Where to Buy Face Masks and Coronavirus Supplies Online
Where to Buy Face Masks and Coronavirus Supplies Online
• Go for BOPIS. That stands for “buy online, pickup in store.” Walmart and other major retailers offer curbside pick-up on many items so you don't even have to get out of your vehicle. • Check seller ratings. There are lots of supplies on Amazon and eBay but you may have to buy from small, independent and/or overseas sellers. Always and ratings. On eBay, my rule of thumb is 98 percent or higher. On Amazon, I always read through the reviews and ratings, and then check . The website rates the quality of seller and product reviews so you know which 4- and 5-star ratings you can trust and sidestep the problem of fake reviews. Also, always read return policies and shipping costs and times, which could be weeks out. On Amazon, your best bet is to look for items marked “ships from and sold by Amazon.com." • Avoid coronavirus rip-offs. For starters, don't use links from unsolicited emails, texts and social media ads to buy supplies. Even if they look like they're from a major retailer, they could lead you to a . If you want to shop online from, say, Walmart, go directly to the retailer's website — and watch out for misspellings, which could send you right into the hands of cyberthieves. When you get to the checkout page, look at your browser to and includes a lock icon. You can get more tips on protecting yourself and information on the latest scams from and the . Lisa Lee Freeman, cohost of the podcast, was founder and editor in chief of ShopSmart magazine from Consumer Reports and an investigative reporter for the Dr. Oz Show.
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Surprising Places to Shop for Coronavirus Supplies Online
Amazon out of stock Turn to these unexpected websites for masks sanitizers more
Marc Bruxelle / Alamy Stock Photo We're all scrambling to stock up on masks, gloves, disinfectant, toilet paper, paper towels and other pandemic essentials. Gone are the days when you could do a one-stop-shop and get everything you need, at least for now. And if you're , that adds another level of difficulty to an already-challenging shopping situation. Major retailer websites, including Target.com and Walmart.com, are sold out of many items. Even when they restock, essentials can come and go in a flash. Although it appears to be getting easier to find many items on Amazon.com, it can take weeks to get your order. For example, I found disinfecting wipes that don't arrive until mid-June. According to a new survey by , 75 percent of respondents overall said they had searched for an item online and found that it was out of stock. Among Amazon Prime members, 80 percent said that items they were looking to purchase online have been out of stock and that expected or promised delivery dates have impacted their purchase decisions for essentials. The good news is coronavirus supplies are hiding everywhere. It's like Whac-A-Mole shopping out there, with products constantly popping up and then disappearing and reappearing somewhere else — sometimes in surprising places. Clothing chains, for example, are selling masks online and beauty-supply sites are hawking hand sanitizers. The bottom line: You can probably find everything you need but you'll need to shop around, and act fast. Here are some websites that you might not think to check, plus a few tips on getting the most for your money while avoiding rip-offs.Disposable gloves
I recently purchased a box on . I've also seen them pop up on the , and sites.Toilet paper and paper towels
I haven't been able to buy TP at my supermarket for weeks, but I've purchased it at Home Depot and Walgreens. Unfortunately, the websites of these retailers and others, including Costco and Walmart, only offer essential paper supplies for in-store purchases in many cases. My advice: If you're avoiding stores, ask a neighbor to pick up these items while they're out shopping around, or check out , an online warehouse store. Boxed has great deals on bulk paper products and lots of lots of other supplies. I've also seen bulk orders available from .Hand sanitizers wipes and disinfectants
I've found these items at , , and beauty-supply sites and . If you're willing to buy in bulk and split a box with a few friends or family members, check out or office-supply sites like . Also check international markets. In my area, I found plenty of hand sanitizer at a local Asian market called .Masks
It's getting a lot easier to find them on Amazon but most of them are those disposable blue-and-white ones. Why walk around looking like you work in a hospital when you can wear an eco-friendly that suits your personality? You might be surprised to know that carries some nice masks with a “replaceable nanofilter system,” and 10 percent of your purchase goes to supporting small businesses. Also check and clothing retailers like . I even found masks at , a mattress website.Fresh food
If your local grocery stores are low on certain items, such as eggs, meat and poultry, and/or you're having trouble getting a delivery time from Instacart or another service, check the websites of alternative grocery stores like and international markets, which may deliver fresh foods in your area. I checked for chicken and found plenty available with local delivery. Also, consider signing up for a community-supported agriculture (CSA) subscription to get fresh local food and support local farmers. The website lists 7,000 CSAs, which are subscription services that give you regular deliveries of fresh produce, meat, eggs or dairy items. In response to coronavirus-related supply issues, some CSAs are now expanding their offerings with bread, prepared foods and pantry items, according to Guillermo Payet, president of LocalHarvest. In the past, CSAs sent their goods to local drop-off points where you had to pick up your order, but the majority are now offering home delivery, says Payet. Another option: , which specializes in blemished “ugly” produce that might otherwise go to waste, ships boxed orders to customers weekly. Getty Images • Act fast.• Go for BOPIS. That stands for “buy online, pickup in store.” Walmart and other major retailers offer curbside pick-up on many items so you don't even have to get out of your vehicle. • Check seller ratings. There are lots of supplies on Amazon and eBay but you may have to buy from small, independent and/or overseas sellers. Always and ratings. On eBay, my rule of thumb is 98 percent or higher. On Amazon, I always read through the reviews and ratings, and then check . The website rates the quality of seller and product reviews so you know which 4- and 5-star ratings you can trust and sidestep the problem of fake reviews. Also, always read return policies and shipping costs and times, which could be weeks out. On Amazon, your best bet is to look for items marked “ships from and sold by Amazon.com." • Avoid coronavirus rip-offs. For starters, don't use links from unsolicited emails, texts and social media ads to buy supplies. Even if they look like they're from a major retailer, they could lead you to a . If you want to shop online from, say, Walmart, go directly to the retailer's website — and watch out for misspellings, which could send you right into the hands of cyberthieves. When you get to the checkout page, look at your browser to and includes a lock icon. You can get more tips on protecting yourself and information on the latest scams from and the . Lisa Lee Freeman, cohost of the podcast, was founder and editor in chief of ShopSmart magazine from Consumer Reports and an investigative reporter for the Dr. Oz Show.
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Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures