on the sites.
Customers should familairise themselves with the many different catalogue sites there are, in order to find the ones which, work best. And, by comparing the top catalogues, it is much easier for customers to find lower prices on the items they want to order, to find the best financing terms, and to find the catalogues which are going to offer the longest repayment terms available, regardless of the items which are being ordered through the sites.
It is important to note that catalogue shopping is similar to credit card shopping or using a loan. There are fees you will incur when you use these accounts. If you miss or are late on payments, there are fines and penalties you will incur. There are limits on how much you will be approved for, and catalogues do have the right to deny you credit, without cause if they choose. Many people simply assume it is an instant approval, but this is not the case. So, it is important to understand terms of service, how financing works, and what restrictions there are, when it comes to catalogue shopping.
Catalogue shopping is a great way to finance the purchase of many items you would like to buy, which you otherwise could not afford to pay for in full, up front, at the time of purchase. But, there are restrictions. There are limitations, and there are some rules which are in place, to protect the credit catalogue, that customers should be aware of, before they choose to make a purchase, or to apply for a line of credit with the different online catalogue sites there are.
You must be a responsible shopper, you should understand all financing terms, and you have to understand the limitations in place, when it comes to catalogue shopping, what you can (and can’t) buy, and the pricing for items you choose to order from the top catalogues you choose to shop with.
These are a few factors to consider when time comes to apply for a catalogue credit account. Not only so you choose the right one, but also to ensure you find the best terms, repayment options, and most affordable pricing, for each of the many items you plan on ordering with the catalogues you choose to finance your purchases through as a customer.